My wife and I absolutely love taking road trips! During the last 13 years, we’ve been in 44 states and 4 Canadian provinces. We truly believe that the journey is part of the experience of the destination!
Our latest road trip was a “combo platter”; it was our 40th wedding anniversary and our granddaughter’s 13th birthday. We have a tradition that when one of our grandchildren turns 13, we take them where they would like to go. Ava is fascinated by the CBC drama “Heartland”, which is filmed near High River, Alberta; my wife and I were headed to Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, so we combined the two.
About the Author
Dale Powers is based in Clear Lake, Minnesota, 50 miles NW of Minneapolis. He has written for professional publications in the past, and his career spans from telecommunications and transportation to city government and education. His road trips have taken him to 46 states and 6 Canadian provinces. When he’s not traveling or writing about travel, he’s indulging in his passion for Minnesota sports teams and local government – he’s on the city council!
Our road trip took us through North Dakota, Montana, Alberta, British Columbia (including 2 ferries), Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. We went horseback riding and whitewater rafting; saw a glacier feeding three major river systems; basked in a non-stinky mineral spa; experienced mountains, high desert, rain forest, and the Pacific Ocean; and toured a majestic flower garden on Vancouver Island.
This type of road trip is what I call a “Whitman’s Sampler” in that we cover a lot of ground in a relatively short period of time. On these trips, we realize we can’t do everything and prioritize our activities.
The author (right center) and his granddaughter Ava (left center) whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River. The author’s wife is shrouded with spray to Ava’s left. (Photo courtesy of Hydra River Guides)
Our total cost for the trip was $2,540; total miles driven were 4,980. Later on in this article, I’ll share our secrets on saving money on road trips.
Read on to Day 1: Getting There
