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Canada This Fall

Visiting Canada this fall offers an extraordinary blend of vibrant foliage, crisp air, and a variety of activities in the country. Whether you’re a nature lover or just looking for a cultural getaway, Canada in the fall has something for everyone. Here’s a guide to the top provinces to visit, along with must-see sights and activities.

Quebec: Fall Foliage

Quebec is a prime destination for fall foliage. The Laurentian Mountains, just north of Montreal, offer breathtaking vistas of autumn leaves. Mont-Tremblant National Park is particularly popular for its hiking trails and panoramic views.

In Quebec City, the historic old town, with its cobblestone streets and European charm, is especially beautiful in the fall. Don’t miss the Plains of Abraham and Montmorency Falls, which provide stunning backdrops for autumn colors.

Ontario: Urban Landscapes to Natural Wonders

Ontario’s fall foliage is legendary, especially in Algonquin Provincial Park, where you can hike, canoe, and camp amidst a sea of red, orange, and yellow leaves. For a mix of urban and natural experiences, visit Toronto and take a day trip to the Niagara region.

The Niagara Parkway, often called one of the prettiest drives in the world, is spectacular in the fall. Also, explore the Bruce Peninsula and its rugged landscapes and clear waters.

British Columbia: Coastal Beauty

In British Columbia, the fall season offers a unique combination of coastal and mountainous beauty. Vancouver’s Stanley Park, with its seawall and towering trees, is a must-see.

Head to Whistler for world-class hiking and mountain biking against a vibrant backdrop of fall leaves. Vancouver Island, particularly around Victoria and the Cowichan Valley, showcases stunning autumn scenery with a milder climate. Butchart Gardens in Victoria is worth the visit, to see native plants and flowers during the season.

Nova Scotia: Scenic Drives

Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail is often cited as one of the most beautiful drives in the world, especially in fall. This scenic highway loops around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, offering breathtaking coastal views and endless autumn colors.

Halifax, with its rich maritime history and lively waterfront, is another great spot to explore. Don’t miss the picturesque towns of Lunenburg and Annapolis Royal.

Alberta: Majestic Mountains

In Alberta, the Canadian Rockies provide a stunning backdrop for fall adventures. Banff and Jasper National Parks are renowned for their dramatic landscapes and diverse wildlife. The Icefields Parkway, connecting Banff and Jasper, offers unparalleled views of mountains, glaciers, and vibrant fall colors.

Lake Louise, with its turquoise waters is a go to destination for many during the busier summer months. Banff is a must see on my travel list for the year.

This fall why not try Canada and its lovely scenery for your fall foliage fix! Happy travels.

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career Librarian & Entrepreneurship

Halloween Costumes

Halloween is right around the corner, and that means dressing up in costume for some people. Check out some ideas to make your Halloween costume for 2022 easy, fun, and friendly for all work environments.

Traditional Halloween

When you think Halloween you think, pumpkins, witches, zombies, and monsters.  These costumes will work, but what if you work in a school, nursing home, or other public setting? You need to be mindful of toy weapons, fake blood, and scary costumes. These props don’t always translate well for all crowds.

If you decide to dress up in a traditional costume, make sure your clothing is modest without toy knives or guns.  Keep blood and gore to a minimum too. Finally, make sure your costume (including hats and shoes) allows you to move freely. You need to be comfortable and still be able to do your job Halloween day. Have fun, but also think of others.

Pop Culture

Another idea for a fun Halloween costume is what’s trending on Instagram or Tik Tok. Usually popular streaming shows, like “Stranger Things” or classic television like the “Flintstones” or the “Grinch” are hits.  These costumes are popular with families and large groups to coordinate with a theme.

Be mindful of the time involved to gather props, even if you’re dressing up like a simple TV character.  Begin your search now, so come October 31st, you’ve got all the items you need to complete your costume.

The NO Costume, Costume

I’m referring to folks that don’t like dressing up, but still want to participate in work or school costume contests. You either didn’t give yourself enough time or decided last minute to dress up.  Here is a list of easy to throw together DIY costume ideas to try last minute:

  1. Tourist – Hawaiian shirt, camera or lei, shorts, sandals, and a straw hat
  2. Pirate – White shirt, black pants, red bandana, and a stuffed parrot if you’ve got it
  3. Ghost – Come on, do I have to tell you about the sheet with holes?
  4. Librarian – Pants or skirt, cardigan sweater with a broach or bow tie, glasses if you’ve got them, carrying a stack of books. Don’t forget to “shush” people all day if you must.

These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Check out Pinterest for more Halloween costume ideas and have a ball this year dressing up!

For more living well inspiration check out my website: KathyHusserTempe.com

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Health Travel

Best Fall Hikes

As the leaves change and temperatures get cooler, what better way to celebrate than with a weekend fall hike. Here are the best areas for fall hikes to suit any experience level.  Give yourself a boost of autumn spirit and enjoy the great outdoors this autumn.

New England 

New England has such diverse landscape, starting in Maine (one of my “bucket list” vacations) and running the length of Connecticut. The four states in between are Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Every state offers up moderate to strenuous hikes near water or wilderness depending on your endurance.

An easy to moderate hike in Massachusetts loved by artists and nature lovers is Bish Bash Falls. Two miles to enjoy scenery and the biggest waterfall in the state! For a more challenging hike, Mount Mansfield in Vermont will give you breathtaking views near Lake Chaplain. The 6-mile roundtrip hike has been known to have the very best views in the state. With the elevation change be prepared with warmer clothes as you reach the summit and colder temperatures.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains have an abundance of wilderness trails mixed with amenities to make your fall excursion perfect for any age. Trails range from level walking paths to bike and board trails for all ages. There are also nature walks, to help you and your family identify plants and the surrounding wildlife easily. Finally, due to the elevation of the park, your hike can show you some of the best fall foliage near the East Cost of the United States.

Southwest Arizona

If you live in the southwestern region of the United States, you have many choices to experience the changing leaves. Enjoying the crisp fall weather is only a short drive away to northern Arizona. Sedona, Flagstaff and along the Mogollon Rim all have the advantage of being close the urban center of Phoenix. These towns offer some of the best nature walks with only a two-hour drive north.

Humphrey’s Peak Trail is considered an easy 4.5-mile hike reaching an elevation gain of about 3500 feet.  The highest point of the peak is 12,000 feet, so be aware of the elevation change and plan accordingly. Temperatures will also be much cooler when you reach the summit so for all hikes pack warm clothing and the appropriate amount of water and food.

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Travel

Fall Foliage

If you’re like me, I love the cooler weather that autumn brings. A quick weekend trip to refocus and rejuvenate is a healthy stress reliever too.  Finding the changing leaves and fall foliage are always a beautiful travel getaway, and you should plan now. Here are the best locations to see fall colors and the changing leaves near you. Be sure to enjoy those crisp, cool nights too!

Northeast United States

The most colorful spots to view the changing fall colors are listed on this map.  New England with its higher altitudes and much lower temperatures, compared to the rest of the United States, will bring out the reds, yellow and oranges in the hillside landscapes. Why do the leaves change? The chlorophyll breaks down in trees  due to the cooler weather. The green color in a leaf fades to make way for the bright autumn colors like orange, red, and yellow.

Be sure to plan your getaway between September 20th and October 11th for the very best viewing of colors changing near you.   Remember, the colors are at peak during early October and will vary by elevation and tree type. As you progress South, colors will be vibrant through mid-October.

State by State

A more comprehensive map by the Farmers’ Almanac encompasses all the states, for you to narrow down your travel plans. Even in my home state of Arizona, the leaves change in the Northern part of the state of Sedona and Flagstaff. These higher elevations are prime locations to view fall colors not seen on the desert floor of Phoenix.

National Parks

Our National Parks are also a terrific way to sneak in a fall break vacation with the kids and enjoy the changing seasons. 15 of the top locations for fall foliage are in National Parks.  Roads and amenities are still easily accessible for the most part, during the September and October timeframe. Take advantage of less crowded accommodations and campsites this autumn and make your trip to see Mother Nature in action!