Bucket List Travel Plan Don't Wait, Canada and Alaska

I have been planning bucket list adventures throughout my entire travel career; however, in recent years, I have started to tick many places off my bucket list, most recently Canada and Alaska.

Over the years, common conversations with clients have included “When I retire and have more time, I am going to travel more… go to all of those places on my bucket list…”.

Why wait? As many of those bucket list trips, when planned by an expert, are as accessible as your annual couple of weeks in the sun.

My trip to Canada and Alaska is a prime example of this.

In just 15 nights, you can experience the fabulous Canadian Rockies and an awe-inspiring Alaskan Cruise.

Flying into the heart of the Rockies is a great way to start this epic adventure. Banff is filled with incredible scenery and the opportunity to encounter some of Canada’s amazing wildlife. A cable car ride up Sulphur Mountain is an absolute must; you will feel on top of the World. Back in the heart of Banff and a visit to the Banff Springs Hotel for afternoon tea was in order, and delicious. If you love the great outdoors, you will love Banff. Time to meander, breathe in the fresh air, plus the possibility of encountering an Elk chomping on the foliage in the village itself, like I did.

Our next stop was Lake Louise and the spectacular Icefields Parkway, one of the 10 most scenic road trips in the World. Lake Louise is set against the awesome backdrop of the Victoria Glacier and was just a taste of the epic journey we were embarking on. Our journey continued along the Icefields Parkway, taking in the beautiful Bow Lake, waterfalls and the incredible Athabasca Glacier.

Onward to beautiful Jasper and a night to enjoy this authentic Township on the edge of Jasper National Park. Keep an eye out for bears as you never know your luck, especially during the summer months. Our journey continued past the majestic Mount Robson, we were lucky enough to have a clear day, even managing a glimpse of the peak…Canadian Rockies‘ highest point.

Followed by a restful night in the mountain resort of Sun Peaks before our descent to the City of Vancouver.

Time to board the fabulous Koningsdam for our Alaskan Cruise. First impressions were great, a lovely 5 star ship with a modern vibe. Great music venues on the lower decks with live music every night and a beautiful piano bar for a more chilled affair. Food in the main dining room was lovely, but the speciality dining was fabulous, the Asian restaurant was my absolute favourite.

The ship has everything you could want to enjoy your sea day, however, as it was a beautiful sunny day, I spent my time up on deck with binoculars and my camera at the ready. Our fabulous ranger was pointing out the wildlife along the way.

After sailing the Inside Passage, our first port of call was Juneau. I headed off on an excursion to the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, which was stunning, and although I didn’t get to see any bears, the highlight of the day was a small porcupine enjoying his lunch up a tree.

Juneau is great for a little retail therapy or some fun with the locals in a bar. Alternatively, Goldbelt Tram gives you elevated views and a selection of walking trails.

Next stop was the quirky town of Skagway- home to around 900 people and full of gold rush history. Our morning was spent at Gold Rush Dog Tours, learning all about husky racing, followed by a cuddle with the puppies. Watching the older dogs show off their strength with a demo around the racing track was fab. I then had the opportunity to pan for gold, my haul was worth a whopping $18 whoop!! Back in Town, I decided to take a scenic rail journey into the Ukon. It was like travelling into Narnia with spectacular snowy scenes, I had to keep escaping into the heated carriages between those amazing photo ops.

Next was Glacier Bay… Just Wow from spectacular scenery to wildlife spotting with a full commentary from the onboard rangers, this was a day to remember. Lastly, Ketchikan was all about lumberjacks and totem poles, and although it was raining, boy did they put on a show from axe throwing to wood sculptures with lots of healthy competition thrown in.

Time to head back through the Inside Passage for our journey back to Vancouver, wildlife spotting along the way.

Our home back in Vancouver was at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall, a great place from which to explore the city, and that is exactly what we did. Granville Island for the foodies market, handicrafts and buskers. Stanley Park for totem poles, fabulous views of the city and chilling out in nature. A visit to Capilano Suspension Bridge, definitely not for the faint-hearted. Lastly a visit to Gas Town and the famous clock, and dinner at the fabulous Revolving restaurant.

This City has so much to offer, you can even take a day trip to the stunning Victoria Island and Buschart Gardens.

What a fabulous adventure and all in two weeks‘ annual leave. So why wait… Let’s plan.