Best Stories of 2017 on guide2travel

It’s time to tear that last page from the 2017 calendar. But before we do, let’s look back at some of the best stories of 2017 on guide2travel.

Adventure Attraction

Whitewater rafting is one of those adventures that can range from the extreme, to the manageable, depending on the destination. However, you don’t usually have any choice in the matter. Once your raft is on the river, it’s either stick to the insides or find yourself tossing and twisting with the current.

U.S. National Whitewater Center

Not so with the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Not at all. Instead, your guide can take you through whatever part of the course suits your experience — and your fancy. Be prepared to get hooked on the thrill of the rapids on a hot summer day though! You may find yourself taking on a lot more of the manmade course than you expected.

Best Canadian Attraction

This summer we took a roadtrip North, all the way to Alaska, for the 75th anniversary of the Alaska Highway. And while we’ll be sharing more of those stories in the coming year or two, we’ve already introduced you to some great attractions.

Yukon Transportation Museum

The Yukon Transportation Museum was just one of the places where we saw some fascinating machinery of the past. The Sno Train, above, is a relic from the Cold War, one of the most interesting eras we’ve been exploring these past couple of years.

Most Surprising State

We’ve visited 49 of the 50 states in the United States. Which one are we missing? Hawaii. That said, we’ve enjoyed each and every one of them, but of course, we do have a few favorites. This year, I added one more state to that list.

Hiking Windlass Hill in Nebraska on the Oregon Trail

We’ve driven through Nebraska a number of times, but never stopped to visit. Until this year, that is, when I took a press trip to explore many parts of the Oregon Trail and old West. I had no idea the northwest part of the state had so much history — or so many beautiful hiking trails. Windlass Hill, gateway to the North Platte Valley, was one of my favorite.

European Attraction

For those of us who love historic places, Europe is a number one destination. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that my ancestors all came from Europe, so I can always find tastes of home and traditions I recognize.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

The story of Auschwitz Concentration Camp outside Krakow, Poland, is a sad one, one that took awhile for me to even be able to tell. However, when we started to explore the history of World War II, it was definitely a must-visit destination. Television documentaries, movies, and images can only tell so much of the story — sometimes you just have to be there.

Foodie Story

You can’t travel without trying the local cuisine. And while I’m not a food writer, I do love finding new tastes and discovering old ones that have added twists.

Tin Mill Brewery, Hermann, Missouri.

And what food is better than pizza, especially with beer? With the ever-increasing popularity of kraft beers, you’ll find all sorts of new tastes across the continent. I shared one I really enjoyed, Tin Mill Brewery, in Hermann, Missouri, for the second ever National Beer & Pizza Day in 2017.

Best of Nature

There are so many amazing natural attractions on the planet that it’s often hard to pick a favorite story about one. This year, though, one destination really stood out: the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska.

Mendenhall Glacier & Nugget Falls in Juneau, Alaska

With this story, we share the wonder of feeling the cold breeze blowing off of the 13-mile long, icy-blue chunk of thousands of years-old ice. We hiked the trails as well, getting various perspectives of the glacier, as well as the Nugget Falls.

Quirkiest Story

We’re more off, than on, the beaten path kind of travelers. In fact, the more unique the more fascinating we find an attraction.

Carhenge Roadside Stop in Alliance, Nebraska

While I did this one on my own, David couldn’t argue that 38 cars, propped up and painted grey to look like rocks, arranged in the shape of Stonehenge, England, was pretty quirky. In fact, Carhenge is sometimes called one of America’s coolest roadside attractions.

Saskatchewan Story

Saskatchewan is home for us — along with many great stories. While visitors are often surprised at the variety of landscapes we have (Really, we’re more than flat plains, in fact we have 100,000 lakes!), they’ve come to expect friendly faces everywhere they stop. And Winston’s English Pub & Grill in Saskatoon offers that and a lot more.

Winston’s English Pub & Grill in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

In addition to some insights on your evening experience at Winston’s, you’ll find some history on English pubs in this article. For instance, did you know that in 1577 the English had one drinking establishment for every 200 people? Saskatchewan doesn’t have quite that many pubs, but you’ll find one in most small towns around the province as well as in our cities.

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