RV Lifestyle Hiking Hiking requires little in the way of equipment, although you do need reliable hiking shoes and possibly a backpack or hiking poles. You get to enjoy the great outdoors, while getting a little exercise. Time to lace up your hiking boots! Maybe a strenuous trek up a mighty peak is what you’re after. There’s no better place than the Canadian Rockies. Jasper was recently named one of the 30 best national parks across the globe. Outside, an online publication, has included the picturesque spot on its list of must-see destinations. Jasper is the only Canadian entry.The Alberta mountain town finds itself among the likes of Kruger National Park in South Africa, Fuji-Hakone-Izu in Japan, Plitvice Lakes in Croatia and Corcovado in Costa Rica, to name a few. Jasper can sometimes be overshadowed by its cousin to the south, Banff, but Outside said that this park is the definition of “wild and scenic.” The publication notes that it’s the largest park in the Canadian Rockies, as it has one million-plus more acres than Banff. Jasper is also host to a robust population of wildlife, making it a popular tourist destination for travellers to explore. Or maybe you see yourself walking along an ancient trail. Perhaps meandering down a boardwalk is more your speed. Whether you’re looking for rugged slopes or a flat, smooth boardwalk, there’s a national park trail for you. Provincial parks also offer many opportunities to hit the trail. Personal favourites include Mount Robson andWells Grey in British Columbia and Writing-onStone and Lesser Slave Lake in Alberta. Get ready, adventure awaits! Biking Biking, like hiking, is a fantastic way to experience both easy and challenging trails throughout the spring season. Biking through national parks, provincial parks and local parks is a great way to see beautiful scenery and discover new places. Cyclists can travel by roads (which are sometimes car-free) and, in some parks, on select trails. There are many places in parks on which cars cannot go, but you can cover more ground and visit new places on a bike. Some parks offer bike rentals; others provide guided biking activities. Sniff some wildflowers (but mind your allergies) As Tom Petty sings, you belong among the wildflowers (the part he missed − unless you are allergic). AndMother Nature agrees. As the blooms begin to make an appearance, Annapolis Valley and the mountains are always a good bet. Spring festivals of note include the 88th Annual Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival (May 25-30). Fishing Awide range of people go fishing and, if you ask different people why it is their favourite hobby, they will likely answer that fishing gives them relief from stress and they feel free. Freedom is what you experience when you go fishing. Whether you fish in a stream or lake, you experience and appreciate an environment that is entirely different from your ordinary life. When you interact with nature, you become a part of it. What better way to spend time in a beautiful setting. Birding Birding (or birdwatching) has become one of the fastest-growing hobbies in North America. As the name suggests, it’s the act of watching, monitoring, feeding, filming or photographing birds − of which there are more than 450 different species in Canada. One in five Canadians is doing it. And, according to the most recent Canadian Nature Survey, birdwatchers will spend an average of 133 days a year on the activity. “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” —John Muir Mount Robson Provincial Park 26 | www.snowbirds.org
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