Apr 20

Why You Should Take a Road Trip Through Canada this Spring

Ah, spring is here. Unless winter intends to shake off a last minute blizzards, you can look forward to those long days of light and warmth, and all the activities you’ve been longing to enjoy. You’re probably already planning a ton of A drive to Banff National Park can lead you to majestic scenary and memorable activities. BBQs, sport days and outings. And then there the vacations. If you didn’t have a chance to escape winter, and want to travel, you might want to use this time to take a trip. However, flying to a tropical getaway may be hard on your wallet. But there is an alternative – a drive through Canada. You might not see the appeal of a Canadian road trip immediately, but embarking on such an adventure can bring you long lasting memories and savings down the road.

What Canadians Often Forget When Vacationing

The allure of basking on white sand under the sun while gazing into a turquoise ocean is hard to resist for many. After all, where in Canada can you find such settings? However, it’s not unusual to find Canadians ignoring their circumstances, planning a trip they might not be ready for. Sometimes it’s fine to venture out on an impromptu trip, but it isn’t something you should do unless you are confident in the stability of your finances.

Vacations Can Lead to Debt

A vacation is supposed to leave a person feeling refreshed and energized afterwards. Yet so many people return to their respective homes feeling more stress than they did before leaving. Why? The cost of their trip, which was simply too much for their budget, has led them into debt. For example, it’s not unusual for the average Canadian to spend $1500 – $2000 on a vacation. This cost often covers ticket and hotel fees, although some vacationers spend this much without having all of these things accounted for. And these fees are generally for each person. It’s also important to mention that some people are prone to overspending when travelling abroad, and these ones may impose additional expenses on their credit card. These debts may take months, if not years to pay off.

Vacations May Add Onto Existing Debts

The expense of a vacation itself may not cause too much strain, but it can certainly add onto your plate. In other words, taking an expensive trip at the wrong time can make existing debts difficult to diffuse. Imagine how tough it would be if you had vacation expenses piled onto student debt. Or imagine having to deal with a bad credit car loan while paying for travel expenses. For many Canadians, there’s a mortgage and other lingering fees from large purchases (ie. furniture, electronics). It’s unfortunate to see many Canadians who don’t pay close attention to their financial situation, getting buried under additional debts due to vacations. However, you avoid this.

The Location of Your Vacation Matters

You’ve probably heard people say, “it doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you get there.” In the grand scheme of life, it’s a great adage to follow. However, when keeping your credit and finances in good condition, you’ll want to take such advice lightly. How you get there and where you go can cost you a lot in the long run. An all-inclusive trip to the Caribbean, Europe or Australia may seem like the dream of a life-time, but it would certainly leave your pockets dry if you didn’t have the budget for it to begin with. These locales are exotic and in high demand, making it easy for hotels and airlines to jack up their prices. Does that mean you should forget about them altogether? No. With that said, you shouldn’t throw yourself into a well of debt if you won’t be able to climb out.

Hit the Road Jack…In Canada

You need not feel at a loss if you can’t fly off to a far away destination- there are alternatives. Why not consider the great locales of Canada? To put things into perspective, Canada is 9,984,670 km², making it the second-largest country in the world after Russia. There are six time zones and thanks to its geographical location, there is a diverse range of landscapes to see. In fact, Canada is home to some breathtaking scenery, which you wouldn’t find elsewhere. And all of these sights are yours to see by means of a road trip. The good news too, is a Canadian road trip has many advantages over a flight to another a country.

It’s Often Cheaper to Travel Within Canada

Vacation packages aren’t getting much cheaper. Sure, you can find deals here and there, but the rising cost of fuel (airplanes), along with the economical conditions of other countries are making travel a bit more expensive for us all. Compare this to a roadtrip. Although you will have to pay for gas, food and lodging, the costs of these necessities may not amount to the fee associated with flight. Even if a road trip costs nearly the same amount as a flight, it can still be affordable since the cost is often shared (you can split the bill). For a flight, however, each traveller may have to spend $2,000 or more. Therefore, if you’re looking to see new places without having to spend too much money, a Canadian road trip is worth your while.

See New Sides of the Country

Want to see the high tides? Venture out to the Bay of Fundy. As was mentioned earlier, Canada is a huge country. Within its vastness, there are picturesque landscapes that you may not see elsewhere, and many of them will literally leave you in awe. A big aspect of travelling anywhere is the opportunity to explore its sights and attractions. Canada offers plenty of unique scenes. Majestic mountains with snowy peaks, dense forests of towering trees, winding roadways along coastlines that stretch into the horizon – you name it, Canada’s got it. There aren’t many countries that offer such diversity and if they do, you might have dish out a lot for it. So embarking on such a road trip may change your life.

Regions to Explore

Maritime Canada

  • Cape Spear (Newfoundland) – Sight of historic lighthouse (dating back to 1836) overlooking the Atlantic ocean. Also, Canada’s easternmost point.
  • Bay of Fundy (Nova Scotia/New Brunswick) – Home of the world’s highest tides.
  • Green Gables (Prince Edward Island) – 19th century farm in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island; also setting in the famous literary novel, “Anne of Green Gables”

Pacific Canada

  • Banff and Jasper National Parks (Alberta) – Skiing, fishing, mountaineering, hiking and incredible sightseeing of the Rocky Mountains.
  • Vancouver Island Redwood Forests (British Columbia) – Witness some of the world’s tallest and oldest trees.
  • Capilano Suspension Bridge (British Columbia) – Vancouver’s oldest attraction, you can walk over a canyon floor at a height of 226 feet above ground.

Central/Eastern Canada

  • Hudson Bay (Manitoba) – Get up and close with Beluga whales and polar bears.
  • Niagara Falls/Maid of the Mist (Ontario) – You may have journeyed to falls, but it’s time to get sprayed by them.
  • M/V Louis Joliet (Quebec) – See the Chateau Frontenac while cruising along the St. Lawrence river.

A World of Attractions in Your Backyard <h2tags>

While some getaways may only offer you pretty beaches or a buzzing nightlife, Canada offers you much more than you can digest in a single day. And the beauty of it all is the accessibility. There is unparalleled diversity in terms of sightseeing and activities, and you should consider making one of these Canadian destinations the next place you visit. Ultimately, you can see these grand sights without spending the prices commonly imposed on those looking to fly out of the country. This is a big deal for those of you who already have debts from mortgages, a car loan or student expenses. So if you’re looking to win all across the board, consider taking a road trip across Canada this spring!

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