North America’s Great Outdoors: A Site with a Powerful Roar
by Jennah Marshall · Feb 22, 2017
“But especially he loved to run in the dim twilight of the summer midnights, listening to the subdued and sleepy murmurs of the forest, reading signs and sounds as a man may read a book, and seeking for the mysterious something that called – called, waking or sleeping, at all times, for him to come.” Whenever I read this powerful excerpt from Jack London’s The Call of the Wild, images of North America’s majestic wilderness and wildlife start appearing in my mind. The US author was deeply inspired by Canada and Alaska’s untamed parts which explains why he immortalized them in his books.
Today, a hundred years after The Call of the Wild and White Fang were published, North America’s wilderness is one of every adventurer’s favorite destinations. Read on to find out what the most remarkable places in Canada and Alaska are.
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Established in 1885 in the heart of the breathtakingly beautiful Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national park. Being made up of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows, and rivers, Banff National Park offers a rich feast for the eyes, the ears, and the soul. Moraine Lake (a glacier-fed lake lined with hiking trails), Banff (the highest town in Canada at an elevation of 1,384 meters), and Castleguard Caves (the largest cave system in Canada) are only some of the park’s jewels.
One of the many reasons to look for holiday packages to Canada and Alaska this year is the fact that Canada is offering everyone free admission to its national parks as a way to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Trust me, you won’t regret visiting this place.
Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA
Denali National Park and Preserve encompasses the central and highest portion of the Alaska Range. The park’s landscape is comprised of landslides, glacially-fed braided rivers, and moving glaciers. It’s home to more than 650 species of flowering plants, shrubs, lichen, and moss as well as 37 species of mammals, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, Dall sheep, and of course caribou. One of the greatest things about this park is the fact that you don’t have to be a backpacker to experience close encounters with the magnificent animals that inhabit its areas. These creatures roam free in their natural habitat, meaning that observing and photographing them isn’t an impossible mission.
Wildlife viewing, however, isn’t the only activity this park offers. Hiking, biking, camping, rafting, and flight-seeing are among the most popular activities in this awe-inspiring park.
If you haven’t visited these North American gems yet, I wholeheartedly advise you to start your search for holiday packages to Canada and Alaska that include these marvellous places.
