Speaking of Travel.....

[gja1000]

My hubby and I are going to fly to Kansas City next Friday (1/16) where hubby's sister will pick us up and drive us to Beaver Lake to see hubby's aunt/uncle. Hubby's two other sisters and bil's will join us there (yes, that's total of 3 sisters). We'll stay Fri/Sat. with aunt/uncle and then go over to the Big Cedar Lodge on Sunday to spend the night. Then we'll head back to KC on Monday where we'll catch a plane back home at 5:00. Quick trip, but it will be fun. I'm so grateful that hubby is feeling better!!!

Speaking of travel....:) we are trying to decide where to go next summer. We would like to fly somewhere, rent a car and tour around for a week or ten days. We are "thinking' of flying into Billings Montana, driving down to Yellowstone and Jackson, WY then up through Mizzoula and into Canada (may not be able to do this though, in a rental car). We'll travel east across Canada for a ways, then into North Dakota and down to Rapid City SD to see the Badlands, etc. in that area.

Has anyone been to any of these places or traveled this route? I'm appreciate any tips, if you have.

[Marilyn]

Haven't done this exact route, but have been through Wyoming and Montana and up into Canada. Jackson, Wyoming, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park were all breathtaking!! We just went across the border into Canada and back to say we were there. This was a family trip when I was 17, but remember how beautiful it was. My favorite part was Jackson Lake Lodge at the foot of the Grand Tetons. I think this is maybe the most beautiful place in the world.

[Gina]

Sounds like fun, enjoy!

[AngieDoogles]

I don't have any tips cause I haven't been to any of those places, but it sure sounds like fun! I hope you have an amazing trip!

[gja1000]

Yes, Marilyn, that is the route we are thinking about. We've been one night on a bus tour to Jackson and Yellowstone and we want to go back. We would then travel up to Glacier National Park northest into Canada then east and then back down into North Dakota and South Dakota to see the black hills, mount Rushmore, etc.

[judy]

I was in Canada as a kid and loved it. It is a beautiful country. Montreal was cool, and Niagara Falls was fabulous. We went on the Maid of the Mist. I'll never forget that!

I don't know if those are in your route, but it sounds like a wonderful trip. I am so happy that Gary is feeling well enough to be planning vacations.

[DianaB]

It sounds like a wonderful vacation, Gayle!! Sorry, but I'm no help with your question. I've never been that far north.

[Tiramisu]

I vowed never to fly again, but all this talk makes me want to get out there. I've always wanted to do an East Coast roadtrip.

Sounds like you're going to have such a wonderful trip.

[Lindsey]

Yay Canada! How far west will you be when you come up? When I was younger we'd always take camping trips in the summer and head west to the mountains. Drumheller is pretty cool in Alberta, but I haven't been there in ages! http://www.traveldrumheller.com/ and http://www.discoveralberta.com/ have some cool things to see out there. If you go down into North Dakota, you will drive through my province, Saskatchewan :D Cypress hills is beautiful, and it is located in southern alberta and Saskatchewan. If you do make it up this far you'll have to check it out! http://www.cypresshills.com/
http://www.sasktourism.com/

I would assume you would be traveling on the Trans-Canada highway, which passes through Regina, which is only 2 hours south of me. http://www.transcanadahighway.com/ If you go this route, make sure to check out the Tunnels of Moose Jaw. I used to live there so I've been on both tours and they are very interesting! Moose Jaw also has a pretty cool mineral spa that you should stop at for a little dip in the pool :) When I went to college there my friends and I would go once a week!

[Shada]

That sounds fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't been on a real vacation in years... right now I am sitting here watching it snow snow snow, and then snow some more...

and I want out of here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gja1000]

Hi Lindsay! We will be coming up into Canada from Glacier National Park. It looks like we will go through Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, and Regina - heading south around Regina. Anything that you can tell me we should do/see in that area would be great!!!


Yay Canada! How far west will you be when you come up? When I was younger we'd always take camping trips in the summer and head west to the mountains. Drumheller is pretty cool in Alberta, but I haven't been there in ages! http://www.traveldrumheller.com/ and http://www.discoveralberta.com/ have some cool things to see out there. If you go down into North Dakota, you will drive through my province, Saskatchewan :D Cypress hills is beautiful, and it is located in southern alberta and Saskatchewan. If you do make it up this far you'll have to check it out! http://www.cypresshills.com/
http://www.sasktourism.com/

I would assume you would be traveling on the Trans-Canada highway, which passes through Regina, which is only 2 hours south of me. http://www.transcanadahighway.com/ If you go this route, make sure to check out the Tunnels of Moose Jaw. I used to live there so I've been on both tours and they are very interesting! Moose Jaw also has a pretty cool mineral spa that you should stop at for a little dip in the pool :) When I went to college there my friends and I would go once a week!

[Lindsey]

Hi Lindsay! We will be coming up into Canada from Glacier National Park. It looks like we will go through Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, and Regina - heading south around Regina. Anything that you can tell me we should do/see in that area would be great!!!

I have never been to Lethbridge but I have a few friends who have lived there and loved it! I've been told it's really beautiful there!
On your way to Medicine Hat, you'll pass through Taber - famous for corn! Try to eat some corn on the cob while you're there, it's delicious :)
"The Hat"... I had one wild night there a few years ago on my way to the mountains for a snowboarding trip... not to say I remember much of it! It looks like Cypress Hills is just 32 km south of the city, so a 20 minute drive. If you're interested in beautiful scenery, I'd suggest you make that trip!
Swift Current is.... boring. lol I don't know what to say about it. Been there lots, and never had anything to do! I just looked at their website and apparently there is a casino there lol.
On your way to Moose Jaw you'll pass a sign for a little town called Herbert... I tested all the concrete for their senior's complex a few years ago ;)
I love Moose Jaw!!! It's a very old city, and small and sleepy in the summer when most of the college classes are out. The mineral spa, as I mentioned before, is a great tourist attraction. People from all over the world go to Moose Jaw for it! The Tunnels are also really cool... they discovered that the city was built on top of a series of tunnels. There are two different tours explaining their uses, with dressed-up tour guides that take you right back in time. The Chicago Connection is based on Al Capone and bootlegging, and the Passage to Fortune is about Chinese Immigrants. Both are great tours! And you HAVE TO stop at "The Chocolate Moose" downtown... on top of having souveniers they also have amazing fudge and the best gelato I've ever had! http://www.tunnelsofmoosejaw.com/
Regina is our capital city, so a nice stop is the Legislature building which is in Wascana Park. Wascana park is the fourth largest urban park in Canada, at 2,300 acres (almost 3 times larger that Central Park which is 843 acres!) and it is gorgeous! If you have a nice day, definitely take a walk around the park. Regina also has the RCMP Training Academy which is pretty cool. I went there on a class trip when I was 14 :) They do guided tours around the facility and you'll get to catch them marching in uniform and cool stuff like that! They also have an RCMP Museum right there.
Not sure what else I can tell you but I'm sure more will come to me!

[Lindsey]

Oh and let me know when you'll be in Moose Jaw or Regina... I'd definitely take the trip down to at least have lunch with you or something :)

[gja1000]

Thanks so much Lindsay!!!! WOW! Lots of great information!!! I'm still not completely sure this is the trip we will take this summer, but if we do, I'm prepared!!! :D