Photo by RedBull

While I’d love to say I’m crazy enough (and fit enough) to compete with these guys, chances are I’d get trampled. My skating skills are best left on the outdoor rinks, and not “ice slaloms”. My own skills aside, I decided before the holidays that I was going to try to check it out this year! Seeing and experiencing the Red Bull Crashed Ice event in Old Quebec has been on my bucket list since I first heard of it. Living on the East Coast, it’s now way more feasible to just pop by and it out!

Photo by Redbull

When I first heard about Crashed Ice I was blown away. As kids we did almost the exact same thing, only on a smaller scale with a smaller crowd, and without energy drinks. We would play Shinny at the local outdoor rink until we couldn’t feel our toes. -30 degrees celcius and you’d still see us out there, frozen boogers, icy eyelids, rosey cheeks and giant smiles. Being kids, our attention could only be on one thing for so long, and distractions became a routine to a night out at the rink. Our local rink was nearby this big giant hill (giant on a Saskatchewan scale), and one of us had the genius idea of strapping on our skates and using the skates as a make shift “stand-up toboggan”. After the first guinea pig made it down alive, it wasn’t long before we turned it into a competition. I remember telling my parents all about it when we got home and my Dad scornfully laughed as he told us  ”You probably wrecked your skates, but way to go!”.

Crashed Ice takes place this March in Quebec! Stop by, cheer loud, and keep an eye out for me!

I still haven’t decided where I’ll be staying when I travel to Quebec. I’m considering either checking out the local hostels, maybe splurging on a hotel, or going crazy and finding one of the local vacation rentals! Click here to check those out!

Crashed Ice is Coming Back to Quebec, and this Hoser’s checking it out! is a post from: I Backpack Canada

A warm welcome from a green building

Stepping into the downstairs lobby, it feels as if I’ve traveled to the future. A future inspired by the aesthetic design of Apple Inc, with all of the added benefits of sustainable living. In this future, staff wear cool t-shirts, buildings have awesome modern Canadian art on the walls, and travelers try to leave as little impact on the world as possible. It takes me a second to realize that this is real. Why aren’t more places like this? My curiosity was getting the best of me as performed an ocular pat-down of the hostel commons area.

One of the friendly staff members, (also sporting a cool t-shirt) showed me around this modern building. He covered the rules of the hostel, and explained the kitchen etiquette, and then gets into what separates Planet Traveler from the rest of the gang. He explained there is free wifi throughout the entire hostel & several iMac’s situated in the lobby (free to use), should you not be a laptop traveler. A commons area on the main floor allows guests from all over the world to socialize, and another on the 5th floor patio, which offers the best view of downtown Toronto that I’ve ever seen. (See last photo in this blog post! Yea, that good!)

I was then taken to the beating heart of the hostel. I looked through the glass door as the staff member informed me what steps are being taken by the hostel to ensure the smallest ecological footprint is made. The solar panels located on the roof aide in the electrical consumption of the building and also heat the water throughout the hostel.

Photo by Natalie Taylor

After pulling my jaw off the floor, I’m told that the entire building is outfitted with LED lights, which allows the entire hostel to be lit by the same amount of power that a typical household toaster would use. A smile creeps across his face as I’m visibly blown away by this information. Clearly the staff is proud to work here. Why wouldn’t they! This place is awesome!

Friendly & Happy Hostel Staff

While making my way to my room, I bumped into another staff member. She was on cleaning duty, but I managed to pull her away from work long enough to chat. She was from Germany and had been working at Planet Traveler for almost a month. I asked how she enjoyed working at this eco friendly hostel. She warmly smiled and told me how much she loved it. She explained that the entire staff are able to switch jobs whenever they want. If she wants to be at the Front of House checking guests in, she can, if she’d rather keep to herself that day, she can do room cleaning.

Photo by Natalie Taylor

Having worked at several hostels before, I know how nice it is to get out of doing the same job over and over again. This community mentality really seemed to help. Staff & guests are warm and inviting and generally seem to have the same mentality towards this movement. “These places are great for everyone, hopefully someday all hostels & buildings will be built this way” explained one of my fellow guests.

This hostel takes green to a new level!

I checked into my room expecting the same modern and eco-friendly treatment. I wasn’t disappointed. Clean white walls, fresh linens, and a duvet that was practically begging me to sleep with it. A calming green warmth surrounded the room, allowing me to feel like I’m both in luxury, and in nature. I looked around for the source of this feeling, and spot the upper window pane. A lime green piece of glass tweaks the harsh sunlight, cooling off the room and putting me into a happy state of mind.

Photo by Planet Traveler

Planet Traveler has done everything in its power to promote these feelings of quality, security, and clean ecological living. You don’t have to sacrifice electricity, hot water, or the comforts of home in order to be “Green”. Technology exists to make the impact of our own existence a small afterthought, but it requires clever designers, smart people, and eco conscious members of the community to make this type of living happen.

Photo taken from Planet Traveler Rooftop Patio!

Travelers are beginning to realize that they have an impact on the places they visit, something that’s easily visible at the Planet Traveler. If you’re in Toronto, and care about the world at all, be sure to book a reservation.

Planet Traveler

(647) 352-8747

@planet_traveler

Special thanks to the folks at Planet Traveler for assisting Natalie Taylor & Myself during our recent adventure in Toronto. All opinions expressed herein are my own. Disclosure Boom! 

Get Eco-Friendly at The Planet Traveler – North America’s Greenest Hostel is a post from: I Backpack Canada

I honestly lucked out with this whole Wolf Den Hostel encounter. Natalie Taylor (of Near Afar) and I had spoke about it but knew we were short on nights in Algonquin Park, so we weren’t able to book an evening there. Bummer! Fortunately, after an amazing 5 hour guided canoe tour with Jamie Honderich, care of Algonquin Outfitters, we had the chance to explore this unique & inviting Ontario marvel. It wasn’t planned by all means. As luck would have it our canoe guide, who’s also a teacher, just so happened to be the original owner. This man literally built the Wolf Den from the ground up! Timbre by timbre.

Jamie wanted us to meet the new owner Ben Teskey, unfortunately he was out running errands that particular day. We came across one of the staff members, who after hearing our little story was happy to let us tour the grounds snapping photos. Jamie was pulling double duty, not only had he shared his knowledge of the history and culture behind Canoe Lake & Algonquin Park, he was also telling us about how the Wolf Den came to be.

As with most savvy business owners, Jamie saw a niche that nobody else had filled. The closest hostel to Algonquin Park at the time was the HI Maynooth. It wasn’t long before work got started on building a bunkhouse where international & domestic travellers could meet and congregate, winter or summer, and experience as much of Algonquin park as possible.

Jamie took us through step by step what was built first, even going so far as to include where some of the wood came from. Turns out a lot of the wood came from his family farm, while some of the guard rails inside were just lucky finds during long hikes.

We wandered around each building. Stepping on freshly fallen leaves, the smell of autumn surrounded this place. I watched as Jamie touched each building. He happily explained details about the building process of each log cabin. It was easy to see that he’d put a lot of heart and soul into this project.

When I asked “Why did you sell it?“, he warmly replied “Running this place was a full time job, and ultimately family always comes first for me. It was time, and I still feel it was the right decision.”

As we entered the Bunkhouse, Jamie told stories of parties & musical gatherings that he used to throw on the upper level of the Wolf Den Bunkhouse. The walls of this bunkhouse oozed Ontario. Snowshoes & cross country skis hung from the walls, and an old wooden canoe was propped above the rafters. A pile of instruments were setup in the corner of the room. Cozy doesn’t begin to describe this room.

We climbed down the sturdy wooden stairs, through the large open kitchen, and found our shoes at the door. Jamie Honderich told us that if we ever make it back to Algonquin Park to be sure to stay a night at the Wolf Den. “You’ll have to meet Ben! Out of all the people that were interested in buying Wolf Den, he was the only one I could let myself sell to. He had a similar vision of what the Wolf Den is and what it can become; a safe, home away from home in one of nature’s most beautiful playgrounds.”

The Wolf Den Bunkhouse & Hostel is open year round for people of all age.

Jamie Honderich now operates his own B&B with his partner Pam, check them out at Morgan House, just outside of Algonquin Park. Huge thanks goes out to Jamie for being the friendliest and most knowledgable guide I’ve ever had!

Experience Algonquin Park At The Wolf Den Hostel & Bunkhouse [Photo Essay] is a post from: I Backpack Canada

The Historical Arlington Hotel

HI Maynooth is located in a century old frontier hotel that was once and technically still is ”The Arlington”. The layout for the most part remains unchanged. Creeks in the floors and doors greet you all over the hotel while the warm smiles from fellow travellers make this place feel as if you truly belong. 

South Algonquin Hostel Features

The hostel has a shared kitchen and a few bathrooms & showers (some on the 2nd floor, more on the 3rd). A commons area with comfy couches and plenty of stretching room provides a great end to a long day on the road or in Algonquin Park. The hostel is old, but despite its years remains well kept and clean.

HI Maynooth can be reached easily by car or by Greyhound Bus. Once you’re settled in Tom, the hostel owner & manager will gladly help set you up for any type of adventure. Whether you’re after horseback riding in the Algonquin Highlands, or Canoeing & Kayaking in the hundreds of lakes in Algonquin Park, the folks at HI Maynooth will ensure you’re geared up with all the tools and knowledge you’ll need.

My Advice

Algonquin Park is incredibly massive. People tend to assume its something you pop in and out and say you’ve “done that”. Let me assure you that you couldn’t be more wrong. Algonquin Park is not a day trip. You literally need an entire season to even put a dent in it. If your dent is going to be the southern part of Algonquin Park, setting up shop in HI Maynooth for a while might be your best bet.

Be sure check HI Maynooth out online and pop in for a visit.

HI South Algonquin

Box 233, Algonquin, ON, M5E 1B4

HI South Algonquin – A Gateway to Algonquin Park is a post from: I Backpack Canada

I wrapped the plastic flexible tripod around one of the handrails that line the rooftop ledge, popped in my iphone4 and pointed it towards the skyline. While I was writing I could hear the whole unit shaking with every gust of wind. As you can see in the video, it captured a lot of that shake. But I feel like the music that I stuck on it fits the shakiness. So lets just say totally meant to do that…

Toronto Skyline Timelapse

Toronto is one of those cities that the more I visit, the more I love. If you would have asked me a few years ago what my thoughts of Toronto were, I probably would have said “Toronto!!! Not for me, you can have it!“. That may or may not have been because I’ve got a some serious small town hick running through these veins. Nowadays I think I could totally live there, or at least spend a significant amount of time there without hating myself. Very cool city, nice people, lots to do, and you can’t not come out of Toronto with at least a couple funny stories.

Sunday Canadian Travel Video – Toronto Skyline Timelapse is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Natalie Taylor (of Near Afar) and I were there gathering research for our trip up to Algonquin Park at this world famous Art Collection. For those unaware of the McMichael, it is a treasure trove full of rare and valuable Canadian Art, including pieces by Frank Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackon, and Tom Thomson. Surrounded by all of these amazing pieces of Canadian Art I couldn’t help but think how much I wish I had a photo of this.

As I was taking in the museum experience, I saw this young lady snapping photos like crazy. I laughed thinking to myself “This chick is crazy! Security is going to jump her for sure!”. Our tour guide, Avril, warmly asked if she had permission to take photos.

Natalie & Corbin - Photo by Sabrina Savoy

Jupiter’s moons must have been lined up, or maybe we just got lucky. It turned out this young lady was taking photos for Ontario Tourism. When we told her we were doing some work with Ontario Tourism about the history and adventure in Algonquin Park she kindly agreed to snap a few photos of us. Turns out she needed some people in her shots to make the shot more lively anyways so it worked out great.

A Tom Thomson - Photo by Sabrina Savoy

I’m extremely grateful I was able to come out of the McMichael Art Collection with more than memories & a new intrigue into the Group of Seven. Big thanks goes out to Sabrina Savoy for being awesome and sharing these photos with us, and extra big thanks to Avril, our tour guide in the McMichael. Her knowledge of Canadian Art & the nature the inspired the Group of 7 movement was astounding.

Photo Du Jour – Tom Thomson Paintings at the McMichael Art Collection is a post from: I Backpack Canada

1. Easy to get to!

Whether by plane, train, or automobile, HI Toronto is incredibly easy to find.

If you’re flying from Eastern Canada with Porter Airlines, you can land like a rockstar in downtown Toronto at the Island Airport. A free ferry, and free Porter shuttle will get you as far as the Fairmont Royal York. From there you can easily hoof it for 10 minutes or grab a cab or street car and find yourself on the front steps of the HI Toronto Hostel.

If you’re coming from the Pearson International Airport you can hop on the Airport Express and get to the Fairmont Royal York as well. From there walk (10 minutes) or cab up to HI Toronto.

If you want to get your train on, you can take subway from Union Station to King. From there its an easy walk east to Church St. Turn left and walk up a bit and the bright orange building will be in sight.

2. Awesome Sauce Staff

Rumour has it the staff of HI Toronto takes a shot of awesome sauce every morning to maintain peak performance. Whether its booking tours, answering questions, giving high fives, or locking up your luggage, the friendly staff go out of their way to make your stay in Toronto as pleasant as possible.

Question about the nearby food? Boom! They’ll answer that. Question about nearby pubs? Double boom! They’re all over that. Most of the staff have been in Toronto long enough to be able to share their vast knowledge of the city and its people. This is super valuable if you’re intimidated at all by getting around Toronto.

3. Hostel Activities

If you’re flying solo on your Canadian adventure, chances are you’ll be keen on meeting new people. HI Toronto makes every effort to ensure you’re not the anti social leper you know you sometimes can be. Weekly pubcrawls & BBQ’s are a great way to meet new people and get a better understanding of the layout of Toronto.

If you’d rather hustle than bustle, there’s a free billiards table in the commons room where you can show off your pool prowess. The commons area also has several computers to get your Facebook on; however, I should note those aren’t free. Wifi is free though, so as long as you have a phone that isn’t from the stone age you’ll remain connected should you desire.

Boardgames & drinking games are a great way to save money and meet new people. During my most recent stay Beer Pong was on the agenda for the evening, however they also have Quiz Nights, Beach Trips, and Movie nights. If crowds aren’t your thing, head up to the 5th floor rooftop patio. While not technically an activity, it’s a great spot to hang out and take in some fresh air.

4. Great Deals & Savings

We’re all cheap. Let’s face it. Thankfully HI Toronto puts in their best effort to keep that hole in your pocket from burning too much. You can save a bit of cash by just carrying your HI Card on you, but they don’t stop there. If you know you’ll be in Toronto for more than a couple nights, you can save some extra Sir Wilfred Laurier’s (5$ bills) and earn a good meal by booking for multiple nights. Their 3 night and 5 night pass earn you a bunch of savings, including some free sights and attractions within Toronto.

5. The Cavern Cafe

Walking down to the Cavern Cafe may feel like you’re entering a bit of a dungeon. But as soon as the warm red glow of the cafe envelopes you, there’s no turning back. This cafe is neat! The Cavern Cafe serves up a warm breakfast and dinner to travellers from all over the world. While the shared kitchen is only a short walk down the hall, I assure you that it will be tough to walk by without ordering something.

Meals from the Cavern Cafe are offered with several of the discounts and packages or can be purchased separately. Be sure to ask their Awesome Sauce Staff.

In summary, HI Toronto is full of everything you’ll need to get started on some serious Cross Canada action. Meet some people, drink some beer, share some stories, shoot some pool, and figure out Toronto like a local. Can’t get a whole lot better than that.

HI-TORONTO YOUTH HOSTEL

76 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5C 2G1

(416) 971-4440 ‎

5 Reasons You Should Start Your Canadian Journey at HI Toronto Hostel is a post from: I Backpack Canada

The Ragged Falls are located along the Oxtongue River, just west of Algonquin Park in the Oxtongue Provincial Park. The Oxtongue river cuts through Algonquin Park and can be accessed off of Highway 60.

I managed to make it up to The Ragged Falls just in time for the start of sunset and spent roughly an hour taking it all in.

Photo Du Jour: The Ragged Falls, Ontario is a post from: I Backpack Canada

This time lapse was taken from the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower. It’s located on this incredible hill above the town, overlooking the Lake of Bays in the Muskoka and Haliburton area. While it’s not technically “Algonquin Park”, its pretty darn close. After climbing the rickety metal structure, I was a little out of breathe. I counted a total of 116 steps, although I may have messed up near the end as I began to realize I need to work out more.

I was carrying my new Gorrila Pod & my handy iPhone 4, so I set up shop for roughly 20 minutes and commenced time lapsing. This video was the result of it all. See below for photos as well.

Switch to 720p if you’re on a good connection please! 

 Special thanks to Avril from the McMichael Art Gallery for telling us to make the Dorset Tower a stop.

Sunday Canadian Travel Video – Dorset Tower Time Lapse in Ontario is a post from: I Backpack Canada

This photo was taken at Canoe Lake, one of the most important lakes in the Algonquin Park area due to its connection with Tom Thomson, a famous Canadian artist who was part of the Group of 7 movement. I got extremely lucky with this shot, the reflections seemed to be perfect, and the shades of autumn colours were just right. It has an almost abstract feel to it, but its hands down one of my favourite shots from that lake. Water isn’t normally that glass like and to catch it with those colours, I was pretty gosh darn psyched.

If you’ve ever wondered what fall camping in Ontario is like, check back soon. There’ll be plenty of Ontario posts coming up throughout the next couple weeks.

Photo Du Jour: Algonquin Park’s Autumn Reflections is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Photo by Natalie Taylor

I had never ridden a Segway before. But safety comes first with Segway Of Ontario, followed shortly thereafter by Teamwork. Our Segway Guide “Chris”, a charming, and dare I say “awesome” fellow took us through how to properly drive these units, even going so far as setting up an obstacle course to navigate. I must admit, I was worried my Toronto “street cred” would be harmed if I were caught riding this contraption. Thankfully he threw in a few Segway tips for looking extra cool while wearing a helmet.

• Wave at as many ladies as you can
• Make engine noises
• Make brake noises when turning sharp or coming to a stop

Outfitted with Segways and wise words, my friend Natalie Taylor (of Near Afar) and I were off with our new favourite guide. We did one quick lap to get comfortable, then we went deep into history. Not the polished type of history where everyone lived in rich Victorian houses and sat around drinking tea all day. We went 100% into the history of the Distillery District.

Photo by Natalie Taylor

Now I spoke to my friend Natalie about whether or not I should include much about this part of the tour. By all means, the history amped up the tour quality from a 10 to an 11, but I worry that I might give away too much. Basically I’m trying to prevent you from becoming that guy or girl at the comedy club who knows every ones routine.

Natalie Taylor Learning To Segway

So in sheer respect to the ruggedly awesome guide Chris and the fellows at Segway Ontario, all I will reveal is that the tour involves sampling Mill Street Beer (award winning stuff!), locally made Chocolate, and learning about the true old Toronto. Chalk full of alcoholism, immigration, labour rights, and the history behind what was once North America’s largest distillery.

No cliches with people in costumes pretending to be from some old era, no boring flashbacks to those old history classes you “sometimes” went to in high school. Just pure, unadulterated fun on a segway in one of Toronto’s most historic areas.
Segway Of Ontario also does off-road Segway Tours through Horseshoe Valley and even offers Winter Segway Tours for you warm blooded types.

Give them a call at (416) 642-0008 / 1-866-405-8687 or chat them up on Twitter @SegwayOntario

Get Fast & Geeky with Segway Tours in Toronto is a post from: I Backpack Canada

I’ll be arriving in Toronto first to meet up with my friend, and fellow travel writer, Natalie Taylor of Near Afar. Together, we’ll be exploring and writing about Ontario’s famous Algonquin Park. We’ll be doing a bit of camping, some canoeing, and several hours of driving through the countless lakes and trees. Be sure to follow along, We’ll have several live tweets and photos coming through the interwebs.

Follow @ibackpackcanada

Follow @nearafar

After exploring Ontario, I’ll be flying back to Saskatchewan. I’ve got some big plans on showcasing the diversity and sheer awesomeness of my home province.  I’ll be checking out some of the national parks in the area, along with several rural areas of Saskatchewan. I don’t want to show my entire hand on this one as I have several awesome ideas for posts, so you’ll just have to come back and see for yourself.

Once again, be sure to follow along on twitter, expect photos! Lots of ‘em!

Westbound to Ontario and Saskatchewan is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Before I get started, I should mention I love beer. Not like alcoholism ”love”, but I appreciate a cold devil on a hot day. Heck, any day will do! Despite this love and affection I have for beer, I am by all means not a snobby Beer Connoisseur. I’m not all that picky when it comes to what I’m drinking. So long as she’s cold, chances are I’ll give it a thumbs up, or at the very least won’t completely hate it. I’d like to think my tastes have grown up a bit though; and I think I have some of these incredible brewery’s in Halifax to thank.

The Halifax Macrobrews

Alexander Keiths

One of the oldest commercial brewery’s in North America was started in Halifax, way back in 1820. Many Haligonians pride themselves on the Keiths brew. Beer Snobs will tell you Keiths IPA doesn’t taste a thing like the original Keiths recipe, which is probably true; but that doesn’t stop the entire city from calling Keiths “their” beer.

Keiths is now owned by the beer-giants at Labatts. By all means not the best beer of the bunch in my honest opinion, but well worth the try, simply for historical value. As the saying goes, “Those who like it, like it a lot”. The same passion likely holds true for those on the other side of the fence. Regardless, if you’ve never been to Canada, its a must try beer.

Head down to the Red Stag Tavern (in the Historic Alexander Keiths Brewery), for a pint and a plate of amazing nachos (whats up caramelized onions!), don’t forget to check out their rooftop patio.

Keiths Brewery Tour

Tours through the Historic Brewery on Lower Water St are about $20. You typically get 2 or 3 beers out of it and are given a great little history lesson on the life of Alexander Keith. Be warned, its one of those Tours with actors pretending to be in the 1800′s. So if that’s not your cup, I’d stick with finding a pub nearby.

Olands Export Ale

In 1867 the Oland Family started brewing tasty tasty beer and it wasn’t long before they started shipping their suds all over Eastern Canada & the Maritimes.The Olands Family first started with Moosehead, and later with Olands Export Ale in the 1920′s. The Olands family eventually sold off the brewery to Labatt’s in the 70′s though. While it’s still brewed in Halifax at the Olands Brewery, some say they’ve lost some of their “Beer Cred” for being owned by Labatts. Try their “Schooner” beer, named after the BlueNose that the Olands Family helped fund and build.

Olands Brewery doesn’t do tours, but will occasionally host Open Houses. Read The Coast to watch for those events. In the meantime, park your keester at a pub, or head to the nearest NSLC for a case of Olands.

The Halifax Microbrews

Garrison Brewing Co

As with most microbrews, Garrison’s is very young compared to the old timers above. Garrison’s got their start in 1997, and have been picking up awards along the way since for their microbrews. Their flagship brew is the Irish Red, but my personal favourite as of lately is their Tall Ship Amber. Their modern facilities are very inviting, and the location is superb. The perfect stop after enjoying the Halifax Boardwalk. Garrison offers up a pretty awesome tour for groups of 10 or more as well. They run for $12 per person, but you definitely get your money’s worth as there are plenty of beers to “sample”.

They’ve got an awesome little gift shop where you can pick up cold Growlers (large jugs of beer) along with your standard beer bottles. They also offer 6oz samples for $2.00 each, which can be a great way of putting each of their beers into your mouth. Be sure to follow them on twitter. These guys are about as local as you can get. Added bonus, their beers have no preservatives.

Propeller Brewery

Like the folks at Garrison, this craft brewery got started in 1997 and has been invading pubs & fridges of residents of Halifax ever since. Located along the eclectic Gottingen Street, this little brewery concentrates on beer for locals. You can taste the love they put into it. Stop by the Prop Shop for their extremely cheap Growlers. A small deposit is required for the massive bottle, but once you have one, refills are only 9 dollars.

Propeller Brewery does offer tours for groups. Having been on several brewery tours, I think this one might be my personal favourite. Depending on how many people are in your group, it’ll cost between $15 and $20; but I assure you that you’ll get your moneys worth. Their brewery tour consists of walking into a back-room with a couple giant tables, a bar with every Propeller Beer on tap, and an iPod plugin for your group to listen to your own choice of music. Basically you sit, and drink. Half way through the “Tour” they ask if anyone wants to see how their beer is made; but it isn’t required. They’re just as happy to let you continue drinking as much as you can in your allotted time.

Granite Brewery

There is a wild history behind the Granite Brewery. They got their start in 1985 in Gingers Tavern as the first Brew Pub east of the Canadian Rockies. It was also one of the oldest taverns in Halifax, going back as far as 1948. This may not seem that old, but one has to remember Nova Scotia was a dry province for a couple decades during prohibition. Unfortunately, Gingers has closed its doors for good, but the brewery that helped make Gingers famous lives on.

The Granite Brewery is now located in the North End of Halifax, at 6054 Stairs Street between Robie and Kempt. They also have another location in Toronto. The Halifax location concentrates on the producing and selling their beer, so don’t expect to find food here. They’re famous beers are still being served all over Halifax, including the Henry House, Obladee, and the Lions Head Tavern. Of coarse you can always pick up bottles & kegs right at the Brewery. Be sure to try their “Peculiar Strong Ale” – it’s delightfully strong and pleasantly awesome!

Rogues Roost

This little brewpub is close to my heart solely for the fact that their IPA is probably the best in town, and also because they’re trivia on Wednesday nights is a blast. Located on Spring Garden Road, you can find a window seat and people watch for hours. Their beer is brewed in small batches with no preservatives and is extremely amazing. I have yet to try every beer they have on tap, but I’ve put enough of a dent in their menu to know that their award winning brewmaster knows what he’s doing.

Rock Bottom Brewery

Another Spring Garden Brewery slash restaurante in downtown Halifax. This tucked away micro brewery is located below Your Father’s Moustache, a popular upstairs restaurante with an awesome rooftop patio. But ignore that patio will ya? Go downstairs, park your keester, and prepare for some mind-blowing brews. Order up a Fathom Red Ale for a robust brew, or go extra crazy and order a Sable Island Wheat Ale (What is Sable Island?). They’re beers are some sort tasty and come highly recommended by drinkers & eaters.

The folks at Rock Bottom also rock a mean trivia on Tuesday nights, which typically leads to some clever questions & some hilarious team names.

The Hart & Thistle

Along the boardwalk of Halifax is a waterfront Gastropub and Brewery called The Hart & Thistle. They serve up some great food with a mean microbrew. Their beer menu changes often; but you won’t be disappointed stopping in for something random. This little restaurantes a perfect spot to take in the Halifax Harbour and truly feel that “Nova Scotian Pride” locals talk about so often.

Staff at the Hart & Thistle is more than happy to talk beer and flavours with patrons. On a recent lunch break I was convinced by the cute tattoo’d waitress to give the American Pale Ale a try. I never got around to thanking her, but it was incredible on that particular hot summer afternoon.

Halifax is always called one of the most “Walk-able” cities in Canada. While prairie people such as myself will say that’s total bullshit (Have you seen the hills?!), everything is very close by. This convenient civic trait makes for an amazing “Micro-brewery Pub Crawl”. Do your mouth & self a favour, grab some friends, stop by a brewery  in Halifax for some serious sud action.

Have you been to any of these breweries? What’s your thoughts on their beer?

8 Rockin’ Breweries in Halifax Nova Scotia! is a post from: I Backpack Canada

While I’ve gotten my own poutine recipe down; it’ll never beat true Quebecois poutine & their many variations. So today, join me in watching this hunger-inducing video.

[ Video by WatchMojo ]

Sunday Canadian Travel Video – French Poutine is Awesome! is a post from: I Backpack Canada

As a kid I had this giant book of Cetaceans that I studied front to back. I was absolutely obsessed with whales & dolphins. To see something that could stay underwater for so long, and live entirely in water while still having such a complex social structure. Wow. Those things blew my 8 year old mind. Still do from the looks of things! Unfortunately, being from the prairies, it was quite a while before I actually saw any, the first being those two sad Dolphins in West Edmonton Mall, the second a wild pod in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

So I chose this video because I love whales & dolphins, the corny celtic music, and hilarious captions over videos. They pretty much make my day. My personal favourite caption is “Aerobatic Dolphins!” I’m not sure why that makes me laugh so much, maybe I’m sleep deprived. But wow, good stuff.

My biggest fear is that I’ve waited too late in the summer to see the icebergs in Newfoundland. Apparently the Iceberg season lies between May & the end of July. Which isn’t to say I can’t go again next summer; by all means I’ll have more time to do so. But I swear, if I don’t find myself in Newfoundland soon I will be obligated to donate a well aimed punch to my own gentlemen.

High 5′s out to FinWhales for the awesome website.

Sunday Canadian Travel Video – Whales and Icebergs in Newfoundland & Labrador is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Music by Of Porcelain

The Time lapse is of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and features several boats, the Halifax Harbour, and the iconic MacDonald Bridge. My personal favourite part is when you see a young couple pop into frame to take photos. If you stay til the end, you’ll see an eerie red glow emanating from behind the camera. That’s actually one of the lights along the boardwalk slowly charging up as it gets darker out. All in all, it was fun and I’ll definitely be doing it again.

Have you tried any of the time-lapse apps on your iphone? What’d you think?

Photo Du Jour – Time Lapse of a Halifax Sunset is a post from: I Backpack Canada

I’m a bit behind on writing due to work and dealing with poor weather, which tends to stunt my motivation to be creative. This incredibly soggy weather that Halifax has been living through drove me north to Prince Edward Island last weekend. The sun decided to show me some love, which meant I could finally take a photo without being soaked. While dodging washed up jellyfish on the shores of Brackley Beach, I managed to score an awesome sunset. Love that red sand!

Believe it or not this was done solely on my iphone. Wish I had my DSLR during this trip, but you gotta make due with what you got, and honestly, I’m not sure if I would have scored this winner had I brought it along. Be sure to follow me on instagram to see all the neat (and not so neat) photos I take with my phone.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Photo Du Jour, consider this a new weekly goal of mine to do from now on. If I slip up, don’t hesitate to call me out on Twitter.

Photo Du Jour – Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island is a post from: I Backpack Canada

1. Point Pleasant Park

Located about 3km south of downtown Halifax, Point Pleasant Park can provide a full days worth of enjoyment for people of all ages. It’s absolutely free for everyone, so hang onto that money for patio beers, souvenirs or some of that famous Cows Ice Cream (located on the boardwalk by the Lower Deck Pub & Grill). Point Pleasant Park has a whackload of trails for hiking and biking (no biking on weekends). There’s a supervised beach, which while locals will tell you not to swim in, is “apparently” now safe for the public after the city fixed some sewage issues. If hiking, biking, or swimming isn’t your thing there’s plenty of grass to park your keester on for a picnic or a read. If boat watching is more your thing, be prepared to be pleasantly distracted by the number of container ships, cruise ships, yachts, and sailboats you’ll see float by. While walking through Point Pleasant Park you should also expect to see plenty of old historic pieces, including cannons, old forts, and my personal favourite, Prince of Wales Tower.

2. The Halifax Public Gardens

Located on the corner of Spring Garden Road and South Park St, the Halifax Public Gardens is another quiet refuge from the occasional busy streets of Halifax. Upon walking in the Gardens you’ll notice the incredible smells of thousands of flowers and the gentle sounds of flowing streams. The Halifax Gardens are great for a long stroll or for a relax and read session. It can get busy in here during the summer months, so be sure to have a Plan B in your back pocket incase crowds aren’t your thing.

3. The Halifax Common a.k.a The Commons

Definitely a more “local” park than the Halifax Public Gardens, the Halifax Common (Or “The Commons”) is where families, students, couples, and the occasional band of hippies go to enjoy the sun. Its only about a 10 minute walk from downtown. The North Commons has several softball diamonds, a couple walking paths, a fountainand plenty of room to starfish on the warm summer grass to partake in the worlds greatest hobby, cloud-watching. If you’re bored of the massive fields, head to the Central Commons (just across the road), where you’ll find , an outdoor pool, a skateboard park, tennis courts, a fountain, and a few more fields to sprawl in.

Fun fact about The Commons, it was originally pasture land for horses and cows of citizens and military forces.

4. The Halifax Boardwalk

The Halifax Boardwalk extends across the entire Downtown Halifax waterfront, just below Lower Water St. The Boardwalk is hands down one of the few things I’d say you have to check out while in Halifax. Sure, it’s a little touristy at times and can get pretty hectic with how many people check it out. But a walk down the Boardwalk in the early morning with your coffee or after finishing a meal out on the town is probably one of the coolest free things to do in Halifax. If you want to walk the entire Boardwalk, head down to the Casino and start walking south. You can actually get all the way to the new Farmers Market. Along the way expect to find pubs, artists, buskers, Fish & Chips, Beaver Tails, Souvenirs, Boat Tours, Historic Boats, shops, and some great scenic vistas to snap a photo or two.

5. The Halifax Seaport Farmers Market

Take a break from the Halifax Boardwalk and check out the new Farmers Market in Halifax. This complex was just recently finished, and is filled with vendors from all over Nova Scotia. While entry is free, the goods are not. But even if you don’t plan on spending anything, it’s just a great building to walk through. Whether its coffee, food, fresh legumes, fruit, or meat, you’ll have a tough time not coming home with something. If you’re a robot and have no interest in food, you’ll be happy to hear there are plenty of vendors selling art, trinkets, souvenirs, and other knick-knacks. Don’t miss checking out of the best views in town, head upstairs to the rooftop of the Farmers Market, there’s a few benches up there for the public along with the best view of Georges Island.  The Farmers Market is open daily, all year round!

Halifax Farmers Market Hours

• Tuesday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Wednesday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Saturday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Sunday 8:00 AM -4:00 PM

6. Get out on the water with the Halifax Ferry

While this is a stretch on the word “Free”, I like to think of it as “pretty much free”, which means its being included whether you like it or not. For $2.00, you can get a round trip ticket on the Halifax Ferry to Dartmouth. It is the cheapest way to get on the water and provides some fantastic views of downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. During the summer months, scoring an upstairs seat on the Ferry can mean a fantastic reprieve from the Halifax summer heat. The Ferry Terminal is located just down from the new Tim Hortons (With Cold Stone Creamery), right near where they park Thomas The Tug Boat. If you’re heading to Dartmouth for the afternoon, walk up to “Two If By Sea” for Halifax’s best coffee and the most mind-blowingly-awesome cheese croissant I’ve ever eaten.

7. Free Halifax Concerts at Grand Parade & Alderney Landing

Halifax has a large and thriving music scene, and if you play your cards right you might be in for experiencing some world class live music, for free! Every summer there is at least one or two free shows worth checking out at either Grand Parade (across the street from the Dome) or at Alderney Landing (in Dartmouth). Natal Day consistently brings free concerts to Halifax. Be sure to check out their schedule. This year, Natal Day is putting on Wintersleep, Gloryhound, Town Heroes, and Jay Smith at Alderney Landing, on July 30th.

8. Watch Buskers in Halifax

For 10 days in August, Buskers from all over the world head to Halifax to perform their acts. Be it music, theatre, or dare-devil-esque performances. Watching is completely free, but I highly suggest tossing what you can into their hats if you really enjoyed the show. While the International Busker Festival in Halifax is definitely the show stopper, there is always busking going on in Halifax. If you’re in town, look for Buskers on Spring Garden Road (Typically near the library), downtown Barrington Street, or along the boardwalk. There are plenty of talented local buskers in Halifax, including Fiddlers, Guitarists, Sax Players, and my personal favourite, this one African-Canadian guy who is the worlds greatest karaoke singer (find him along the Boardwalk).

9. Visit A Halifax Cemetery

If its a depressing kind of day, maybe the fog rolled in, and the sun is hiding, experiencing some of the historic cemeteries in town can be a surreal change from the upbeat streets of Halifax. There are two cemeteries I’d recommend checking out. The first being the Old Burying Ground, located on the corner of Barrington Street & Spring Garden Road, which contain the remains of some of the earliest Canadians. While most of the names are pretty hard to make out from weathering, it’s still a neat little spot in the middle of downtown. If you have wheels, be they bike or car, wander up to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery. It’s located in North Halifax, on Windsor St. What’s unique about this cemetery is that many of the remains of victims from the Titanic ended up there. Apparently there’s even a Jack Dawson there, which gets a lot of attention care of James Cameron’s famous film.

10. Listen to the Cannon go off at Noon on Citadal Hill

Everyday at Noon, a cannon goes off in downtown Halifax, shaking the bodies of locals and tourists, and typically scaring both. If you play your cards right, you can experience the whole event in the most up-close and personal way possible. Head up to Brunswick Street and look for the Halifax Clock Tower. Walk up the hill, or take the Citadel Hill Tour if history is your thing (costs about $8.00 for the tour), and wait. If you can make sure you’re there for noon, you are in for a treat. As the thunderous roar from that cannon goes off, you’ll witness dozens of people on the hill and along Brunswick Street freak out, then laugh as they remember “Oh, just the noon cannon, woops!”

11. Halifax Historic Sites

History Buffs will love Halifax. The amount of historic properties, forts, churches, and ships in this city is border-line crazy. Best of all, many of these sights are free, or damn-near free. Stroll through Point Pleasant Park and check out the Prince of Wales Tower, or walk along the boardwalk and hop on the H.M.C.S Sackville, the C.S.S Acadia, or if you’re timing is right, the infamous Bluenose (the boat on the Canadian dime). For a city thats so youthful and vibrant, its great to see so much historic “stuff” being preserved.

12. Ride the FRED bus

If you’re in Halifax during the Summer without any wheels, fret not. FRED will take you just about anywhere in downtown Halifax, for FREE. FRED (Free Rides Everywhere Downtown) runs between July 3rd and October 22nd. This vibrantly coloured bus runs seven days a week between 10:30am and 5:00pm. An on-board tour guide rides everywhere with FRED and provides a commentary on Halifax and its many historical locations. Even if you have nowhere to go downtown, hopping on the FRED can be a great way to get your bearings in Halifax. Check out the FRED Schedule to find out where it stops. Just a heads up, the FRED is not an alternative to get anywhere fast as it has a habit of being late. If you need to be somewhere fast, you can get from one end of downtown Halifax to the other for about $10 in cab fair.

 Map of Free Things To Do In Halifax

Have I missed any must-do free activities in Halifax? Love to hear from you in the comments!

12 Free Things to do in Halifax, Nova Scotia is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Welcome to Jakes Landing

After a relatively long and cramped road trip, we pulled up to Liverpool Adventure Outfitters, located along the water of Jakes Landing. We promptly unloaded all of our gear from the car to the canoes. At $35 a day, we were all laughing. After the gear was finished, it was time to unload the beverages. I performed the famous awkward beer unload. I had an excuse saved up already, waiting to be questioned by a Park Ranger. “No Mr. Park Officer Sir, these beers are for the entire group…We plan on having a quiet evening looking for nocturnal birds while enjoying a beer or two”. A towel was ready nearby to toss on top of the other six “Two-Fours” and the bottles of liquor still in their brown bags. No need to make a reputation for ourselves before we even get a taste.

Note: Most parks allow drinks (Cans & Plastic only – but always double check); however, it’s an unwritten rule that you shouldn’t start cracking them nor flaunting them until you’re out of plain view of workers, children, and other thirsty patrons waiting in line for their canoes.

Low Riding Lake Chariots

Our lake chariots were full and riding low with the sheer amount of camping gear & wobbly pops. I carefully entered my canoe, in hopes of not being that boob on the trip who tips all of our stuff and watches as the river takes our drinks for a ride. Fortunately, my paddle eventually dripped into the water of Kejimkujik. The water was a still mirror. Part of me felt guilty for ruining the tranquility of the entire scene. Birds were chirping, a light ripple bubbled from what I assume was a fish, a calm breeze pushed through the green of the trees, and here we were. Two beer deep, laughing, listening to the Beastie Boys on a set of crappy speakers and paddling out to our own private island. I thought to myself, its a good thing we’re on a remote island, because I would hate to be the Nature-Loving solo camper who got stuck with the campsite next to us. Can someone say “No Sleep Til Brooklyn!”

Transforming Engaged

Paddling our rental canoes soon became a game of cat and mouse, followed by the occasional game of transformers, where we’d join canoes into a colossal mega-canoe. Hell-bent on having a good Canada Day. The sun was out in full force, scorching the trees, warming the water, and burning the uncovered shoulders of campers. I breathed in the sunshine, “Not gonna get me this time sunshine…SPF 30 my friend, do your worst!”. As the minutes approached further into the hour, the horsin’ around slowed down and we began concentrating on paddling.

That’s our island!

The paddle playlist continued, keeping us  on time with one another. With each pull, the canoe approached closer and closer to our new home for the weekend. Roughly an hour later, we pulled our canoes over the natural beach of our island. Laughter, Woots, and a high 5 or two were shared as we laughed at the immensity of this campsite. It was the size of a city block, with designated areas for tents, its own outhouse, a firepit, two picnic tables, and a giant pile of wood. Pretty standard for a campsite, but for some reason, everything seemed better here.

This is where things get a little hazy, and I’d be hard pressed to do much more writing about the rest of that day. Maybe it was the bottle of whiskey, maybe it was the beer, maybe it was the good people and the great weather. Whatever it was, that experience was my own, and I look back on that with my own fond, short bursts of memory and hilarity. I celebrated my 23rd Canada Day and survived. Beans, sausages, hangovers, pancakes, bacon, whiskey, beer, and all. Nobody said Canada Day was healthy, but it is always worth a smile or two.

What did you do for Canada Day?

Canoeing and Island Camping in Kejimkujik National Park is a post from: I Backpack Canada

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about this holiday, nor will it likely be the last. I’ve been asked by several people what my plans are for Canada Day. One would expect a guy who writes about Canada to have something grand, immense, and insane planned. “Shotgunning 3 beers into my mouth while riding a giant firework into Parliament while screaming EH Crazy”. While that would be incredibly badass, my plans are a little more humble, but I’d have to say they’re equally as awesome.

Tomorrow morning myself and 11 friends (who are spread out all over Atlantic Canada) are roadtripping to one of Canada’s most unacknowledged National Parks and camping there for several nights. Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. Nope, not a typo (at least I hope not). Pronounced Keh-Je-Ma-Coo-Jick, or Keji for short. The name Kejimkujik means “Tired Muscles” in Mi’kmaq. So typical facts aside, theres something like 4 rivers that run through here, along with some incredible wildlife, including Moose, Deer, Beaver, Black Bears, and Loons (made famous by the Canadian Loonie).

Cool, camping, standard Canada Day activity right? Wrong! This isn’t your run-of-the-mill “Pull your car into your campsite, unload your tent, build a fire, have a beer” type of campground. We’re going inland. Far. We rented some canoes, and rented an Island Campsite. We’ve got to canoe for a good hour + just to find our little secluded campsite. While the party may not have much for fireworks, nor live music (unless you count some Koombaya around the Campfire), there shall be many drinks being consumed on this little shin-dig.

I’ll be sure to take pictures and try my best to get a signal to throw some photos up on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (if you follow me – username: corbinfraser) In the meantime, I wanted to share with you guys some of my favourite posts I wrote that I think could be helpful if you’re planning a Canada Day getaway.

Canada Day Resources

My old post of Canada Day Celebrations across this great nation!

Going Bungee Jumping In Canada? Give this a read!

Find out the Best Places in Canada to Surf!

Try a new beer this Canada Day! Read 10 Must try Beers from Canada

If you’re camping you’ll want to eat right. Read Top 7 Must Have Foods for Camping

Get your fix of live music, but first read The Ultimate List of Canadian Summer Music Festivals

Follow a fellow Canadian or two – Read 6 Canadian Travel Bloggers You Should Be Following

Listen to this! Great Canada Day Celebration Song!

What are your plans for Canada Day? I’d love to hear from ya.

Happy Canada Day – Lets Get Traditionally Drunk! is a post from: I Backpack Canada

The Confederation Bridge

As luck would have it, my guide was a former UPEI student who was raised in Charlottetown. We drove 4 hours north of Halifax,where we were greeted by a dinosaur. No, thats a lie. It was really just a bridge. But if it WAS a dinosaur, it’d be the Bridgasaurus Rex. King of the bridges. As expected, that wasn’t the name of this gargantuan car crossing machine. Instead it took the (less exciting) name of “The Confederation Bridge”. With the help of his Jetta, we made it across the 12.9km (8mile) “Fixed link” in just over 10 minutes.

By the time I unpacked it was almost 11:30pm. Prince Edward Island would have to wait until the morning. Relief struck me as the morning brought a healthy dose of blue skies & sunshine. A welcome start to the day after being abused by Mother Nature for the last month with rain. By mid day we set off on the tour.

Old Buildings & Green Frields

It was scorching hot at this point, and getting on the highway even just for a few minutes with the windows down seemed like the a great idea. I was blown away to see so many old rustic churches (or at least what appeared to be churches). Their vibrant whites contrasting with the deep green made me bring out the camera early. I snapped a few pictures and we carried on. First stop, historic downtown of Charlottetown. After a quick drive down to the waterfront and a refreshing walk down Queen Street, the manly guts of mine were crying for a cold beverage and some food. Second stop, Gahan House.

A Home-Brew, A Smoked Meat Sandwich, and a dead Prime Minister

I ordered a Smoked Meat sandwich and a pint of “Sir John A MacDonald”, a Gahan home-brew named after the first Prime Minister of Canada. I kicked back in the sunshine on the back patio of the Gahan House and began to realize why people from all over the world came to live & learn in Charlottetown. A sip of the local brew, a breath of the fresh PEI air, and it suddenly dawned on me that maybe I should have gone to University out here. By the end of the pint that thought drowned. Still, it was nice for a second. After finishing my meal (FYI, it rocked), I felt inspired, and thought to myself “This little province is proving to be pretty kickass.”

Only had my iPhone on me! (Go Instagram)

Birthplace of Confederation

My friend/guide said it was time we see some of the country. So off we went, but not before making a quick stop to see the Province House. Birthplace of Confederation. Some may even call it the Womb of Canada. Probably not though, people seem to be put off by the word “Womb”. After snapping a quick picture, I figured that was good for now. I like history and all, but really, who wants to be inside a stuffy old building when theres a wide open road, sunshine, green fields, red soil, and a whole sea surrounding you. Seemed like a no-brainer.

Off to Cavendish County

We hopped back into the car and headed off for Cavendish. Not the beach (saving that one for the next trip), but saw most of the County and legendary hills, valleys, and the farms that inspired L.M Montgomery to write that oh-so-famous tale. Coming from a farming province myself, it was refreshing to see men & women hard at work in the red fields. Apparently the abundance of Red is caused from the soil being rich in Iron-Oxide. I’m no geologist, but I can tell you that whatever it is, it looks wild and makes for some neat photos.

Turning Beers into Pee

We called it a day and decided to wait for the evening to arrive, which meant we had plenty of time to drive a few cold cruisers into us. My guide took the night off and transformed into the drinking buddy he normally is. A couple games of Billiards later and we had a satisfactory glow on. We ordered a cab and ended up at Fishbones Oyster Bar. Don’t let the name fool you, they offer more than just a unshucked oyster or two. They’re sort of big deal in Charlottetown as one of the go-to’s for live music. Big supporters of local music & local seafood, I wasn’t disappointed.

Hangover aside, the trip to PEI proved to be awesome. I’ve left plenty to do on my next trip back to PEI (later this summer perhaps), but this was a wicked primer into life in PEI. Seafood, Beers, open fields, oceans, a giant bridge, and some of Canada’s friendliest people are what make PEI a place to check out. Rumour has it the beaches in PEI are pretty spectacular too, but I’ll wait to comment on that until things warm up a bit and I’m able to go back and dip my lower half underwater.

If you want to see more of Canada’s smallest province, check out this awesome aerial tour of the island by TourismPEI.

Big thanks to the Keith family for feeding me & taking me in during my stay, and extra big thanks to my guide/chauffeur/drinking buddy Andy for showing me around and letting me sink my teeth into some of the Prince Edward Island culture.

A Quick Weekend Trip to Prince Edward Island is a post from: I Backpack Canada

I loved the fact that Halifax & the Canada Games went out of their way to showcase their local Atlantic music talent, including the likes of Joel Plaskett, Sloan, Hey Rosetta!, Matt Mays, Great Big Sea, and CBC Radio 2′s own Buck 65. Some more artists that joined the party included Hawksley Workman, Rawlins Cross, Old Man Luedecke, Radio Radio, and City & Colour.

Despite the freezing cold, and the fact that these shows were held mostly during the week, the support from local Haligonians and the Canada Games participants was quite astounding. I’ve never been to a show that big at the Grand Parade, but it seems to have gone on without a hitch. Keep it up Canada Games! I look forward to seeing you wherever you’re held next year!

2011 Canada Games Rocked Celebration Square is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Moose Travel Network has a bunch of other great tours throughout Canada, so be sure to give them a look if you’re planning on hitting the Canadian roads. In the mean time, I’ve got some work to catch up on. Corbin out.

The Sunday Canadian Travel Video: Moose Travel Networks Big East Tour is a post from: I Backpack Canada

I made my way from one glass display to another, dodging photo-happy parents and children emulating the hockey poses of their heroes. As I read through the history, stats, and obsessed over the minor details of the decayed hockey jerseys from decades ago, I came across the display of one of hockeys most beloved hockey players to ever step foot on the ice. Maurice “The Rocket” Richard.

For those who don’t know, Maurice Richard was the king of early hockey. He was the first to ever score 50 goals in one season, and the first to score 500 goals in a career. Top that all off with eight Stanley Cup wins, it is hard to dispute the fact that he’s a Legend amongst Montreal Canadian fans. Reading through his stats, I remembered a story I was told as a kid while visiting my grandparents farm.

I was around 10 years old, we were finishing up a home cooked meal and my Grandpa and Dad began talking about the Habs season. After discussing the stats of one of the newest additions to the team, my Dad told me that my Grandma’s cousin played for the habs back in the day. I never got a whole lot out of information from that convorsation aside from knowing that some semi-distant family of mine made it to the big leagues of my favourite sport.

Back in The Hockey Hall of Fame, I dodged another group of running kids dressed in their favourite teams jerseys and made my way to one of the interactive displays. While waiting in line to play with the controls, I sent a quick text message to my dad. “At hockey hall o fame!”. I got a reply a few seconds later. “Look 4 Elmer Lach items in there. He is from Nokomis & is your Grandma Fraser’s 1st cousin. You might find him on cmptr in there”

I left the line in search of this mysterious computer that may hold some information on my first cousin, twice removed. The computer took a minute to cooperate with me, but after searching for Nokomis Saskatchewan, he wasn’t hard to find. Elmer James Lach, #16, born 1918, played between 1940 and 1954, retired in ’54 as the leagues leading scorer. I skimmed through some more stats then smiled in confusion. Elmer Lach was a part of the Punch Line, along with Toe Blake, and the infamous Maurice Richard, one of the hockey legends.

I snapped a few pictures, and continued going through the different exhibits, laughing at myself for not knowing something so incredibly awesome. Some distant family of mine was shootin’ pucks, crushin’ beers, and hangin’ out with The Rocket. “To be able to time travel” I thought to myself. A wave of emotion crept over me as I thought of the memories they must have shared, winning the worlds greatest trophy.

A sign marked “Stanley Cup, This Way” caught my eye. I’d be disowned as a brother, son, and Canadian if I didn’t at least get a look at the Lord Stanley`s finest piece of metal. I followed a few arrows, and made my way up a long flight of stairs. The black stairwell opened up to a theatre-esque room, beautifully lit by the stain glass windows adorning the roof. Floor lighting assisted the spectacle.

The Stanley Cup stood proud on a small stage, in the middle of the room. A line had formed where hockey fans and tourists could pose for a photo with this titanic trophy. I waited for a clear shot without any people getting in the way of my shot. My camera stayed at eye level, however this was much harder than I had anticipated. The line was moving and growing. I waited, and waited, when one family left, another would follow right after.

One of the curators to the Hockey Hall of Fame saw my frustration and said they’d be happy to get a photo of me with the cup when the line cleared. I smiled hesitantly. “You get to touch it”, she insisted playfully. I laughed, and had to tell her “No thanks”. She looked shocked and asked “How come?” I told her that “This cup meant so much to me as a kid, that touching it now would feel like cheating, or stealing. I promised myself the only way I’d get a photo of me with that Cup, would be if I had won it.” She smiled then proceeded to tell me about the superstition that a hockey player should never touch the cup if he hasn’t won it. I guess that hockey spark still resides in me somewhere.

My career in hockey ended when I was 17, and I know for a fact that I’ll never win the Stanley Cup. But being near it, seeing it for the first time, was a close silver prize. This whole experience of being in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and being around retired jerseys and old hockey sticks, reminded me of exploring an old war memorial. These athletes may not have died in a war, but they sacrificed a good portion of their lives to play and compete in a sport that’s influenced the lives of so many people around the world. These athletes are heroes, and will remain that way, so long as we remember.

Elmer lach is currently 92 years old and lives in Montreal where he still attends the occasional hockey game. He is the oldest living Montreal Canadian.

30 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M5E 1X8, Canada
(416) 360-7735

Open Weekdays 10am-5pm; Sat 9:30am-6pm; Sun 10:30am-5pm

Adults: $15.00
Seniors: $12.00
Youth (4 to 13): $10.00
Children (3 and under): Free

Finding Family & Stanley in The Hockey Hall of Fame is a post from: I Backpack Canada

This big magnificant yellow bus was waiting for me, hailing me. “Come Corbin, it’s cozy in here. And it’s under half of what you would pay taking a cab. Did I mention there’s leather inside me. And power outlets, along with free wifi.” SOLD! I courtly told the lady in the booth as I handed her a crisp Twenty and a ragged Toonie that looked like it’d been through hell and back. Not a bad deal.

The bus driver graciously took my bag and was happy enough to ask how my mornings been thus far. I informed him swell, despite hating the fact that I’d been up since 3:00am, caught a shuttle in Halifax at 3:50, and waited until 6:15 to board my flight to Toronto. He didn’t need to hear that. Heck, I didn’t want to hear that.

So as I’m writing this, I’m currently chilling out in these wicked spacious seats, jacked in to the internets (yea, it’s plural now), and listening to some sweet 80′s slash 90′s radio station. “I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes”. It did indeed Ace of Base.

Toronto, your Airport express rocks. Good choice on sticking Free Wifi up in this sweet-sweet ride.

Saving Money with Toronto’s Airport Express is a post from: I Backpack Canada