A Long Road to Canada
Imagine being on a road trip going on a vacation with your family or friends—it is not just some ordinary road trip… but a long, tremendous 16 hour ride! You start watching the beautiful scenery outside your window, listening to the radio play “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts, scrolling through your phone, or even experiencing the nature of boredom. Well, that was me.
During the summer break, my family and I went to Canada. Our first ride was driving our gear all the way to Portland, Oregon. We shortly went to visit the Multnomah Falls. It was located in the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland. A historic footbridge, the Benson Bridge, offers tourists an upper and lower cascade view, making the site one of Oregon’s well known natural attractions.
The next morning after that, my family is ready to explore Canada. Our go-to destination would be Lake Louise, which is located in Banff National Park in Alberta. The drive took about three to four hours from our hotel to Lake Louise. As soon as we got out of the car, my jaw dropped. Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, we were surrounded by the dense green forest of pine trees. The blue, crystal clear waters reflected the bright sunlight, with the snowy mountains displaying the view of Lake Louise. It was really magical, the scenery felt unreal, and my family and I admired the beautiful scenery
After Lake Louise, we visited downtown Banff, starting with the Cascade of Time Garden before strolling through the village. The streets were lined with boutique shops, restaurants, cafés, craft stores, and art galleries. Surrounded by towering mountains, the whole atmosphere felt cozy yet adventurous, with the perfect balance of nature and community. That evening, we drove to Calgary, where we stayed for the night.
The next day, we made the four-hour drive to Edmonton. Downtown was calm, unlike other bustling cities. At Queen Elizabeth Park, we admired the sweeping view of the city and its bridge, a sight that captured Edmonton’s beauty perfectly. Later, we returned to Calgary and explored its downtown highlights. We took photos inside the iconic Wonderland Statue and visited the Calgary Tower, adding more fun memories to our trip.
On our last day in Canada, we couldn’t leave without stopping at Tim Hortons, the country’s famous fast-food chain. We grabbed coffee, mini donuts, and cups as our sweet farewell before heading home.
The road trip was long and exhausting. So many hours in the car, so many miles but honestly, every stop made it totally worth it. Waterfalls, turquoise lakes, tiny mountain villages, and quiet towns—I’ll never forget them. And even the boring parts, the long stretches of driving, the waiting around somehow made the good moments feel even better. I guess the biggest lesson? Patience pays off. Sometimes the trips that take the longest end up being the ones you remember the most.