Many countries can say they built railways, however very few can brag that they were built by the railways. Canada is one of the few where the railway was the reason the nation exists in its current political borders. Despite various natural and man-made obstacles, the Canadian Pacific Railway linked Montreal and Toronto to Vancouver in 1885. In early 2025, my wife and I had a chance to enjoy Canada's spectacular landscapes firsthand on The Canadian, a four-night train journey from Vancouver to Toronto.

Today, I’m going to take you on a journey through the heart of Calgary, exploring the city's beloved and reliable CTrain system. We will discover how this iconic transit network has shaped the city's growth, connected its communities, and become an integral part of Calgary's identity. From its humble beginnings to its current status as one of North America's most efficient light rail transit systems, let’s discover this hidden urbanist gem and learn surprising facts that make the CTrain a true Calgary treasure.

This is the second part of the story about my 2020 ultimate road trip to British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. You will get a closer look at the two most iconic national parks in Canada - Banff and Jasper -  the number one reason most overseas visitors come to Canada. Both are located entirely in the province of Alberta, but we also will take a quick detour into the neighbouring Kootenay National Park to see its gorgeous Marble Canyon.

Road trips - my favourite road trips! I love them for many reasons. Sitting behind a steering wheel and enjoying the surrounding beauty that slowly unfolds before my eyes seems like a meditation. Road trips are also perfect to bond as a family. Though long driving may seem pretty monotonous and boring for rookies, you’ll be surprised how much you can learn from your travel companions under no time pressure if only you can patiently listen. I invite you to virtually join me on a 9-day road trip across most of southern British Columbia as well as Banff and Jasper National Parks. For a flatlander like me, the allure of snow-covered peaks, emerald lakes, mighty glaciers, immense ocean and a damp smell of old-growth rainforests was such a delight.

Though staycations will definitely be remembered as the biggest tourism trend of the year, 2020 offered a unique, almost one-in-the-lifetime opportunity to see Canada’s best landscapes without millions of international tourists. I obviously feel terrible for the loss or unearned revenue that COVID-19 brought to the Canadian tourism sector and am sincerely willing to chip in some extra cash from my taxpayer’s dollars to support the suffering industry, but man, those iconic Canadian places look so good without excessive crowds, long lines, always full parking lots, and overpriced hotel rooms! That's what lured me into committing to a road trip in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies in August 2020. But, first, let's understand how the global pandemic shaped travel experiences for those, like me, willing to venture beyond day trips from home.

With Donald Trump winning the 2016 US Presidential Elections and, as a result, thousands of Americans wanting to move to Canada, I bet there are only a few places left where you can legally canoe or hike between the two countries. One of them is Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park located at the Alberta-Montana border which comprises Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and Glacier National Park in the United States.

Though common in the United States and other parts of the world, badlands are a rare terrain in Canada. The name "badlands" was probably given by people who could not cultivate this land. But badlands are not as bad as they sound. It's actually quite the opposite, and many artists and just regular visitors find badlands very spectacular and even mesmerizing because of the variety of shapes and colours. Let's take a look at the largest badlands in Canada located in Dinosaur Provincial Park in Southern Alberta.

Not many people know that I actually wanted to settle in Alberta upon my immigration to Canada. This province has long attracted me for its beautiful nature, especially the Canadian Rockies. However, my preference was always Calgary, and never Edmonton. Ironically, I still have not made it to Calgary, even though I've lived in Canada for almost six years.

In September 2015, I was lucky enough to see a large part of Canada and the United States from the airplane’s window when I flew from Toronto to San Francisco with a connection in Vancouver. Throughout almost the entire flight the weather was clear and sunny, so I was able to see all those places over which we were flying from the altitude of 10,000 meters. On this picture - sunrise over Toronto.