Perhaps it’s the years of not having a car that have produced my longing for the open road recently.  And boy, did I get a good dose on this last trip!

I left the East coast and headed into the mid-West in late May, which turned out to be a perfect time of year to execute a road trip.  With eyes wide open and a digital camera ready to capture all the unique things I was sure to see along the way, I quickly realized that much of the center of the country looks exactly the same.  Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and the edge of Minnesota all seemed to look like one giant state to me, discounting all major cities, of course.  There were miles of farm land and fairly straight roads with the occasional hill thrown in for spice.

It wasn’t until I reached the South Western corner of South Dakota that the terrain started to really change.  Small, bald, rolling hills slowly became larger hills speckled with dark green trees.  Then, out of nowhere, the tan, rocky formations of the badlands began to appear off in the distance.  Soon after being enveloped by the scenic beauty of the Black Hills, signs for majestic Mount Rushmore finally appeared.

A very nice compound was created around the memorial.  After parking, one could stroll around the fairly large area to take awe-inspiring photos from every angle.  After the initial mesmerizing view of the handsome gents, one could continue on past the cafe and gift shop, through the Avenue of Flags and arrive at the observation area for a more up-close and personal view.

One could not help but be struck by the patriotism and reverence of the sites creator, Gutzon Borglum.  He says, “…let us place there, carved high, so close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were.  Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away.”   Powerful stuff my friends!

After crossing a much-anticipated monument off my list, my journey took me up through North Dakota and over the Canadian border into Manitoba.  Then, a sharp left took me through the province of Saskatchewan before finally arriving in Alberta.

Once again, a large part of Canada looks exactly the same…flat farm land and straight roads.  It’s not until the center of Alberta that the terrain changes and scenery comes alive.

Jasper National Park is where I spent my first two days in the Province.  The sheer size of this park is exciting, and a little crazy, covering a large part of Alberta and British Columbia.  Considering the magnitude, there was a need to hone in on a particular area to see, otherwise one could get overwhelmed.

Camping was everywhere, as was the wildlife.  In fact, I’m not sure which I saw more of while I was there, wildlife (goats, rams, elk, bear, and deer) or the parked RV’s taking pictures of them.

Jasper National Park

A Ram having a snack

The downtown Jasper area was adorable with countless gift shops and cute restaurants set against the backdrop of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

After an evening of delicious wood fires and camping, it was time for more exploring the next day.  Luckily, the sky cleared enough to go on the tramway.  Just driving up to the landing afforded some beautiful views by itself.  Then, in an enclosed glass carriage, passengers are brought up to an elevation of 7,472 feet.  From the top one can see the entire town of Jasper, nearby lakes which allow scuba diving, multiple mountain ranges, and two rivers, one of which is glacier-fed and has a distinctive teal-green color.

The tram lets passengers off just below the summit with the option to hike the steady incline to the top in nice weather.  As it was pretty cold up there, a journey half way to the top is all I decided to do.  The view was amazing and the environment was peaceful.  In the distance I could hear the snow caps cracking and breaking, and since the majority of passengers remained in the enclosed tram area, I really felt as if I had the mountain to myself and the magical sights and sounds of nature were mine and mine alone.

Just me and the Rockies

Next, it was time to explore the city life.  I found Edmonton to be a large, beautiful place that is clean and manageable.  One must-see item is the Royal Alberta Museum.  This building covers every area of natural history in beautiful execution.  I purposely avoided the bug exhibit (to avoid nightmares that I’m sure would have been evoked), but the flora, fauna, fossils and geological specimens were absolutely amazing.

The Provincial Capital building was a requirement for the trip and it was just as beautiful as I expected.  Although, one thing I did not expect was the large fountain/public pool right in front of the Capitol.  Half-naked sunbathers and Legislation just don’t go together in my mind….  None-the-less, the building and grounds were a beautiful combination of city planning and national pride.

Edmonton, Alberta

Canada has once again treated me very well, and I look forward to a time when I can return and continue my exploration.  I’ve only uncovered the tip of the iceberg!