• Michael Hartberger
  • Michael Hartberger

Hartberger RV 2024-2025

2yr RV trip across the US and Canada En savoir plus
  • Kelowna Wineries

    9 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    This region of BC has so many great wineries. Since they are small and only produce a limited number of cases a year (the majority only bottle what they grow) their notoriety is limited. We feel like we are in the know of a little secret 🤐 We visited Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery in West Kelowna and Summerhill Pyramid Winery which was started and still owned by New Yorker 🍷CHEERS!En savoir plus

  • Okanagan Lake - Kelowna BC

    11 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We decided to rent a boat to enjoy the expansive Okanagan Lake (almost as big as Lake Tahoe) and get a different perspective of Kelowna. The body of water runs the length of the city and beautiful homes and cute smaller towns along the shore. The lake was glossy and the temperature was perfect for a boat day. Ok, maybe a little chilly first thing in the morning but warmed up in the afternoon. Spent a good part of the day cruising around and for the most part we felt like we had the lake to ourselves 😁En savoir plus

  • Myra Canyon Trail

    13 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    A must do in Kelowna is the Myra Canyon Trail. We biked it this morning and now understand what all the hoopla is about it. Along the trail you have pine trees and rock formations surrounding you. It is set in a location high enough that you get a spectacular view of the city and Okanagan Lake (where we boated). Beauty is all around you. It’s along an old train track and so you bike along 18 trestles and 2 tunnels 🚲 😎

    Westen has a new buddy at the campground
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  • Revelstoke

    15 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Revelstoke is a small town with spectacular views surrounding it. The green and lush mountains engulf the town. You look up and “whoop there it is”! Drive just a few minutes to the ski resort which is big for a small town. Has quite a few runs. The resort is home of Canada's oldest continually operating ski club, dating to the 1890’s. Located on Mt. Revelstoke the area is also popular and busy for hiking as it is for skiing in the summer months ⛷️ 🥾 A lot of building & construction going on which is an indication of the growth Revelstoke is expecting.En savoir plus

  • Craigellachie

    16 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Another rainy day in BC so we headed out for a hike. We found Gorge Creek Trail which literally starts on the side of the highway. We had to sprint across 4 lanes of highway and there was a sign that read “trail closure”! But that did not stop us from enjoying the trail. We had to jump over a few fallen trees and mossy/broken trestles 🤪 Well worth it. Three awesome waterfalls along the short trail.

    We took a gander at the historic Last Spike. It is the famous site of the ceremonial “Last Spike”, driven by C.P.R. director Donald Smith in November 1885 marking the completion of Canada’s first transcontinental railway. 🚂
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  • Glacier National Park BC, Rogers Pass &

    18 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Spectacular View of Mount Revelstoke (yes, it’s May and snow is still in the forecast 😆) from the highway as we made our way to Glacier National Park- BC. Seems so strange since we spent about a week at the National Park in Montana about 3 years ago also named Glacier National Park 🙃 Drove to the Summit and everywhere you looked along the way there are postcard worthy views 🌲🌲🌲❄️🏔️😍

    Rogers Pass is a high mountain pass through the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, but the term also includes the approaches used by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway. In the heart of Glacier National Park

    Begbie Falls Trailhead - It seemed like we were walking in an enchanted forest (no joke 🤩) which led to another awesome waterfall in the area. Begbie falls has two smaller falls that rage together side by side!! From there you can walk on the trail and get to the shoreline of the Columbian River. So peaceful with the river flowing.
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  • Mt. Revelstoke National Park

    20 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    There are many trails in the park, and we picked a great one. Inspirational Woods Trail which is a 3km loop amongst flowing creeks. Abundant lush green trees and moss. When you get to the top a great view of Mt. English 🏔️🤩

    We then stumbled upon a cool CAN historic location 🎿 Nel Nelsen’s ski jump. It was here that all Canadian ski jumping world records were set between 1916 and 1932. Nel Nelsen was the man who made it happen! They have constructed a contraption you can fall into to get a sense of the jumping 😊
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  • Calgary AB

    25 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    We took a trip to Calgary, a cosmopolitan Alberta city. It’s the 3rd largest city in Canada. We did our own audio walking city tour using a travel app which was great. A lot of fun factoids about historical sites in the city. A few of our favs:

    Calgary Tower (formerly the husky tower) was constructed in 1967 and 60% of the structure is below ground. Was the highest building until 1984.

    The Galleria trees (or 10 Trees) are cool works of art along Stephen Avenue. The shape helps reduce the wind factor amongst the buildings which makes them functional and cool to look at - dual purpose👍🏻

    The Bow Building is a skyscraper downtown and has a unique crescent shape. It was the tallest building in the city until 2016. Currently ranks 2nd. There are great views of the Bow River which runs through the city. The building is also known for the Wonderland Sculpture located at the front of the building. A huge face that represents Hope and Dreams. You can enter the structure and the view is fresh perspective 😎
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  • Banff & CAN Rockies (part 1)

    28 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Town of Banff has been on our bucket list for a few years and is in the Banff National Park. A cool city with a skyline dominated by the peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains. There are no bad views from anywhere in the city. The Bow River runs through it and at one point The Bow Falls is created which throws off a calming flow of water. A trail lines the city and the main thoroughfare, Banff Ave, has small boutiques and cool restaurants. And those views 🤩🏔️ no words to describe…just need to add to your list!!! A must visit and experience.

    We visited The Fairmont Hotel, mainly because it sits on a hill that gives you even better views of the landscape.

    We decided to rent a canoe 🛶 Spent 2 hours on the Bow River. The water was so calm and I can’t say it enough……Stunning views & RELAXING 😎

    We will take a lot of pictures of The Canadian Rockies so wanted to add a tidbit about them. They stretch from BC (British Columbia) to AB (Alberta). The expansive system of interconnected mountain ranges between the Interior Plains and The Pacific Coast. It runs northwest-southeast from central Alaska. They are shaped by glaciers unlike CO Rockies which are shaped by snow and rain.
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  • Town of Drumheller/Hoodoos

    31 mai 2024, Canada ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    About an hour and a half northeast of Calgary is a small town, Drumheller. It is best known for the Royal Tyrrell Museum contains a large collection of dinosaur fossils. Downtown, stairs wind inside the “World’s Largest Dinosaur,” a giant model T-Rex with views from its jaw 🦕 the town has Dino’s randomly positioned around town. We had some fun with that 😁

    Outside of town is Horsethief Canyon is a must-see while exploring the Canadian Badlands. Stand on the edge for spectacular views of the valley below.

    Not to be outdone by the Hoodoos, also outside of town. The heritage value of the Hoodoos lies in their unique geological form and concentration, their status as recognizable icons of Alberta's badlands, and their aesthetic, historical and scientific significance. Hoodoos are pillars of rock, typically between 5 and 150 feet high. Unlike a spire (which tapers from bottom to top), hoodoos have a variable, totem pole-like thickness throughout their height. The towers are typically a softer sandstone capped by a more erosion-resistant layer of rock.
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  • Calgary Olympic Park and Stampede

    1 juin 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics and the ski area that was used is now The Winsport Canada Olympic Park. During the off season they have Downhill Karting. Hop in the driver's seat and let gravity do the rest. You're in full control of your speed as you ride down 1.1 miles on a 3 wheeled cart fueled by gravity. We went down the hill twice 😜 it was a rush, especially if you avoided using your brakes 😉!!!

    No visit to Calgary is complete until you visit the Stampede arena. The Annual Calgary Stampede, which locals refer to as “The greatest outdoor show on earth “is actually the World’s largest outdoor Rodeo🤠. They also refer to themselves as “NASHVILLE NORTH” – we’re sure Nashville appreciates that😉 We visited the exhibit at The Sam Centre, that just opened this week. Gives a history of the event and what it means to this city. It is well done. Michael even took a shot at the Trick Rope
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  • Peyto Lake/Bow Lake/Lake Louise (1 of 3)

    3 juin 2024, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    We Headed North of Banff to visit the Peyto Lake viewpoint. As you capture your first glimpse of the lake all you can think, or say, is WOW😮! It is truly breathtaking. It’s one of the iconic views of the Canadian Rockies. The turquoise water amongst the mountains 🤩 We were in on a little secret to get to the upper view point which was incredible that an extra 10-minute walk yielded such tranquility. We took on the slushy snow trail to get up to it. Worth it!

    Next stop was Bow lake - a thin layer of pancake ice - never seen that before. I call it the “slushy” of the lakes. The view looks like it is not real but a painting you can get lost in

    Final stop for the day was Lake Louise. From its vivid turquoise waters to the soaring peaks encircling the lake, Lake Louise is a stunning mountain setting. Unlike Lake Peyto, we could get
    up close and personal 😊. We walked along the trail near the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to the back of the lake and glad we did because the mesmerizing green/blue body of water was more intense on the other side 😍🏔️

    On the way to the cabin, it was suggested to travel on the Bow River Pkwy for an opportunity to see wildlife, and sure enough, we ended the day with a bear sighting 🐻
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  • Moraine Lake and Johnston Canyon (2 of 2

    4 juin 2024, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    So many lakes, so little time 😁 Got an early start to catch the shuttle to Moraine Lake. You are not able to take your car up to it, so shuttle it is! Another stunning glacial fed turquoise lake, cradled by the Valley of the Ten Peaks. They even let us buy a seat so Westen could come. She was more interested in the dog treats the driver had vs. the lake…oh well.

    The Lake was partially still frozen, so the colors were subdued. But the greatest thing about the location is it is the closest we have gotten to the Rocky Mountains- BAM In your face with all their glory!

    Next stop for the day was Johnston Canyon Falls. Nestled within the awe inspiring landscapes of Banff National Park, Johnston Canyon was an exciting hiking adventure. The well-maintained trail winds through lush evergreen forests, with suspended catwalks to the lower waterfall.
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  • Icefields PKWY (Btwn Banff and Jasper AB

    9 juin 2024 ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Traveling to Jasper, AB we motored on the Icefields pkwy. WOW 🤩
    We saw why it is rated one of the top drives in the world by Condé Nast Traveler.

    The soaring rocky mountain peaks, icefields, and vast sweeping valleys make it one the most beautiful journeys we have ever taken. It’s a journey through Banff National Park and Jasper National Park spanning 144 miles in total. A MUST EXPERIENCE & SEE 🏔️😍

    EDIT....The drive along the Icefields Parkway is 4-5 hrs long. NO CELL COVERAGE AT ALL WITH ANY CARRIER. Thanks for connecting Elon!!
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  • Maligne Canyon & Lake

    10 juin 2024, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We have ventured northwest into Jasper National Park Alberta CAN

    Took a trip to The Maligne Canyon which is considered the most interesting canyon in the Canadian Rockies. We would agree.

    As you hike the trail we approach a number of springs, where water flows beneath you under limestone boulders. Hiking upstream, you find that the springs become more frequent and dramatic. Several bridges along the way to view Mother Nature at her best 😍

    From there we traveled a few miles to get to Maligne Lake. It is famed for the color of its azure water, the surrounding peaks, the three glaciers visible from the lake, and Spirit Island, a frequently and very famously photographed islet. In full disclosure, it was overcast the day we went so the color was not as vibrant as we know it can be 😉 The lake with the Rockies in the background is still a priceless view.
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  • Sunwapta Falls & Athabasca Falls

    11 juin 2024, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Sunwapta Falls & Athabasca Falls

    There is a continuing theme on this portion of our trip….now so many waterfalls, so little time 😁

    Today we visited Sunwapta Falls. There are two falls, a lower and an upper one. The one most people see is the Upper Falls, as access is easier. The lower falls are a short distance away. Some say that these falls are not quite as impressive as nearby Athabasca Falls (Athabasca Falls are larger and we visited next), but we would say Sunwapta is worth a stop!

    On to Athabasca Falls which may not be the tallest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, but it is one of the most powerful, due to the sheer volume of water flowing into the gorge from the Athabasca River, fed by the massive Columbia Icefield. Definitely a must-do and make sure to hike the 1.5 miles down to the lower falls
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  • Miette Hot Springs

    12 juin 2024, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    We decided to take a relaxing soak at the Miette Hot Springs💜

    The drive up the spectacular Fiddle Valley to the hottest mineral springs in the Rockies. Flowing from the mountain at 54ºC, the water is cooled to a comfortable temperature of 40ºC as it enters the pools. Peaceful surroundings as you enjoy the hot and cold springs if you prefer. The hot temp was 129 degrees 🥵

    Spotted a bear on drive there..
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  • The Valley of the Five Lakes & Jasper Tr

    13 juin 2024, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Today’s activity was hiking The Valley of Five Lakes. We know the theme by now….so many ……😁

    The name describes it perfectly. The 3-mile hike takes you along all 5 lakes. The hike itself was a little challenging and beautiful so well worth the effort. Each lake was unique for sure. #3 and 4 were my favorites 😍

    Your seven-minute flight aboard the Jasper Sky tram took us to an altitude of 2,263 meters and into a whole new world. An aerial view of all the 🏔️🏔️🏔️🏔️!

    Breathtaking views from the top, the scenery is spectacular plus easy access. Great way to spend an hour or two.
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  • Edmonton, AB

    15 juin 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Walked around the downtown area of Edmonton, AB today. It’s the Capitol of Alberta, even though Calgary is a bigger city. The Oilers are in the Stanley Cup tonight and it is ride or die for them. As we walked town there were blue/orange jerseys and flags everywhere. we felt the desperation in the air to win the game tonight, if not it’s over 🏒 🥇 🤞

    Wanted to add a funny thing that keeps happening in our travels so far. More than once, a passerby will ask if they can take a picture with Westen. We of course say yes but we are considering charging and pimping her out to fund our retirement bucket 😝
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