You know you want to - how will you pull off a getaway without screen time? Experts say that having screen downtime is an antidote for many mental and emotional ills including: Lack of mindfulness, social disconnection, sleeplessness, reduced productivity and worst-neglect of close relationships. It's possible that alleviating all of these problems in one getaway is unrealistic. However Northern Alberta offers a few obvious opportunities to make it happen! 1) Low or no servic

Birdwatching is one of those hobbies that you can deep dive into, or play in the sidelines. A 2016 US national survey cites that there are 45 million birders in the world, that they bring $80 billion to the US economy, and spend $41 million on travel and gear. Why is it so appealing to look to the skies? It can be FREE, CHEAP, OR....! : Birding can be as cheap as looking out your kitchen window, or local park, and observing who is out there. Add another layer by putting out b

The massive landscape that the river valley presents attracts many photographers. Here are some factors to keep in mind in your quest for engaging photos! 1) Lighting: Every photographer knows that light effects make or break a photo. In outdoor landscapes the most reliable times for cool light effects are at dawn and dusk. In the long summer days of the north, that can mean 4:30 am or 10:30 pm! Other great light effects can occur on cloudy or stormy days. 2) Seasons: Every

Alberta is world renowned for it's mountain parks. And rightly so, they are spectacular and scenic. And this summer, they will be CROWDED. Two reasons: 1) the federal government has decided to waive fees to Canada's National Parks in 2017 for the country's 150th anniversary, and 2) our devalued Canadian dollar has already stimulated unprecedented visits by Americans and others. Heading for real, natural wilderness experiences in Alberta's north means you will leave annoying t

I don't really qualify as a birder. No high magnification binoculars, or pile of bird ID books on my car front seat. No notebook to keep careful record of each species. But I will be the first to admit the thrill of a Kingfisher sighting, a flock of pelicans landing on the river, or checking our telescope every day to observe a nesting pair of bald eagles incubate their eggs. According to the IBA (Important Bird Area) guide for Alberta, all four of the major North American fl

If you're thinking of trying a river expedition on the Peace River, here are some good reasons to try it

1) Live large – The Peace is a big, wide, peaceful river with a WOW factor. The MacKenzie- Slave- Peace- Findlay river system is the longest river system in Canada and second only to the Mississippi in North America. The Peace River is also unique in that it passes through a world class farming region as well as miles and miles of wilderness. photo by Dan Wheeler 2) The Unique Microclimate- Contrary to many people’s idea of the north, the Peace river valley on most days is 3-

For many, traveling and learning go hand in hand. Here are some uniquely northern Alberta short courses to make your holiday more fulfilling