States/Districts Visited: Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, Wyoming
National Parks Visited: Acadia, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Shenandoah, Yellowstone
Arizona
Visited: December 2016 – 4 days
Arizona is home to one of the largest canyons in the world. Carved millions of years ago from the force of the Colorado River, it is 446km long, 29km wide and at its deepest is 1829 m from rim to the river. It truly is a sight to behold. But there are a variety of other attractions in Arizona’s red rock landscape and desert climate that are worth exploring as well.
Connecticut
Visited: September 2016 – 2 days
Connecticut, often referred to as the Constitution State or Nutmeg State, is the southernmost state in the New England area of the United States. It is the richest state per capita in terms of income and is also rich in historic culture. We visited Connecticut for two days over the Labour Day weekend to enjoy the final days of summer outdoors.
Illinois | Chicago
Visited: September 2014 – 4 days
Chicago, known as the Windy City, is not actually the windiest city in the United States. But it is famous for its Chicago-style pizza. Baked in a deep dish pan with the crust extending upwards along the sides, the ingredients are layered in opposition to a regular style pizza. The cheese is placed directly on the dough and the sauce and toppings are layered on top. It’s perfection.
Read More (…coming soon)
Maine | Acadia
Visited: September 2017 – 3 days
and May 2018 – 3 days
Located on Mount Desert Island along the Atlantic coast in Maine, Acadia National Park is the first and only national park east of the Mississippi River. It encompasses all of the beauty, charm, and ruggedness of New England’s wilderness. Many of the trails weave their way up, down, and around mountains, through lush forests and along a granite coastline that has been (and continues to be) ravaged by the never-ending lapping of waves by the ocean.
Massachusetts
Visited: Various times throughout 2016, 2017, and 2018
Ties between the thirteen American colonies and Great Britain started to unravel in 1765. And Boston was at the forefront of years of protests and acts of rebellion to gain independence. Today visitors can tour many of the historic monuments and sites in downtown Boston and relive an important piece of American history.
Montana | Glacier
Visited: August 2016 – 4 days
Glacier National Park is located in northwestern Montana along the US-Canada border just south of Waterton Lakes National Park. Together these two parks formed the first ever International Peace Park to better preserve and protect the shared ecosystem along the Continental Divide. Spanning across a million acres, Glacier National Park is home to 25 active glaciers (although scientists estimate they will all disappear by 2030), 71 species of mammals (including the grizzly bear!), and 151 trails (totaling 1,200km). The Going-to-the-Sun Road, the park’s only road that cuts through the park, offers exhilarating views as you’re winding around, through, and over the mountainous terrain.
New Hampshire
Visited: January 2016 – 2 days
and October 2017 – 2 days
New Hampshire is home to a network of over 150 mountains where the majority of which have an elevation greater than 3,000 ft. The White Mountains range alone covers around a quarter of New Hampshire where many of these high peak are located. This area is filled with some of the best hiking, alpine skiing and cross-country skiing in all of New England.
New York | New York City & The Adirondacks
Visited: April 2016 – 4 days
July 2016 – 4 days
February 2017 – 3 days
They don’t call it the city that never sleeps for nothing. With over 8.5 million people, New York City is bursting with culture, class, coolness, and crowds. It has been referred to as many names and nicknames over the years: New Amsterdam, the Big Apple, the Melting Pot, Gotham, NYC, but one thing remains: it is still the land of opportunity. And opportunity to sightsee.
Pennsylvania | Philadelphia
Visited: November 2017 – 3 days
Philadelphia served as the capital of the United States for nearly a decade towards the end of the 18th century. It was here in the Philadelphia State House (more commonly known today as Independence Hall) where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were vigorously debated and ultimately drafted and signed by the founding forefathers of the United States. It was also here in that same State House where the Declaration of Independence was read out loud to the public for the first time on July 8th 1776. But that wasn’t the only “first” for the city of Philadelphia. It is home to the first university, the first zoo, the first art institution, the first hospital, and the first public library in the United States.
Rhode Island
Visited: December 2016 – 1 day
and June 2017 – 2 days
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the United States, but it sure has a big history for being a luxurious summer retreat for the rich and powerful during the height of the Gilded Age. With its close proximity to the ocean (and of New York) many of the wealthy – including the Vanderbilts, spent the summer vacationing here during the late 1800s. Many of these elaborate Newport mansions, complete with their original furnishings and decoration, have been preserved and (for a small fee) are open to the public to catch a glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich and the famous from over a hundred years ago.
Vermont
Visited: February 2018 – 2 days
Vermont is renowned for its skiing across the New England area. This should come as no surprise given that its name is derived from “mont vert” in French, which translates to green mountain. With over 30 alpine (downhill) and nordic (cross-country) ski centres, there are endless opportunities to enjoy the abundance of snow and mountainous terrain in this Green Mountain State. And hey, if skiing isn’t your thing, Vermont is also famous for its cheese, maple syrup and ice cream.
Virginia | Shenandoah
Visited: October 2017 – 4 days
The Shenandoah Valley stretches across 200 miles between the Blue Ridge Mountains in the east and the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians in the west. The Shenandoah National Park encompasses around half of that stretch from Front Royal in the north to Rockfish Gap in the south. The Skyline Drive, the main road that winds and twists through the park, offers sweeping views of rolling hills from the neighbouring mountain ranges in either direction.
Washington, D.C.
Visited: April 2016 – 3 days
Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States. It is home to the entire federal government, including the Congress, the Supreme Court and the President. There are numerous museums and national monuments scattered along the city that highlight the history and important people who helped shape this country into what we see today. Many of these museums and monuments are clustered in an area known as the National Mall – a 2 mile strip that extends from the State Capital building to the Lincoln Memorial. And it’s all free.
Wyoming | Yellowstone
Visited: September 2015 – 8 days
The first national park was established here in Yellowstone. Situated along much of northwestern Wyoming and parts of neighbouring Montana and Idaho, even over a hundred years ago there was a collective need to protect and preserve the abundant wildlife and many geothermal features surrounding the area. Today Yellowstone boasts of being one of the largest ecosystems in the Lower 48 to support a wide variety of animals – including many endangered species like the grizzly bear, gray wolf and American bison. Resting atop an active supervolcano, it is also home to half of the world’s geothermal features.
