There comes a time in your life when a year away travelling the world is no longer a feasible and a quick travel fix in between your 9-5 daily routine is the only way you can feed your insatiable wanderlust.
One place that is just calling out to be explored is North America, a fantastical place full of stunning national parks, natural wonders, incredible cities and some of friendliest people who you will ever meet. Now I know what you’re thinking, “I only have 2-3 weeks of adventure to be had, how on earth do I choose between Canada and the USA?”
Well this is an ongoing debate and most people are definitely split down the middle. So, the time has come to settle the score and for us to help you decide how to make the most of those precious holiday days.
The Cities
San Francisco is everyone’s favourite U.S city with its iconic and ever so picturesque Golden Gate Bridge, amazing seafood restaurants and the stunning Big Sur just a short drive away, it’s simply awesome. However, Vancouver is the gateway to one of the most stunning mountain ranges in the world, The Rockies. Packed with city adventures there is the exciting Cliffwalk at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park where you can walk along granite cliffs through lush rainforest, and let’s not forget the urban beaches that have an awesome back drop of both the city skyline and the epic mountains.
USA – 0 Canada -1
The National Parks
The epic Grand Canyon will quite literally blow your mind, this stunning wonder of nature is the epitome of all that is great about the USA. Then we have the first national park of Canada, Banff! Boy, does this place impress, with turquoise lakes and snowy mountain peaks, you’ll fall in love at first sight with this stunning place. This is one of best destinations in western Canada.
USA – 1 Canada – 0
Hiking Trails
Yosemite National Park is packed full of hikes and a favourite of mine is The Mist Trail which takes you past the stunning Vernal and Nevada Falls. Keep an eye out for the rainbows that are created by the mist of the falls, it’s spectacular. Tea lover’s listen up, The Plains of Six Glaciers hike in Lake Louise, Canada is a fab trail taking you to epic views of the surrounding mountains, Lake Louise and then through alpine forests finishing with a well-deserved cuppa in the Tea House!
USA – 1 Canada – 1
The Food
With so much excitement in Las Vegas you need to keep your energy levels up so hit one of the all you can eat buffets along the strip, a favourite is the Bacchanal Buffet at Caeser’s Palace. So hands up, who loves cheesy chips and gravy? If you do get your hands on a plate of Poutine on your next visit to Canada, which is pure cheesy perfection!
USA – 1 Canada – 0
Adventure
Adventure is well and truly out there in both the USA and Canada. Treat yourself to an insanely awesome helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, where nothing will prepare you for that moment you fly over the rim into wide open canyon space. Whistler is the home of thrills from skiing through the Rockies to zip lining through lush forests and feeling the wind in your hair as you fly down a mountain on two wheels.
USA – 0 Canada – 1
Overall
Well the scores are in and it would appear that we have a tie, we had a feeling that would happen. With the scores even there is only one option for it and to visit both countries! You could book a gap year tour to travel overland and have such contrasts, from enjoying an awesome time in the desert Southwest followed by an equally amazing trip to the stunning Canadian Rockies.
How many times will you get the chance to visit the desert and the mountains in one trip? If that doesn’t get you giddy with excitement there are lots of other tours that should inspire you to take the plunge.
Take a Coast to Coast trip and experience the East’s iconic cities such as New York City and Boston and one of the world’s most astonishing natural wonders, Niagara Falls. Then it’s off to the West for some relaxing under the Californian sunshine on Venice Beach and Santa Monica Boulevard. Before you know it you will be cruising along The Strip in one of the craziest cities known to man, Las Vegas.
Sounds great, right? Well we can’t just stop there, this year you could enjoy the thrilling and the downright beautiful Canada on an epic long tour. Spend a week in the multicultural cities of eastern Canada and if you don’t speak French, now’s your chance to learn. Then it’s time for some pure unadulterated adventures in the West. Get at one with nature, hike to your heart’s content, fly through forests on a bike or zipline or simply take in the beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
So choose wisely and make the most of those all-important holiday days and be the envy of all your friends back home with their heads stuck in spreadsheets.