We arrived at Baker Creek By Basecamp Resort where we unpacked our gear and excitement for what was waiting for us.  Our sense of adventure was elevated by the mere sight of the mountains before us.  I “checked” my big city girl hurried expectations at the door and prepared for what ended up being the one of the most epic travel experiences ever.

Banff National Park is known as Canada’s oldest national park with over 6,641 km of mountainous terrain. It has glaciers and ice fields. We just took it all in. I don’t think I’ve ever been completely surrounded by majestic mountains quite like this. I don’t think I’ve ever breathed in air quite like this. Pine and a hint of something floral — maybe lilacs? Incredible.

What a serious score to have this secluded cabin-style resort in the middle of nowhere but everywhere all at once. We hauled our bags to our cabin. Quaint and private luxury log cabins spotted the pathway amongst the tall trees.  They were built for adventure travellers. The cabin would be our home base with many thoughtful amenities. A kitchenette with fridge, outdoor barbecue, microwave, kettle, and a pour-over style coffee vessel complete with local fresh ground coffee rounded off the stay. There were books to read, games to play, and even a record player for times when you just want to chill out.

The cabin we had would have been ideal for a group of friends or a family. A ladder led up to a loft area with two single beds. Another bedroom was located on the main level. There was also a patio out back where we would take our morning coffee and listen to the birds sing. Clean and very cozy Canadiana in style. A perfect escape.

We explored the property that included a small cafe and shop for necessities and way cooler souvenirs than what you’d find at the airport.  There was also a gym and sauna. A pool was being built on site that will be a welcomed space after a day of hiking or cycling. But what we were surprised with was the rushing waters of Bow River right in our own backyard. Nature truly is spectacular here. Just listening to the hypnotic flow with mountain views on either side was breathtaking. No words needed at this point. We just took it all in. Ugh, Banff is so beautiful. Yes, this is what we came for.

Firepits surrounded by Muskoka chairs (they probably have a different name out west) dotted the property along the water. Early June meant we didn’t have to share and there was plenty of firewood to be had. We chatted away with the snap crackle and pop from the fire. A neighbouring traveller shared their bag of marshmallows as the sun set and we roasted them to perfection before devouring them in one bite. We waited for the stars to come out. Oh, the stars!

Our hearts were on nearby explorations to Lake Louise and other epic locales to check off our adventure list. There’s a shuttle bus right from Baker Creek By Basecamp Resort that takes you to either Moraine Lake or Lake Louise. But given the time of year, we were told we could probably drive to the massive parking area located at the foot of the Ski Resort. Depending on time of year, you could get lucky here. Free parking! Consider this a jump off point and take their bus service to the main attractions.

We started our day with a hike up Mount Whitehorn. Ski-lifts will take you up to the vistas at an elevation of 6893 ft and that’s the starting point. Once we reached the first point, signs pointed us past the gate designed to keep bears on the wilderness side of the mountain. We were told there were already two sightings that morning, Park staff recommended we try and stay close to others who were hiking and to stay on main paths. Groups of at least four were highly recommended. As was bear spray. One of the locals mentioned that it’s good to stick with the main paths where others have already taken their footsteps. Bears were less likely going to go where all the action was.

Upper mountain trails led us to several points of interest. Thank goodness I wore proper hiking shoes. This isn’t like hiking back home. Definitely make your way to Kicking Horse Pass for an incredible view and be prepared for the sweet sound of nothing.

That evening we decided to venture into the touristy parts of Banff for dinner. A much busier vibe with restaurant patios vying for every hungry person’s attention. You’ll also find your predictable souvenir shops teeming with t-shirts and baseball caps. Here is where we also picked up some extra provisions from the grocers for the remainder of our stay.

We knew a visit to Lake Louise was a must. No question about it. We packed our backpacks and light jackets with a couple of snacks. Several, including locals, highly recommended we hiked up the mountain affectionately known as The Beehive. It’s the most popular route, especially for newbies. Walking trails lead to Agnes Lake and to Mirror Lake. My goal was to reach the Tea House. It took about two hours to get to this point at my snail pace. And it was worth every moment as I looked through every tree clearing and turn to take in every angle of the unbelievable turquoise blue lake.

I must have about 200 photos of Lake Louise saved and each one is absolutely perfect. If there is just one thing you need to do, make sure it’s a visit to Lake Louise. Then retreat back to your private oasis nestled in the mountainside.

Thank you Baker Creek By Basecamp Resort for providing us with an unforgettable experience.

If you’re heading to Canmore, Alberta be sure to also check out what to do and our recent stay at Basecamp Canmore. Write up is here. 

*all photos by me (except the one of me, that one was taken by Libby Roach)

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For our latest Neighbours in Ontario series we took a 4-day camping trip around Georgian Bay. This trip is for beginner campers and families.

This is the 3rd part of the trip. Read the 1st part of the Georgian Bay camping trip here. Read the 2nd part of the Georgian Bay camping trip here.

Leaving Camp

We left Sauble Falls Provincial Park early as this would be our longest driving day. If you stay at Bruce Peninsula National park, you will have less of a drive.

To see photos in high resolution, visit our page on 500px.

DESTINATIONS

On this day we left Sauble Falls Provincial Park campgrounds and headed for Bruce Peninsula National Park, visited neighbouring town Tobermory, caught the ferry in Tobermory to Manitoulin Island, drove North across Manitoulin Island, drove around Killarney Provincial Park past Sudbury before arriving at our favourite composite, Grundy Lake.

In total we put 1500km on the Acura ILX and hiked 50km during the 4-Day trip. This day was the largest portion of the drive as our 4th day was from Grundy Lake to Toronto which is only about 3.5 hours.

BRUCE PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK

Bruce Peninsula National Park of Canada is one of less than 50 National Parks in Canada. It is on an area known as a biosphere reserve. The UNESCO Network of Biosphere Reserves are internationally recognized protected areas that demonstrate a balance between people and nature. There are around 600 of these sites worldwide. The park is situated on Georgian Bay with its rocky landscape jutting out over the crystal clear water.

One of the best sites to see is the grotto. With rocky shards and teal colouring, the coast here looks like another world. If you are adventurous, you can climb down into the caves that line the coast.

The park is also home to 1000 year old cedar trees, an incredible array of habitats, and beautiful landscapes.

After seeing the sights, we headed back to the car and headed to Tobermory to catch the ferry over to Manitoulin Island.

TOBERMORY

Tobermory is located on the northern point of the Bruce Peninsula. A cute town and a hub for ferries and cruises.

We stopped by the marina and inlet where one can find a bunch of good restaurants to eat at with a view of the harbour. Cruises can also be picked up here.

Try some of the fish n chips spots here before heading down the road to catch the ferry to Manitoulin Island.

To see photos in high resolution, visit our page on 500px.

The area is also the location of Flowerpot Island which boasts naturally occurring large rock sculptures.

The ferry at Tobermory costs about $35 a person in a vehicle. The boat is so big that big rigs and other transport vehicles take it back and forth from Manitoulin Island. The ride is about 1 hour and 45 minutes and has some amazing views along the way. Be sure to plan your times well as the ferry does not come that often and the drive to the next destination is the longest of the trip.

Be sure to have your camera ready to catch the lighthouse and the many islands you pass on the way. Also watch the seagulls as they coast alongside the ferry for the duration of the trip.

MANITOULIN ISLAND

Manitoulin Island is the largest fresh water island in the world. It is 2,766 km2 and inhabits almost 13,000 people. The drive north across the inland provides many rest stops that double as lookouts where spectacular views can be seen of the islands and waters below the high elevation of the island.

The landscape here also changes. Highways pass through giant rocks that have been blasted through to form roads. The colours of rock can change from white to an almost red colour. Be sure to have a passenger that can snap photos as you go.

GRUNDY PROVINCIAL PARK

Grundy was our favourite place that we stayed. The park, the grounds and the campsite all provided a little something to the experience.

We arrived a little late at the park but instantly found its beauty. Trails that lead to beaches and paddle launch sites, space between campsites, and good facilities all contributed to the positive experience.

After setting up camp, we took our cameras and headed to the beach through a cleaning in the trees at our camp site.

The stars here were incredible. With some long exposures we were able to see some amazing constellations and galaxies far away.

Here are a few of those shots.

To see photos in high resolution, visit our page on 500px.

That concludes the end of Day 3 of our Georgian Bay camping trip. Stay tuned for our final part.

See Part One of our Georgian Bay Camp Trip.

See Part Two of our Georgian Bay Camp Trip.

Go to Part 4 of the trip here.

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What if we started restoring, creating and exploring the nature that exists in our own neighbourhood… What would happen? The David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) wants to find out! It has challenged Toronto’s Ward 19 to create the world’s first Homegrown National Park: a green corridor along the historical route of the Garrison Creek. The project will bring together volunteers, partner groups, local residents and businesses knowing they will “dream up amazing projects that engage their communities in meaningful ways.”

When people think of exploring nature, many imagine themselves beyond city limits – seeing the city and nature as two distinct environments. The David Suzuki Foundation is on a mission to change that and help us urban dwellers play a more active role in greening and engaging with the public and private spaces around us. The Homegrown National Park Project recruited 21 enthusiastic volunteers, or rather Neighbourhood Park Rangers, who are tasked with developing and implementing their ideas on how to create community initiatives that will engage children, youths and adults in their local environment and empower them to “bring more green – gardens, trees, shrubs, flowers – to yards, alleys, streets, rooftops, parks and green spaces throughout the [Garrison Creek] corridor.”

The David Suzuki Foundation has also enlisted the help of over a dozen community partners that have been hard at work in the neighbourhood to provide the Park Rangers with additional intellectual, social and human capital to launch their ideas. These include such great groups as Not Far From the Tree, Park People, Cultivate Toronto, Evergreen, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and more! As Jode Roberts, Communications Specialist at DSF, states, “Such a project would not be possible without the support of the area’s park groups, resident associations, green groups and agencies like Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Fort York and the City of Toronto Parks Department.

Who are these Park Rangers you may ask? They all live, work and play in Ward 19 and each has a unique story that connects them to Toronto’s natural environment. And what kinds of ideas do they have in the works? Ranger Aidan Dahlin Nolan hatched the idea of the Community Canoe. Throughout the summer Aidan will be collecting canoes and re-purposing them to create large planters that will be dispersed in parks along the corridor. Jode is excited about the Community Canoe project, “It is a great example of an elegant idea that could be replicated in other communities. And it is 100% Ranger powered. With little support from us, Aidan has connected with several partner organizations to provide materials, labour and support. The project will leave an indelible legacy – a network of canoe gardens filled with native pollinator friendly plants throughout the Garrison.” The first canoe has already been planted and you can check it out down at Fort York by the Bathurst bridge (and get a peek below).

A local movement is blossoming in Ward 19 and the area around the historic Garrison Creek. Even though you may not live in the area there are plenty of ways to get involved, perhaps even prepare for when the project reaches your Ward!

Want to join the ranks of urban nature seekers?

• Explore the great parks of Toronto: Rouge National Park (Canada’s first urban national park!!!), Leslie Street Spit, High Park, Humber River Valley Trails, Don River Valley Trails, Sunnybrook Park, and more! Check out the City of Toronto’s Discovery Walks to get some ideas.
• Plant native plants in your yard and create biodiversity. What we have identified as beautiful for our gardens, might actually be considered barren to native insects and birds.
• Take a look at all the community partner organizations to find out about interesting programs and projects in the city. The David Suzuki Foundation is keen to add partner groups to those already involved in the project.
• Read about the Park Rangers to see if any of their projects are of interest to you. They will need help!
• The David Suzuki Foundation welcomes you to volunteer or attend events in support of the Homegrown National Park Project. The calendar is quickly filling for summer. Check out the fun activities planned for this weekend and the weeks ahead HERE.

The Homegrown National Park Project is redefining Toronto by actively working to engage a community – residents, businesses, politicians, local organizations and interested parties – and by demonstrating the power of crowdsourcing and collaboration to create a positive impact on a local environment. The project is also playing a vital role in raising awareness around the history of the City of Toronto and the disappearance of the Garrison Creek – a lost river that was buried in a Victorian sewer beneath the city in the 1880’s.

As our cities grow and our urban landscapes continue to undergo significant development, there is a growing need to ensure that we protect the natural environments that remain and that our continued placemaking efforts – the planning, design, and management of public spaces – consider nature and encourage biodiversity. I certainly hope citizens embrace the challenge of this new project and that it expands across the GTA.

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Last week I took a trip down to South-Western Ontario for our latest travel issue. I had been invited by Parks Canada to attend the annual Festival of Birds that takes place at Pelee National Park in Leamington, Ontario. Point Pelee is part of the park and it, along with Pelee Island, are the most southern points in Canada.

The National Park, and the town of Leamington, are on the coast of Lake Erie which is known for its Perch fish. Many of the restaurants in the area sell the local fish, all with their own spin.

The area is also the capital of tomato production. Miles and miles of tomato greenhouses line this area.

The region thrives off of the month of May, when all the birds return to the park and Birders (bird watchers) from around the world flock to this location to view the large range of birds and their mating rituals.

The trip to Leamington was around 4 hours, which after our last article (driving to Halifax), felt like no time at all.

I got to test the new Honda Civic 2 door which helped a lot on the drive due to the the GPS navigation system as well as a sunroof and XM radio which helps to enjoy the beautiful drive I had down to the park. The one flaw I found was the dashboard was at an angle that when the sunroof shade was open the sun glared over the screen and made it impossible to see. This was the first time this has happened to me in a car and I noticed it as soon as I sat down the first time I got in the car. Other than that the car seemed great on gas. Was around $35-$40 fill-up at $1.15 – $1.25.

I stayed at Pelee Getaway, which is a B&B located on the same road that leads into the Pelee National Park. The B&B is a main floor of a house that has 3 rooms to rent. The room rates range from $75-$95 a night. The house also has a kitchen, a dining room, and a living room for communal use. A great spot to stay to enjoy the surrounding.

Right next door to the B&B there is a Days Inn with a pool, waterslides, games rooms, etc. Perfect if you are coming with a larger family with kids.

I checked out a few places to eat. Just down the road from the B&B there was a Food Truck that is actually a double-decker bus that has been converted into a food truck called Birdie’s Perch. The downstairs is the kitchen and the upstairs is a dining area. Picnic tables and benches were also set up around the truck. This is one of the spots where you can try the local perch.

If you are looking for more of a dining and drinking experience you can go down the street to Freddy’s Cocktail Lounge and Restaurant. The people here are very friendly. Say hello to Michael and Robert Makhlouf who are the owners. Their famous Perch recipe has received so much attention that it is something you have to try. The restaurant is also attached to an Ice Cream store that is run by the same people. Great for your after dinner treat. The patio here is also a great spot to sit and enjoy the weather and a drink during the day or at night. A good local hangout.

On my last day I went for a press event in Pelee National Park for the Festival of Birds which runs until May 20th. 10s of thousands of people gather in this park for the festival each year. We got a little tour of the park and got to snap some shots of the birds.

It was quite interesting to see all the photographers and birders with their heavy duty equipment. Along the trails you would come to groups of people hovering over a placed scopes to get a view of birds such as Skreetch Owls and Woodpeckers.

Throughout the park and at the Point Pelee there are beaches that you can visit. Many swimming holes and bird watching posts line the parks shores which creates more than a days journey. One could spend a couple days in this park alone.

As for the area around Leamington there are a few options. I visited Windsor, Ontario which was just 30-45 minutes away. There are a lot of entertainment centres and art facilites here as well as a Caesars hotel and casino. Across the water and the border from Windsor is Detroit. Although we did not mention the trip to Detroit in this article a future story will go further into depth on that city.

Here are a few more pics from the trip.

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