By Kristi Flight Finder Kristi is on a break from her beloved Rockies while she travels the world as a digital nomad. And when she isn't travelling, she's dreaming up her next destination!

As a born-and-bred Canadian, I went on my first camping trip at the ripe age of 3 months old. Since then, I have slept under the stars more times than I can count. Does this make me experienced? Yeah, sure. But it also means that I’ve made a mistake or two (or ten) when it comes to camping in the Canadian Rockies. Some made me laugh, but others ruined the entire trip.

So, without further ado, here are some of my biggest mistakes. Learn from them. Laugh at them. Just don’t repeat them! You can thank me later.

If You Fail to Plan Ahead, Your Trip Will Fail

Remember the hype around scoring Taylor Swift tickets? It’s got nothing on Parks Canada.

Last year, I waltzed into my favorite campground during Canada Day weekend (without prebooking my site online). I knew I wouldn’t get one of the top-shelf spots, but I assumed there would be a walk-in site somewhere. I mean, it’s just a forest, right?

Wrong. Instead, I was laughed out of the campground, the entire park and the EIGHT closest campgrounds before I gave up and drove home. An eight-hour drive for half an hour in the mountains? A lovely day trip.

The reservation page I should've checked months earlier

What you should do instead:

Reserve your site early—waaaay earlier than you think you need to!

• Parks Canada will begin to open 2024 bookings on January 8th with different dates for different parks. Banff opens on January 26th at 8am MST (be on the website no later than 7:58 MST)
• Alberta Parks open 90 days before the first day of your trip. For example: if you want to camp starting on July 1st, reservations open on April 2nd.
• BC Parks open 4 months before the first day of your trip.
• Moraine Lake/Lake Louise shuttle reservations open on April 18th. Is it crazy to book a ride to see a lake MONTHS in advance? Yes. Do you still need to estimate your date and book it anyway? Why, yes, you do. Especially if you want a chance to be there in the morning or anywhere near sunrise—the most popular time to see the lake.

Hot tip: You should be on the site BEFORE bookings open to make your reservations. Know your dates, the specific site you’re hoping to book, and enlist friends/family to help.

Underestimating the Allure of Banff

Well-kept secret? Forget it. When it comes to Banff, all bets are off.

Don’t underestimate the popularity of camping in the Canadian Rockies. One weekend, we drove up to the town of Banff and the highway was blocked off by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Confused, I approached and was told, “Sorry, it’s closed.”

What do you mean, “it’s closed?” It’s a town. You can’t close a town.

Apparently, they can. The town was so packed that all hotels were at capacity. The restaurants were all fully booked. There were no parking spaces. So they blocked off all entrances/exits to the town and barred anyone from entering. They had closed an entire town because it was too popular.

I get it, Banff is really cool. The mountains are gorgeous, and the little town nestled within is picture-perfect. But I cannot stress enough the importance of booking on the day, nay, the minute that reservations open, especially if you are heading to Banff.

Here’s the run-down:

• Two Jack Lakeside is the best campground in the park. If you want to go camping in the Canadian Rockies, you’re probably thinking of Two Jack Lakeside. The campground is close enough to the town that you could go in for dinner, but far enough away to feel like the wilderness.
• Hot tip: Sites 28 and 32 are right on the lakeshore. You can launch your kayak directly from your campsite (or go in for a quick glacial swim if you prefer absolutely no feeling in your limbs).
• If you can’t book Lakeside, Two Jack Main is a decent backup with similar vibes.
• Johnston Canyon Campground is another solid choice. Nestled deep in a forested canyon, it’s near the Johnston Canyon trail—helpful to get an early morning start before it gets busy.

Neglecting the Rest of the Rockies

Now that I’ve thoroughly ticked off Banff, I’ll get into the really good stuff: the parts of the Rockies that aren’t so polished. From here, everything gets a touch more wild and “Canadian”...though that wilderness does demand some extra attention.

I learned from a young age to use caution in the less-developed parks, and to always check my surroundings for wildlife. As a toddler, my parents sent me into an outhouse and I came out crying that there was “a monster mouse” in the toilet. Since monster mice don’t actually exist, my parents ignored me and sent me back in.

They finally believed me when I started shrieking as the giant marmot climbed out of the toilet hole and was displeased to be stuck in a small space with a screaming child. To this day, I always inspect the toilets beforehand (a habit that has saved my backside more than once. Literally.)

Where should you go instead?

• Head straight to Waterton Lakes National Park. It’s about 2.5 hours south of Calgary, close to the US border. It’s significantly more unknown than Banff, but since it’s tiny, it still books up immediately. The little village has log-cabin vibes and a charming candy store, but the real showstopper is the hiking. Crypt Lake has you crossing four mountains, following a goat path along the edge of a cliff and scrambling through a hole blasted through a mountain. Jumping from the alpine cliffs into the glacier-fed lake at the summit is just the cherry on top.
• Another gem is Waterfowl Lakes—and the rest of the Icefields Parkway. The drive alone is bucket-list-worthy, taking you past glaciers, Gatorade-blue alpine lakes and more dramatic waterfalls than you can count.
• Alberta and British Columbia have seven national parks in the Rockies, so it’s definitely worth delving deeper than Banff.

Read more…

The Canaries are the easily-accessible European gems off the African coast that double up as both summer and winter sun destinations (and everything in between, of course). When the cheap fares roll around, the only decision left is which one* to visit.

And what better reason for a good old-fashioned Buzzfeed-style quiz than to help choose your next holiday destination?

Select the statement that best describes your personality:

A) You're the get-up and go type, full of adventure and always chasing the next thrill.
B) Arts and crafts was your favourite subject at school, and you appreciate a good aesthetic.
C) You’re a little hot-headed, but you usually manage to keep that temper from blowing…
D) Indecisive is your middle name, and commitment sends a shiver down your spine.
E) Trailblazing is your vibe, and you like to be the first to discover something (or somewhere) new.

Results:

A) You're Fuerteventura. This wind-swept island is a haven for all sport-enthusiasts. Grab a board and hit the waves, or hop in a 4×4 and cruise the dunes. Oh, just don't forget to buy health insurance.
B) You're Lanzarote. As a creative free spirit, you'll love admiring the avant-garde architecture of César Manrique found all over his hometown.
C) You're Tenerife. Home to Mount Teide, the 3rd largest volcano in the world. Technically it hasn't erupted since 1909, but since it's still deemed as 'active', who knows what's brewing?
D) You're Gran Canaria. Don't want to settle for just one option? Well, neither does this island, boasting beaches, monolithic rock formations and popping dance floors. Although, fair warning, its climate is also the most temperamental.
E) You’re La Palma. The least visited of all the Canary Islands, La Palma is a nature lover’s paradise. You’ll have volcanic crater trails all to yourself, unpolluted skies perfect for stargazing, and a colourful colonial old town without the tourist crowds.

*If you’re more indecisive than Gran Canaria itself, have a look at the interisland ferry routes and mix it up a bit. They’ll even give you access to the three smallest and least-visited Canaries—La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.

Thank you so much for all the lovely emails regarding my upcoming honeymoon! Here are some of the super tips we’ll be keeping in mind as we stomp through the streets of the French Quarter:

On taking water through airport security…

Do you have any hot tips to share with fellow JFC-ers in upcoming editions? Just hit 'Reply' to let us know!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• At third-largest in the world, Dallas Fort-Worth Airport has a greater surface area than Manhattan. So, where on earth is the largest?
• If beautiful train stations are the kind of attraction that does it for you, it might be time to get Tashkent on your radar.
• As if Scotland’s wallabies weren’t surprising enough, a Japanese macaque is the last creature you’d expect to spot in the Highlands.
• And finally, South Korea’s latest culinary trend has been trashed by the country’s government. According to the South Korean Food Ministry, you really shouldn’t eat deep-fried tooth picks. Nope, not even when topped with powdered cheese.
  Unsurprisingly, TikTok is the source of the madness—we’ve done the leg work to save you the search. Bon appétit!