Overview – OUT HERE (outheretravel.ca) is a new road trip experience operator built for backpackers. The Out Here bus loops through the cities towns and other gems of Central and Eastern Canada. We speak to the founder, Jared.
Q: What made you decide to start Out Here travel?
Jared: Canada is such a gorgeous place. But people only know the marquee destinations. When I travel I want to stay in cool places but get local knowledge and feel free. Out Here is built around those principles.
Even Canadians don’t know all its nooks and crannies. Many Canadians have never seen the coastlines of Nova Scotia or been to Newfoundland or PEI, let alone Gaspesie’s insane parks and scenery. How would a tourist know to get there? And if you don’t have a car, certain gems are impossible to get to.
I love these places, and I know most adventour outdoorsy travelers will too. So I wanted to make it possible for people without cars and without local knowledge to see all these places in one go. We love helping anyone out, so if you have questions, just shoot me an email and we can talk and sort everything out.
Q: You just left a good job in tech…
Jared: It was a great eight years. However, I love nature, the outdoors and adventure – this is helping me to experience that, while also connect people from around the world to it – in Canada. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels the need to do this. Everyone has too many screens, both at work and just in life. Sometimes you just have to be outside and enjoy.
Q: How are your group trips freer than other organized travel options?
Jared: Conventional group tours don’t make sense for everyone–you can feel tied down when you’re forced to keep to one schedule. I’ve talked with people at every stop of this trip and scouted it all, to see first-hand what’s great and what’s skippable. So I have lots of great recommendations, and am always open to learning more. If we get wind of some new cool thing, well, let’s check it out and do that! We provide as many options as we can, but people can do what they want.
But you know that travel anxiety, when you have FOMO [fear of missing out] about the vacation you’re currently on, because you’re scared that despite spending the time and money on getting to a place, there’s some special local thing you miss because you don’t know about it? Out Here removes that fear. I’ve already done that work, on a local level. So just chill and enjoy.
Q: Alrighty, say you arrive in a place, now what are you up to?
Jared: Lots. Hiking, rafting, chilling, boating, canoeing, seeing stuff, board games, swimming, beer tasting, dog sledding, skiing, sitting in a hammock…it’s the great outdoors of canada. Of course, eating! Lots of stuff we love will be highlighted on our blog, read away. I’m not telling anybody what to do: once we get somewhere, do what the you want or join us when we head out to do cool stuff.
Q: What are the accommodations? Where do people stay?
Jared: It really depends. In cities, we’ll pre-book the good dorm-style hostels near the centre of the action. In far-flung rustic locations we’ll stay in cool places, like a log cabin. We know about some fun places on the way, with live music and bonfires and all that, like The Sea Shack. When no roof is available, we’ve got tents for camping. We’ll hang out by the shoreline, under the stars, for the most inexpensive sleep you’ll ever have on the road.
See the different ways Canadians go to bed!
We go to a variety of places, and the accommodations are always what’s most suitable. Clean and modestly priced. But if anybody has their heart set on sleeping at a particular place or whatever, we’ll drive them there too. Flexibility is the key.
Q: What if someone gets on the bus, but hates everybody aboard?
Jared: Travelling is a good way to make fast friends. Thankfully, if you don’t like someone on the bus, good news: you don’t have to marry them. There’ll be about 15 people per trip, so you’re bound to become friends with some new people. Everyone wants to have an awesome time. Or just read a book, listen to tunes, and just enjoy going from place to place.
Q: But basically, all you need is the desire to do and see some cool stuff?
Jared: Ya. Anybody can come. Brings friends or come solo. Travelling brings together like-minded people and the bus makes fast friends of strangers. We have squad goals.
Follow Out There on Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/outherecanada/
https://www.instagram.com/jaredrover/
https://twitter.com/roverjared
https://medium.com/@outheretravel