Exploratory Glory | A Year Worth of Travel Adventure
Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada
A Year's Worth of Travel Adventure
2019 was a year to remember for us at Exploratory Glory and we visited so many cool destinations, some new and some that we were revisiting for a second, or even third time. Traveling to new and exciting countries is always going to be our number one goal, but as life goes we are not yet able to be full-time travelers. But we are fortunate enough to live in British Columbia, Canada, which has so much to offer and explore providing us with ample summertime opportunities and adventures. The fact is that BC is so large it would swallow up many whole countries in a size comparison and has seemingly infinite wilderness, lakes, mountains, and ocean shorelines and it would take an entire lifetime of exploring just to scratch the surface. That being said we try to leave the country at least twice a year and make a concerted effort to have one of those countries be a new place we haven’t previously visited. With the USA located only 2.5 hours away from our home in the Okanagan Valley, it is fairly easy for us to just hop on a plane or even drive down to California, Nevada, or Arizona to escape the cold Canadian winters.
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London Bridge, Lake Havasu, Arizona
To summarize 2019, our travels basically started out in March, when we flew by plane and visited various places in Arizona. After Arizona, we stayed in BC for the entire summer and enjoyed some fun staycation adventures and created some great memories. We stayed in BC till the fall was ending and then decided to go on the vacation of a lifetime to England and Spain for a month-long journey, which ended up being full of typical travel ups and downs, but mostly ups.
That basically sums up our 2019 Year Worth of Travel Adventure, enjoy!
Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona
Papago Park In Phoenix Arizona is a richly historic place dating back thousands of years to the time of the Hohokam civilization. There are numerous hiking trails within the park that lead you all around this beautiful desert oasis. There are several small lakes stocked with various species of fish that originated from canals dug by the Hohokam. The main attraction of Papago Park is the famous Hole-in-the-Rock, which was used by the Hohokam to record the position of the sun and track the seasons. There is also the Phoenix Zoo, which attracts many tourists throughout the year.
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Dobbin’s Lookout, Phoenix, Arizona
Dobbin’s Lookout in located within Phoenix, Arizona’s largest park, which is called South Mountain Park. A massive tract of wilderness that is actually one of the largest urban parks in the world. The lookout has a unique rock house, which you can enter and get a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding desert below. Numerous cacti species and unique desert fauna exist within the park and you can wander around the desert on one of the many hiking trails within its borders.
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Sara Park, Lake Havasu, Arizona
Sara Park, which is located in fun and sun filled Lake Havasu, Arizona and offers up some truly stunning desert landscapes. Hike one of the many trails available within this 1,100 acre park, including the rugged Crack in the Wall, which actually a slot canyon formed from wind and water erosion. If you choose to climb up to the top on the Trash Can trail then you will be treated to stunning 360 views of the vast Mohave Desert as well as Lake Havasu.
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Ellison Provincial Park, Vernon, British Columbia
Ellison Provincial Park is one of the Okanagan Valley’s most prized possessions. The park is around fifteen minutes drive from the city of Vernon, British Columbia. Though relatively close to town this park is gives you the feeling that you are deep in the wilderness and frankly you pretty much are. There are many campsites within the park that are available to rent in the summertime as well a small store. There are several gorgeous coves that feature incredible red sand beaches and calm waters that look like glass on a calm day.
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Adventure Bay Trail, Vernon, British Columbia
Adventure Bay Trail is a hiking trail situated in Vernon, British Columbia on the peninsula of Okanagan Lake known as Adventure Bay. The hike leads you up the mountain on a fairly laborious and challenging 1 hour hike. When you get to the top you’ll be rewarded for your efforts by the impressive panoramic views of Okanagan Lake.
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Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park, Kelowna, British Columbia
Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park is a 400 hectare park located on the outskirts of the adventure filled city of Kelowna in the gorgeous Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. It features sweeping views of Kelowna and Okanagan Lake and includes a hiking trail that connects to neighboring Lebanon Creek Greenway Regional Park.
McDougall Rim, West Kelowna, British Columbia
McDougall Rim hiking trail leads you along immense cliffs and eventually takes you to the top of Mount Hayman and treats you to outstanding vistas that include views of Kelowna, Rose Valley Lake and Okanagan Lake.
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Oyama Lookout, Lake Country, British Columbia
Oyama Lookout in Lake Country overlooks the quaint little isthmus beach town of Oyama and the two popular lakes that embrace it, Kalamalka Lake and Wood Lake. The lookout has an interesting wooden platform to climb up on take some awesome photography, as well as some rock ledges that lend to some pretty good shots also.
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Echo Lake, Lumby, British Columbia
Echo lake is a sight to behold, especially in the midst of summer when the waters change from dark colored to a spectacular aquamarine. Surrounded by massive, steep mountain peaks covered in dense wilderness, this beautiful lake is the perfect place to unwind and listen to the iconic Canadian bird, the loon, as it calls out to its waterfowl neighbors.
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Hurlbert Beach, Vernon, British Columbia
Hurlburt is a newly opened park that lies just 10 minutes outside of Vernon in the Okanagan Valley. It has an inviting red sand beach and a dock to spend some time tanning and jumping in the warm summertime waters of BC’s most beloved lake, Okanagan Lake. Locals have been driving by this beach and dreaming about it for the past 80 years. Up until recently it had been a kid’s summer camp, but now much to our delight has been opened up for public usage.
Kaloya Regional Park, Lake Country, British Columbia
Yet another treasure of Oyama, British Columbia is the Kaloya Regional Park. This 3.7 hectare park is the perfect place to launch you kayak, canoe, paddleboard or just cool off at the beach. There are also natural wetland ponds where you can spot local wildlife species. The waters surrounding the park are perfectly blue and crystal clear enabling you to see right to the bottom in some parts, which makes for excellent snorkeling and swimming.
Sicamous Creek Falls, Sicamous, British Columbia
Sicamous Creek Falls is perfect for adventure lovers who are seeking out a thrill. Visiting in mid-summer is probably your best bet given the fact that the springtime snow melt bring raging waters that make the trail extremely dangerous. There are several trails to choose from upon arriving in the parking lot, one takes you along the creek and one takes you up the mountain. The creek trail is pretty difficult and has some sketchy areas that require the use of ropes, which are already tied to trees in strategic spots to help you climb up. This trail is not for everybody, given the danger that is involved and people have lost their lives hiking this trail in the past.
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Mount Rose Swanson, Armstrong, British Columbia
The Mount Rose Swanson trail is a 5.6 km loop that is located in the countryside of Armstrong, BC. The trail itself takes you through the dense forest and ascends to the top of the mountain eventually taking you to a lookout with breathtaking views of the Okanagan Valley as well as Otter Lake and Swan Lake.
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Mount Tod, Sun Peaks, British Columbia
Mount Tod provides an amazing adventure that takes you through many different climates as you make your way to the top of this 7070 ft mountain behemoth. Located just outside of the city of Kamloops, BC is the alpine village of Sun Peaks, which is where you will start your journey into the wilderness. If you happen to time your visit just right you will hit wildflower season, which is one of the most spectacular sights to behold.
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Camel’s Hump, Lumby, British Columbia
Camel’s Hump is a monument of the Okanagan with a history of volcanic origins and can be seen from 40 kms away in Vernon. The drive up the mountain to the trail-head is a treacherous one and should only be done in a tough 4x4 vehicle with good tires, as there is sharp volcanic rocks strewn all over the road. There are two humps you must hike to get to the end, once on top of the first hump and your exhausted already you’ll realize that your not at the top and you must climb another hump in order to complete the hike and get to that incredible view.
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Kalamalka Lake, Vernon, British Columbia
Kalamalka Lake is an outstanding creation of Mother Nature and her amazing color palette. It is the best that the Okanagan Valley has to offer and the perfect place to spend your summer holidays. It has memorizing colors that change with the seasons from dark blue in the winter to beautiful crystal clear turquoise in the summer. With the warm weather comes the warm water and Kalamalka Lake fills up with people looking to enjoy water recreation activities including, boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, paddleboarding, hiking, wildlife watching and cliff jumping at Rattlesnake Point.
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Shuswap River, Lumby, British Columbia
The Shuswap River has been providing sustenance to the inhabitants of the Okanagan Valley for many millennia and still to this day it plays a big part in sustaining the valley. Nowadays it is used as a recreational wonderland and with its clean and clear waters that shouldn’t come as a surprise. There are cliffs that are used by locals as a place to get their adrenaline kicks. Summertime in the Okanagan is very dry and it usually wont rain for months at a time, this is when the water slows down and allows for mellow, but fun tubing adventures for the whole family to enjoy.
Grey Canal Trail, Vernon, British Columbia
The Grey Canal was at one time one of the most extensive irrigation systems in the province of British Columbia. Nowadays it has been converted into a hiking and biking trail system, that is open for the public’s enjoyment. it provides gorgeous views of the city of Vernon as well as Swan lake and it’s surrounding countryside.
River Thames, London, United Kingdom
For many thousands of years the River Thames has been the life blood of the city known as London. A visit to London wouldn’t be complete without taking a boat down the River Thames, as it reveals an eye opening glance into the diverse history of this world renowned city. Grab a ticket with The Original Tour, which allows you to hop designated buses allowing you to tour the entire city, as well as board the Thames river boats.
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Tarragona Cathedral, Tarragona, Spain
Dedicated to Saint Tecla, this magnificent cathedral was built on top of what was once the Roman temple. The temple was the place of the Tarragona provincial government in the 1st century A.D. The cathedral itself was constructed in the 12th century in the Romanesque style and continued through the Gothic period. The large intimidating facade and it’s intricate detail are one of the city’s most famous images and are well worth the visit.
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Tarragona Amphitheater, Tarragona, Spain
The Tarragona Amphitheater is massive structure built in the 2nd century situated directly above a spectacular white sand beach on the shores of the blue Mediterranean Sea. The entire construction was carved out of the bedrock earth it lies on. The amphitheatre could hold up to 14,000 spectators in its heyday and it was once the location of gladiators battles and men against wild beasts, as well as executions.
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Boquer Valley, Mallorca, Spain
Boquer Valley is a scenic valley that lies just north-east of Port de Pollença, Majorca(Mallorca) and has hiking trails that lead to the stunning cove of Cala Boquer. The area is popular with bird-watchers and wildlife enthusiasts for its varieties of birds, goats, lizards and other wildlife.
The valley can only be accessed by hiking in. The beginning of the trail-head is marked by an old ranch house called Finca Boquer. The valley is also said to have once been the historical home to the ancient Roman city of Bocchoris, which originally gave the name to the valley.
Port de Pollensa, Mallorca, Spain
Port de Pollença, also sometimes called Puerto Pollensa, is a family-friendly resort town in the north on the island of Mallorca. It features a large marina that harbors many different kinds of boats, from leisure yachts to boats used strictly for fishing. Puerto Pollensa offers visitors splendid sea views with a dramatic mountain backdrop. The bay itself is perfectly protected from strong winds and rough seas. The town offers a plethora of restaurants, bars, hotels, resorts, shopping, sightseeing tours and best of all gorgeous Mediterranean beaches.
Albercutx Watchtower, Mallorca, Spain
Situated high atop the mountain slopes between Port de Pollenca and Formentor is the amazing Albercutx Watchtower. The watchtower is of medieval origins and is estimated to have been constructed sometime in the 1500s and was a strategic lookout for the inhabitants of the island of Mallorca. The hikers and bikers that can make it to the top of the mountain, as well as climb the watchtower will be treated to awe inspiring views overlooking the bay of Puerto de Pollenca and the Serra de Tramanutana mountains.
Platja de Formentor, Mallorca, Spain
Platja de Formentor is a magical strip of beach with incredibly beautiful fine white sand and is located on the edge of the breathtaking Formentor Peninsula, on the island of Mallorca, Spain. It is surrounded by a beautiful untouched forest wilderness area full of places to explore, wildlife to view and the occasional goat herd passing by. The waters at the beach are a perfect aquamarine and with with the backdrop of the green mountains makes for one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
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Mirador Es Colomer, Mallorca, Spain
Mirador Es Colomer is a place where dramatic landscapes are visible everywhere you look. A short, but treacherous drive up into the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range brings you to this magical hiking, biking and sightseeing attraction. From here you can either continue on to the beach called Platja de Formentor or hike up to the top of the mountain to the Albercutx Watchtower, which will provide you with an even better view of the island.
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Alcudia, Mallorca, Spain
Alcudia is an amazing town located on the beautiful island of Mallorca, Spain. It is probably most well known for it’s epic white sand beach that stretches for miles or for it’s historic area called Old Town Alcudia. The Old Town is a well preserved ancient city with protective walls surrounding it and to this day people still occupy the historic houses within the walls.
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Pollenca, Mallorca, Spain
Pollenca, on the island of Mallorca, is a Medieval mountain village on the edge of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. Well known for it’s ancient Roman Bridge that remains intact to this day. Have your breath taken away as you explore the historic cobblestone streets of Pollenca, just as visitors did centuries ago.
Cala Sant Vicenc, Mallorca, Spain
Cala Sant Vicenc is a breathtaking seaside Mediterranean village that is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery. Also well known for it’s amazing prehistoric caves that date back thousands of years, which can be visited free of charge.
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Sicamous, Shuswap, British Columbia
Sicamous is a quiet little village that comes to life in the summer months, bringing in a ton of tourists, who come to take advantage of it’s perfect location on Shuswap Lake and Mara Lake. It has many attractive white sand beaches with clear pristine water.
Okanagan Rail Trail, Lake Country, British Columbia
The Okanagan Rail Trail is a recent project that included the re-purposing of an old railway track into a 50 km long hiking trail that takes you from the city of Vernon into Kelowna. The trail goes along the edge of some amazing lakes that include Kalamalka Lake, Wood Lake and Ellison Lake taking you through some truly unique Okanagan landscapes. The are many beaches along the way to stop and take a dip.
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