The Juan de Fuca Trail in British Columbia, my first solo backpacking, had truly a therapeutic effect on me. The connection with nature, campfire conversations with fellow hikers, and enduring physical challenges were exactly what I needed as I was going through many changes in my personal life. The numbers for this trail can't do them justice, but I’ll try anyway: 47 km over 4 days and 3 nights, a total elevation gain and loss of 1,800 m, 441 floors climbed, and 3,700 calories burned on average per day. The level of happiness: insane.

Standing among the giant sequoias left a permanent mark on me. These 2,000- to 3,000-year-old natural wonders clearly overshadow humans and all man-made structures. When a massive fire ravaged Sequoia National Park in 2021, I was heartbroken. Upon returning to this place in 2024, witnessing the blackened landscape prompted me to write a story about monster forest fires to raise awareness.

Welcome to Venice Beach, one of the most iconic and vibrant neighbourhoods in Los Angeles! It’s also a capital of counterculture and activism, from the Beats to the hippies and punks. You can still feel the laid-back, bohemian vibe that has defined the neighbourhood for decades. Now, add drugs, alcohol and other substances, and you can truly appreciate how special this place and its people are!

This is the 2nd part of the article about the vibrant colours of Morocco. Here are the links to the Part 1 and Part 3.  

First time in Morocco?" a border security officer asked me with a strained smile. "Oh, is that an Arc'teryx bag you have? Can you lift it so I can show it to my colleague?" "Hey buddy, this is the bag I was talking about, from Canada." His colleague suddenly brightened up with excitement as my bag most certainly broke the monotony of his stamping routine. I stood there, waiting to get my passport back, unsure how much I should worry about my bag or any other possessions in this country. "Welcome to Morocco," said the officer cheerfully, "You'll like it." And I certainly did: Morocco turned out to be one of the most exotic and culturally rich places I've ever visited.

This is the second part of a story about my backpacking adventure to the Eastern Townships in late May 2023. In the previous article, I talked about some logistical challenges to travel without a car in Canada as well as my experience in the town of Sherbrooke. In this article, I'll cover the rest of my trip including the town of Magog, Mont-Orford National Park, and some places between them.

I’m continuing my experiments with car-free backpacking travel in North America to prove that not only is it possible, but it can actually be quite an enjoyable experience. Backpacking travel presents two key benefits over traditional car-centric travel: a focus on sustainability and a deeper connection to nature and local cultures. After all, if this form of travel has successfully thrived in numerous European, Asian, and Latin American countries, it is only logical to question why it would be any different in Canada and the United States. Right?

The COVID-19 pandemic made me realize that Ontario does not actually have too many backpacking opportunities close to big cities like Toronto or Ottawa. With the US-Canada borders closed, Adirondacks Mountains as well as other destinations in Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania are out of reach for most Canadians. So unless you're willing to get stuck behind a steering wheel for hours bound to Northern Ontario or Quebec, you're pretty much down to a few options. One of them is the 387 km / 240 mile Rideau Trail connecting Ottawa and Kingston, Ontario.

I'm not going to judge Québec for how quickly they are reopening their economy after a very strict lockdown and being hit pretty hard by COVID-19, but for someone who lives in Ontario, the difference in the reopening approaches between the two provinces seems very noticeable. When the right opportunity came, I didn't think twice before booking our first family camping of the year at Parc National du Mont-Tremblant. Incidentally, camping in Ontario was not even possible in mid-June. Travelling to Québec brought a very nice and completely unexpected bonus: the ability to eat inside a restaurant even if it's only pizza and ice cream. Indoor dining has become a faraway luxury after the four months of lockdown. If you're still questioning whether you should go camping at Mont-Tremblant or, frankly, any other provincial park in Québec, the answer is "Absolutely". Let me tell you why.

As state-at-home orders and lockdowns are being lifted across Canada, more and more people are increasingly looking forward to escaping their domiciles and finally going out. Health experts also agreed that spending time outdoors during the pandemic is even safer than staying inside, assuming, of course, that proper social distancing is maintained. Turns out, nature is a great healing power, so exposure to the outdoors will help you improve your physical and mental health. But don't get too excited, at least not yet, as travelling in Canada is largely limited to the province of your residence. But who said that exploring your own backyard is a bad idea? Especially, if your backyard is a beautiful wilderness within the city limits. 

I don't know about you, but I first learnt about Switzerland from a TV commercial featuring Milka Chocolate and lush green Swiss Alps valleys with perfectly groomed cows wearing sonorous bells. To my deepest disappointment, Milka Chocolate, though originally made in Switzerland, has been produced in Germany for the past 100 years. On the bright side, these Swiss valleys with perfectly groomed cows do exist, and I was fortunate enough to locate a few of them in Appenzell, a little village that sits next to the Swiss border with Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. 

In 2003, when a tornado struck the Kinzua Viaduct, once the longest and tallest railroad bridge in the world, the engineers turned a disaster into an opportunity and built a pedestrian skywalk with a glass floor on the remaining support towers. Kinzua Bridge State Park in northern Pennsylvania offers you a tour of the American rich railroad past as well as breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

European exploration of Upper Canada which makes most of Ontario today began at around present-day Ottawa and Kingston. Passable rivers and adjacent lakes were essential to maintain a reliable connection with other North American towns and cities and, of course, Europe. Being the oldest in the whole province, the area surrounding Ottawa and Kingston corners the prettiest towns built by the British and Irish settlers. One of those towns, Almonte, sits immediately west of Ottawa and was named by Expedia one of the 10 charming small towns in Canada.

As the April days are getting longer and warmer, you must spend more time outside. Especially when you can still enjoy it mosquito-free! I don't know about you, but I become very excited when I get a chance to explore a new place. And, by the way, a new place does not mean going far. Even if it's your own city or town, I guarantee there will always be something new yet to be discovered. That has been the case for me in Montreal where I happen to spend quite a bit of my time over the past two years. I've walked pretty much everywhere in the 5 km / 3-mile radius of the central train station. Mostly after work though when it's already dark outside. But longer spring days let me see more in daylight, that's why I'm always up for a nice walk after work. Continue reading to learn about an itinerary that I really enjoyed. It's strenuous due to its length and slightly off-the-beaten path, but I'm sure you'll like it too.