Road tripping in Canada

Driving along the highway in Alberta, dotted with pine trees on both sides, en route the famed Rocky Mountains.

By Rahul Jagtiani

Hitting the open road in Canada was a dream come true. A trip that started in the easy on the eye west coast city of Vancouver, continued all the way up to stunning Banff and Lake Louise in the neighboring state of Alberta. With stops in the picturesque mountain village of Whistler, and the scenic wine region in Kelowna, as well as a drive through the magnificent Rockies, every bend in the road was as breathtaking as I'd imagined it to be.

The last couple of days were spent exploring the oh so popular Niagara Falls, on the other side of Canada. I just had to check this off my bucket list.

A minimum of two weeks is recommended to truly enjoy the sights and sounds on this epic trip. So buy that plane ticket and hop across the seven seas, rent that ride, and experience this awesome adventure. It's the new decade after all.

A series of thrilling ziplines through the dense forests in the ritzy mountain village of Whistler is a popular summer adventure activity.

Mt. Norquay in the town of Banff offers stunning views all around.

A road trip is the best way to explore the gorgeous, varied landscape of Canada.

Cloudraker Skybridge at Whistler Peak is truly an engineering marvel. At 7,200 feet above sea level, the suspension bridge is one of the highest in North America and offers majestic views all around.

The scenic town of Kelowna on Lake Okanagan is a popular wine-growing region and often draws comparisons with the neighbouring Napa Valley region in northern California for its world-class wines.

A helicopter ride over Niagara Falls is just one of the ways to experience this wonder of the world.

Up close with the Niagara! The Canadian side offers the best view of these spectacular falls.

Athabasca glacier, located in the Canadian Rockies is the most-visited glacier in North America. One can embark on a Columbia Icefields Adventure, where an all-terrain bus, known as the Ice Explorer, takes you right onto the glacier. Here one can experience walking on this 100,00-year-old sheet of ice and also drinking off the glacier.

The best way to hike up Mt. Norquay in Banff is with an exhilarating via ferrata experience - an assisted climbing route with a harness secured to the mountain's steel cable.

During the via ferrata experience, one has to cross this wobbly suspension bridge. It’s a huge adrenaline rush if you love adventure.

The breathtaking views on top of Mt. Norquay make the hike so worth it.

Lake Moraine is simply nature at its best! Surrounded by the jagged peaks of the  Rocky Mountains, this astonishingly blue lake is one of the most photographed locations in Canada.

The Inukshuk, a stone structure resembling a human figure was traditionally used by the Inuit people as a landmark and a navigational aid. Today, it represents the spirit of friendship and hope, values that are at the core of the Canadian way of life.

The author is an entrepreneur and founder of Plush Plaza. He is also the producer and host of award-winning travel series Plush Places. He can be reached on Instagram @rahul.jagtiani.