Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.
Last Updated: May 2026
From Revelstoke we headed east to Golden, BC, positioned between Yoho National Park and the Columbia Mountains. The fires that had followed us since Kelowna persisted — we could see smoke rising from burning trees on the surrounding mountainsides. Yoho, Banff, Kootenay, and Jasper National Parks all share borders; the only highway closed by fire was the one through Kootenay, which we had already driven.
Last Updated: May 2026
We left the vineyards of Kelowna and traveled northeast into the smoke-filled Columbia Mountains, bound for Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks in British Columbia. There were over 566 wildfires burning across the province — a state of emergency had been declared, most fires sparked by lightning. Even though the smoke took away from the rugged beauty of the Columbia Mountains and severely limited our activities, we still found outstanding trails and waterfalls worth exploring.
Last Updated: May 2026
From Jasper National Park in Alberta, we headed west over the mountains into British Columbia, making stops in Valemount and Clearwater before reaching our wine country destination of Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley.
Last Updated: May 2026
From Banff we drove four hours north to Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada along the jaw-dropping Icefields Parkway. The parkway is an absolute must when visiting the Canadian Rockies — do not rush it.
Last Updated: May 2026
From Kootenay in British Columbia, we traveled north to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Established in 1885, Banff is Canada’s oldest national park and one of the most visited in North America, welcoming over three million tourists annually. It is easy to see why.
Last Updated: May 2026
From Glacier National Park we crossed into British Columbia, Canada and made our way to Kootenay National Park. The border crossing was quick and easy — they asked about firearms, fruits and vegetables, and how much alcohol we had, and we were through in minutes.
