Accommodation | I Backpack Canada

Aug 21st 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: HI Edmonton

Once again, another great Canadian hostel has agreed to give the readers of iBackpackCanada.com a bit of a tour and answer a few questions about the backpacking life in Edmonton, Alberta. This city has been growing in popularity as a tourist destination, and for good reason. There’s plenty to see, and even more to do. So we’ve got Greg Waskul, the manager of HI-Edmonton, to tell...

Jul 8th 10 Posted by Corbin

Northern Saskatchewan Fishing Trip: Part 2

I awoke with the smell of last nights campfire covering me, I breathed in, savoring it. I love that smell. The boys and I played catchup with the old man. He was already on his second cup of campfire-coffee, rancid stuff, but good in a pinch. We got our gear hauled back into our water chariot. I scooped what was left of the 3 bags of ice we purchased on the way up, which was maybe 12 cubes...

Jul 5th 10 Posted by Corbin

Northern Saskatchewan Fishing Trip: Part 1

As highway 6 stretched further North, the small towns that were so frequent began to be replaced by lush vistas of the boreal forest. It’s funny how easy it is to forget that there is more to Saskatchewan than just farms and prairies. Saskatchewan is after all larger than France, and nobody mistakes France for being home to only winefields and sexy beaches. Regardless of our own assumptions of...

Jun 29th 10 Posted by Corbin

Backpack Toronto: Things to See and Do

Downtown Toronto Stay: Most of the city’s hostels are found downtown. Some top rated ones include: Backpackers on Dundas, Clarence Castle and the Canadiana Backpackers Inn. Visit: Walk to the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, ROM, AGO, see the Blue Jays, Raptors or the Leafs depending on the season. Shop: Check out the Eaton Center or if you prefer shopping outside Queen West has many big chains like...

Jun 22nd 10 Posted by Corbin

Gone Fishing in Northern Saskatchewan

Off to McLennan Lake It’s been over a decade since I’ve spent any significant amount of time in Northern Saskatchewan. Through luck, fate, or just sheer coincidence, my Dad and two brothers and I have all managed to find enough time off to make the 12 hour drive up north to McLennan Lake for some fishing, camping, and some good old fashion wholesome outdoor activities. Chances are I’ll...

Jun 9th 10 Posted by Corbin

Two discount cards you should carry when traveling in Canada

Backpacking in Canada can be crazy expensive, but if you play it smart, and take advantage of the discounts available to you, you can make the journey quite a bit cheaper. There are countless discounts out there, many places don’t charge children, or offer a decent percentage off for being over 60 years old. But if you’re in your 20’s and you’ve got no kids and have yet to trade...

Jun 2nd 10 Posted by Corbin

The Ultimate List of Summer Music festivals in Canada

Stone cold fact. Canadians know how to party. It’s been proven time and time again, and with any luck, should continue this way far beyond the time my bones turn to mush and my skin sags to old. One of the amazing things about Canada is the fact that no matter what time of day, or what season it is, there’s bound to be a festival somewhere. However, since summer is such a short season,...

May 31st 10 Posted by Corbin

Big win for Backpacking in British Columbia

Chalk one up for the backpacking scene in British Columbia, Hostelling International has unveiled yet another hostel in Canada, this time boasting a 188 bed hostel in Whistler, B.C. This four storey hostel is found in the new Cheakamus Crossing subdivision, that was originally set out for athletes housing during the Winter Games. The 188 beds are spread across over 40 four-person shared rooms, private...

May 11th 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: HI-Castle Mountain Wilderness Hostel

Numero huit mes amis! It would be sheer lunacy to ignore some of the amazing hostels found a little further off the beaten trail. One of these rare beauties is the Castle Mountain Wilderness Hostel, yet another amazing HI-Canada hostel. Tony Chatham was kind enough to give us a few answers along with an amazing description on what you can expect when you book a night in the famous Castle Mountain Hostel. Q:...

Apr 28th 10 Posted by Corbin

Top 7 Must-Have Foods for Camping Trips

Bush Pie Bush Pie may not sound like the most delicious type of food you would want to be scarfing on in front of a fire, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Hands down, Bush Pie is one of the most crucial pieces of food to make any camping trip a success. With its crisp outside and the insane amount of things you can put in them, they’re like the gift that keeps on giving. What is a bush...

Apr 20th 10 Posted by Corbin

Camping in Canada: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Find your way to the west coast of Canada and be prepared for some of the most scenic views in Canada. The Pacific Rim National Park has a rugged ocean coastline and hundreds of kilometers of dense rain forests, perfect for hiking and camping. This luscious area is one of British Columbia’s most popular National Parks. The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a hefty 511 square kilometers and...

Apr 8th 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: HI Vancouver Central

Lucky number 7! As usual, HI Canada went above and beyond and hooked me up with another interview. These interview questions were answered by Keith Luciow, the Manager at HI-Vancouver Central Hostel. So rather than wasting your time, lets dive right into the meat and potatoes and find out a little more about one of Vancouvers most popular hostels. Q: How long have you been operating your hostel? A:...

Apr 5th 10 Posted by Corbin

Camping in Canada: Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

Straddling the border of Saskatchewan and Alberta sits Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. If you’re looking for the best view of the Great Plains of Saskatchewan and the lush hills of Alberta, this is the place to see it. Cypress Hills rises 600 meters above the plains and offers some of the most breath taking pieces of scenery you’ll see in this part of Canada. There’s so much room for...

Mar 30th 10 Posted by Corbin

A New Series of Posts: Camping in Canada

So my commitment in this last month has wavered severely, so in order to keep me locked in to write as much as possible, I’ve decided it’s time to start a new series of posts. I’ve been scratching my head on how to approach this idea for a long time, 6 months at least. It’s getting to the point where I’m just ready to dive in and start writing about it. The topic, Camping...

Mar 2nd 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: HI Penticton

Number five Com Padres! I’m excited to still be working on this series of posts. Surprised it’s come this far. Once again, HI Canada pulled through with this interview. This time we’re taking a sneak peak at HI Penticton Hostel, which is located in the beautiful city of Penticton, British Columbia. Lisa Grey-Dreaper was kind enough to answer some questions, so let’s get started! Q:...

Feb 17th 10 Posted by Corbin

Save Big Bucks with Travelgrove

There are plenty of services out there to find cheap flights online. By now most people know that this is definitely the way to go when you’re trying to save money on your travels. However, one thing people seem to neglect is how much you can save by shopping around. I’ve recently come across an online flight booking service that not only makes this process as stress free as possible, it...

Feb 6th 10 Posted by Corbin

3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

Learn about the Doukhobors in Veregin, Saskatchewan This national historic site has some great stories to tell. In 1899 over 7400 Russian Doukhobors immigrated to Canada to take their claim of the Canadian government promise of land and religious freedom. The Doukhobors were persecuted in Russia for their beliefs. They completely rejected the secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons,...

Feb 2nd 10 Posted by Corbin

HI still has beds available for Vancouver Olympics!

With the Olympics nearing closer and closer, many people are scratching their heads, wondering where they’ll be staying. The fear of not having a place to sleep has likely been causing many people to second guess checking out the Vancouver Olympics. HI Hostels recently announced that they still have rooms! A large block of beds have just been released at HI-Vancouver Jericho Beach. Dorms start...