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.

Winnipeg at last! The Western portion of the Trans-Canada Highway ends right about here. The Assiniboine Park Zoo, in Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park, is a world-renowned attraction. The Journey to Churchill area is one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of northern animals in the world. Snowy owls, Arctic fox, caribou, wolves, muskoxen, and, of course, polar bears, are all here to tell the story of the icy tundra and rocky coasts of the north. Get a bit further away from Canada at the Australian Walkabout, where you can see kangaroos and emu, or observe the tigers in the Animals of Asia section. There are tons more sections in the zoo to explore as well, and even more to see and do in the rest of Assiniboine Park. Spend a few hours or even a full day checking it all out!

Learn the complete and lesser-known story of the more than 200,000 Canadian Gunners who have served Canada in war and peace since 1855 in the Royal Canadian Artillery. The Royal Canadian Artillery Museum houses a lot of history, including one of the largest collections of Canadian made military vehicles in the world and hundreds of rifles, pistols, and artillery. Learn all about 19th-century cannon, quick firing Howitzers, tanks, and neat vintage small arms. If guns aren't your scene, check out the archives, which has a great collection of WWI posters, vintage photos from various wars, and snapshots of basic training back in the day. It's a great way to gain a new appreciation for the Canadian Forces.

Speaking of cars, a visit to the Manitoba Antique Automobile Museum is a great next stop on your road trip. Car buffs and the casually curious alike will find something to love here. From turn-of-the-century touring cars and hot rods to trucks and tractors, the display of cars is quite comprehensive and will impress the most discerning gearheads. We're talking more than 100 cars in display dating back to 1908, when the automobile was in its infancy, along with pioneer farming equipment.

Make a quick detour north to his the Motherwell Homestead, a National Historic Site. You'll learn about the life of early 20th century pioneers through one of Saskatchewan's most fascinating figures, W.R. Motherwell. He was passionate about scientific farming, and his dedication to his craft eventually earned him the title of Minister of Agriculture. Whether you're touring the property on a wagon ride, churning your own ice cream and making your own butter, lending a helping hand to the staff as they work the fields and care for the animals, or learning Victorian games you'll love this brief taste of the quaint pioneer life. And the best part is that once you've had your fill of homesteading, you can hop right back into the modern convenience of your car!

Built in 1891, the grand Government House has played an important role in Saskatchewan's history as the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories. Though it served several uses throughout the course of its life, today it serves as a museum and the official Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The parts you can tour have been restored to appear as they might have appeared between 1898-1910, during the tenure of Lieutenant Governor Amédée Forget. The authentic Edwardian gardens are also not to be missed; in fact, if you so choose, simply stroll through the garden paths outside free of charge!

As you continue through the prairies, get a taste for what the landscape looked like as early pioneer settlers travelled here with a stop at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. Here, you'll find a herd of plains bison in a hillside paddock, a tribute to the creatures that once filled the plains. Buffalo Pound Lake is an ancient glacial lake with two sandy public beaches, which are a real treat for families, road-weary travellers looking to relax, or anyone looking for a bit of lakeshore fun. The park also has its own pool and mini-golf course as well. You can camp here, fish the trout in Buffalo pond, and spy wildlife on the boardwalk through Nicolle Flats Marsh as well.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We could devote a whole separate guide to visiting Banff. In fact, we did devote a whole guide to the famously stunning National Park. It's Canada's oldest National Park, boasting chilly glaciers and ice fields, lush forests, flower-studded alpine meadows, and the brightest blue lakes you could ever imagine. We suggest riding the Banff Gondola, taking a warm soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, hiking to Peyto Lake or Lake Louise (seriously, you have to see them to believe them), and visiting a tea house. Seriously, leave AT LEAST a full day to visit this magical place; it's a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Yoho National Park's name comes from the Cree word for awe and wonder, and it's not hard to see why it's called that. Though its the smallest of the four contiguous parks in the Canadian Rockies, it really is unbelievably beautiful. Head to Takakkaw Falls or Wapta Falls, hike to half-billion-year-old fossil beds, experience the Spiral Tunnels, do some learning at the Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site, explore the tiny Village of Field, an authentic mountain resort town, or enjoy the crazy-blue waters of Emerald Lake. You don't have to be an experienced outdoorsman to enjoy all Yoho has to offer, either; start at the Visitor Centre in Field for help building an itinerary. Or, check out our handy-dandy guide!