Trans-Canada Highway: Western Provinces

Petroglyph Provincial Park is the perfect place to immerse yourself int he First Nations history you learned at the Royal BC Museum way back when. The main attraction of the park is the cluster of prehistoric rock carvings on a hill overlooking Nanaimo Harbor. The drawings, which depict mystical beings, fish-like beasts and even human figures, were the main form of communication for tribes who had no written language. They could mean many things and might signify territorial ownership or even commemorate special events. And, since petroglyphs were generally crafted at sites with a strong energy, where the forces of nature were believed to be especially strong, you should consider spending some quiet time recharging here.

Back in its day, Fort Langley was a melting pot of B.C.'s most interesting people. The 19th-century fort was where Hudson’s Bay Company fur traders mingled with California gold prospectors and First Nations peoples. Today, it's a National Historic Site with costumed interpreters, live demonstrations, farm animals to pet, pan for gold, and generally immerse yourself in 1800s life on the Canadian frontier. The coolest part about Fort Langley National Historic Site? The themed oTENTiks. oTENTiks are exclusive to Parks Canada, and they describe them as "a cross between an A-frame cabin and a prospector tent mounted on a raised wooden floor." Themes are historical and include First Nations, Hawaiian, French-Canadian voyageur, North American gold prospector and Scottish boat builder.

Skihist Provincial Park is a destination that packs a real punch. Originally established a spot for those travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway to set up camp for the night, the park is also a hotspot for river rafting and fishing. If you're a novice rafter, book an excursion with an outfitter in Lytton or Spences Bridge. You can enjoy the quiet views from the old Cariboo Wagon Road or more striking scenery at Thompson Canyon. And keep your eyes peeled for the thriving herd of elk that roam the area! It remains a bustling campground with lots of amenities, so if you've got a tent or RV, this is a great place to spend an evening.

Add some safari vibes to your Canadian adventure at the British Columbia Wildlife Park. Boasting over 40 species of animals, including a variety of bears, big cats, reptiles, waterfowl, small mammals, and more, this park also dedicates time and resources to rehabilitating animals, research, and educating the public on the importance on conservation. You can also enjoy their interactive Discovery Centre, ride their little train, or cool off at their splash pad. If you're lucky, you'll stop by when they're feeding the animals or hosting a talk from an expert!

The D Dutchman Dairy is so much more than a cattle barn! Of course they have the calf barn, milking parlour and cheese making plant for visitors to tour, and naturally, they make some of B.C.'s best ice cream, but they also keep llamas, donkeys, goats and exotic birds as well. You can't leave without picking up a block of maple bacon cheddar for the road, or without grabbing an ice cream cone to enjoy. Their ice cream comes in regular, above average and mammoth serving sizes, so there's something for every appetite here. And, black licorice lovers will be pleased to know that that is one of their signature flavours!

Mount Revelstoke National Park is an underrated gem. Temperate rainforests, stands of massive giant red cedars, subalpine meadows loaded with wildflowers, and mountain hikes with incredible views await here. When you first arrive, hit the Meadows in the Sky Parkway, which takes you right to some of those colourful fields of flowers. Additionally, the Giant Cedars Boardwalk and the Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk are short hikes that provide interpretive signs and show off the scenery within the rainforests themselves. More adventurous explorers can backcountry camp and even summit the mountain.

Road food is one of the best parts of road trips; even the health nuts among us can't argue. Peters' Drive-In in Calgary bills itself as "the drive-in you can't drive by", so pull up for a fresh, flame-broiled burger on a specially-made bun. The menu is simple, offering burgers, hot dogs, and sides of the deep-fried variety. But is there anything better than a double cheeseburger, an order of poutine and a milkshake after a long day of driving? I think not.

Once you're out of the Rockies, you'll roll into the Canadian Badlands. Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that can claim to be one of the richest deposits of dinosaur fossils anywhere in the world. More than 500 specimens, from microscopic fern spores to forty dinosaur species have been discovered at the park. The park offers bus and guided fossil hunter tours, or go it solo on the trails yourself; the Trail of the Fossil Hunters is, obviously, not to be missed. While most of the dinosaur fossils have been moved to museums across the globe, there is a great Visitor Centre with an Exhibit Gallery on site. And, best of all, this park offers full-blown glamping (or, as they call it, comfort camping.) The tents feature handmade furnishings, electricity (including a heater and a fan), and a private deck with furniture. Dino bones and glamping... I'm sold.

If the World's Largest Paddle didn't do it for you, maybe the World's Tallest Teepee will! Also known as the Saamis Tepee, it was built for the Calgary Olympics in 1988. It's made of steel and concrete and is 215 feet tall (think about that; that's as tall as a 20 story building!). It's also 160 feet wide. The 10 rings around the masts are story-boards that tell stories from Canada's past. The name "Saamis" tepee comes from the fact that it now sits atop the Saamis archaeological site, one of the most important on the Northern Plains. Years ago, it was a buffalo camp and meat processing site, and today, experts believe that over 83 million artifacts are buried at the site.

You should visit Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, even if only for the fact that it's Canada's first and only interprovincial park. It sits on the southern Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary and is divided into two sections: a west block and a center block. Interestingly enough, the park's Cypress Hills plateau and prairie are home to 14 species of beautiful orchids, check out the views from Head of the Mountain Viewpoint, visit the Fort Walsh National Historic Site (where you can learn about Mounties and Canada's bootlegging history during America's Prohibition), or enjoy watersports on one of the many lakes; you can even rent kayaks, canoes, bicycles, and stand up paddle boards.