The Great Canadian Bucket List: Let IHG Guide The Way

**This is a post written by me on behalf of IHG Hotels. All opinions are my own.

Many Canadians like you and me either have or plan to draw up a bucket list of great places to travel. But a study by IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) finds that almost nine in ten of us feel we’ll never make our dreams come true.

With that in mind, IHG has partnered with an old friend of mine, Canadian author/travel writer Robin Esrock, to create a Great Canadian Bucket List that offers 25 unique experiences to inspire travel through this great country of ours this year, as well as important tips to save money and make that dream achievable.

I’m also giving away 60,000 IHG Rewards points so you can book a great IHG property and get a head-start on that bucket list. Simply follow the instructions at the bottom of my blog for a skill-testing question and send me a note!

Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver, BC – Courtesy of Cap Company

IHG’s Great Canadian Bucket List suggests 25 must-add experiences to any travel plans this year. These include arming a cannon in the Citadel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, crossing the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, B.C. and checking out the world-famous Stratford Festival in Ontario (I was just there two weeks ago for the Rocky Horror Show; a wonderful production).

I haven’t actually armed a cannon there but I’ve been to the Citadel in Halifax a number of times and always enjoy chatting with the young people in uniform, and watching kids scurry around the ramparts. The views of Halifax Harbour also are nothing to sneeze at.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge definitely deserves inclusion on the list, too. I’m not big on heights (no chance you’re getting me on that CN Tower Edge Walk) but I’ve walked the Capilano bridge a couple of times and always enjoy the serenity and beautiful valley views.

I also love visiting Wanuskewin Heritage Park and the RCMP Centre in Saskatchewan. And a bike ride through the vineyards of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia is an outstanding way to enjoy the area.

All told, I’ve managed 13 of Esrock’s bucket-list adventures, which I figure ain’t half bad.

Okanagan Valley’s wine route, Kelowna, BC – Courtesy of EWM

“There are a host of benefits to having a bucket list, and what you include on it should be personal, fun and inspiring,” Esrock said. “Having one makes you really think about what you want to do or see, gives you something to look forward to and helps you stay accountable to your goals. It can also make conversations with your friends more interesting.”

The IHG survey found that, of the Canadians that have – or plan to make – a bucket list, eight in 10 of them (78 per cent) are interested in Canadian bucket list experiences.  They also found that the top three bucket-list experiences Canadians are most interested in are: nature (67 per cent), road trips (59 per cent) and history (52 per cent).

Cost (68 per cent) and work responsibilities (37 per cent) are the top two reasons preventing Canadians from making their bucket list dreams a reality. 
“Here at IHG, we are excited to help Canadians accomplish their bucket list dreams across Canada,” said Jonathan Lund, Regional Vice President, IHG, Canada. “With hotels from coast-to-coast – ranging from budget-friendly, family-approved or luxury – we want vacation to be fulfilling for every Canadian. You don’t have to travel far or spend too much to have a truly memorable vacation.”

The Festival Theatre in Stratford. PHOTO COURTESY ERIN SAMUELL

While for some it may seem daunting to make bucket list experiences a reality, IHG and Esrock offer the following advice to help make it achievable:

– Don’t let the list weigh you down – You’re more likely to do things when you write them down, but don’t let your list get so long that it weighs on you. Focusing on too many goals can be distracting, so if you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, you’re probably being overly ambitious. Start with a shortlist of 10 aspirational bucket list goals, and grow it slowly over time.

– Start small and local – Don’t feel you need to take weeks off work to travel to the ends of the earth to have bucket list experiences. Begin with a place or activity you’ve always wanted to experience in your town, city or province, and then slowly branch out from there.

– You don’t need to spend a fortune – Think outside the box when it comes to cost-efficient solutions to making your bucket list goals a reality. For example, if your bucket list experience requires you to travel, turn it into an epic road trip too by opting to drive instead of fly. Or, look for budget-friendly hotels to stay in, like Holiday Inn® or Holiday Inn Express®. Start collecting points – like IHG® Rewards Club – that you can use to redeem for hotel stays.

– Dream big, but be realistic – Bucket lists should be personal, fun and inspiring, and realistic too. Break your list down into short- and long-term goals. Include goals that are easier to achieve than others. If they are all difficult to accomplish, you may get discouraged because you’re not making progress as quickly as you like. Also, think of experiences you can do, as opposed to chance encounters with a celebrity, for example.

Get “Screeched In” in St Johns, Newfoundland. PHOTO COURTESY EWM

With more than 179 hotels across the country and 46 hotels in the pipeline, IHG’s hotels in Canada are a home away from home for travellers. With leisure-favourite hotel brands such as Holiday Inn® and iconic luxury brands like InterContinental® Hotels – IHG’s family of brands in Canada has almost 25,000 rooms across six brands.

Of course, you’ll find IHG hotels in all the top spots Canadians love to visit, including downtown Vancouver, central Toronto, Charlottetown PEI, downtown Montreal I’ve stayed at a number of Holiday Inn Express and Suites properties in the past couple years and found them to be terrific hotels; modern and bright and with tons of space. They’re also quite affordable and feature great breakfasts to help start your day and save money.

If you’re headed to Vancouver Island, the Holiday Inn Express Suites Victoria-Colwood makes for a great place to stay. It’s an easy ride into downtown Victoria to check out the city’s fabulous market and world-renowned waterfront, but you’re also close to the natural wonders along the coast between Sooke and Port Renfrew. If you stop in Sooke, and you should, be sure to head into Mom’s Café for a slice of apple pie. Each pie contains 50 apples, so bring your appetite!

JIM’S IHG POINTS GIVEAWAY

I’m giving away 60,000 IHG Rewards points so you can get started on your own Great Canadian Bucket List. But first, you need to tell me the province of Canada you’d visit if you want to get “screeched in.” Hint, my friend Robin Esrock went there during his IHG bucket list research. If you know the answer, drop me a line: jim@jimbyerstravel.com and BE SURE to put “IHG BUCKET LIST CONTEST” in the subject line so I’ll know what the note is about. I’ll draw a lucky winner at random from the list of entries on June 22 and send you a note, so be sure to provide your return email address.

Contest terms & conditions:
– Contest – e.g. challenge friends to share their favourite bucket list challenge to win IHG 60,000 IHG Rewards Club points
– Contest disclaimer: 60,000 points provides up to two nights stay. Depending on time, location and availability.
– Open to Canadians only
– Contest ends June 24, 2018 at midnight Eastern Time
– Winner must have an IHG Rewards Club account
– Sign up for a free IHG Rewards Club account here