After having traveled all of Canada (the 10 provinces and the 3 territories) and visited 16823 km of the United States, I entrust you with my list of my favorite places with useful links to visit them.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
One of the most extraordinary places in North America. Just by looking at the photos while preparing for my trip, I said to myself, ''it's surely photoshopped, it can't be!'' Arriving there, I had tears in my eyes!
My positive and amazing points: Second largest natural park in the United States, first national park in the world (founded in 1872), it contains 2/3 of the geyser on the planet, crossing it from south to north takes more than 3 hours, life active wild, the Old Faithful Geyser produces one of the largest jets of hot water in the world (after Iceland's Strokkur).
Useful links:
Basic info (price and organize your visit):
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
Campground: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
Link and info for the national park pass ''America the beautiful''
America the Beautiful Pass
Taken from my film, Nomads: ''For Americans, their national parks are not only a source of pride, but a part of their history that is passed down from generation to generation. They were the first in the world to inaugurate the principle in 1872 with Yellowstone National Park. In my opinion, the national parks of the United States are must-sees.''
Kluane National Park & Reserve, Yukon, Canada
This park is definitely my favorite place in Canada. It is worth a thousand times the Banff National Park or Lake Louise in Alberta (without taking anything away from these two places because I love them too). Only, you have to go there, that's for sure. From Squamish (BC) it takes 3 days to drive up to the Yukon. The scenery on the road is amazing.
My positive and amazing points: Highest mountains in Canada, highest mountain being Mount Logan, on the road to Alaska, active wildlife, tranquility, nature excursions, marveling at eternal glaciers.
Practical links:
Basic info (price and organize your visit): https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/yt/kluane/visit
Camping: https://www.pc.gc.ca/fr/pn-np/yt/kluane/visit/tarifs-fees
Link and info for the national parks pass ''Discovery entry card'':
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission
From my film, REPERES: ''Standing on the shore of Kluane Lake, with the chain of eternal glaciers of Canada's highest point, Mount Logan, as your horizon, the air is fresh, the air is pure. It's still morning, it's about ten degrees Celsius. Travelers pass straight to continue on the Alaska Highway, they seem not to have discovered my secret corner-- and that's good, I wouldn't want for anything in the world that the worst tourists come to spoil this moment of peace. The idea of jumping into the lake has been in my head since my arrival... It was as if the mountains were calling me to a baptism in its icy waters. The next moment, the demonstration being too dizzying, I had removed all my onion skins and was soaking up to my neck! I confess that I am an atheist but that day, at Kluane National Park & Reserve in the Yukon, it was a moment filled with spirituality.
Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada
The Canadian Rockies are often touted as a must see in Canada, it's true, of course. I wanted to explore further than what I had already seen. It was during my research that I discovered the Parc National des Prairies and that I felt challenged there. Because yes, Canada is a country full of contrasts in its landscapes! This national park is quite exotic. As soon as you enter the park, you have to drive about 15 km/h because otherwise you risk running over prairie dogs all over the place! When we look at the landscape of the valley, we would think that a dinosaur will appear in our field of view.
My positive and surprising points: Great tranquility, hot in summer, active wildlife, total change of scenery, incredible starry sky.
Practical links:
Basic info (price and plan your visit): https://www.pc.gc.ca/fr/pn-np/sk/grasslands/visit
Camping: Try a night in a teepee, it's really good... but watch out for the mice hehe! :
https://www.pc.gc.ca/fr/pn-np/sk/grasslands/visit/rates-fees
Link and info for the national parks pass ''Discovery entry card'':
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission
From my film REFERENCES: “On a hot night that typically cools down quickly in desert locations, we pitched the tent firmly to camp on the arid Canadian plains. During dinner, our neighbors hurried up the West Hill before missing the sunset. We decided to finish having supper quietly instead of succumbing to the mass movement because our thoughts were directed towards a completely different experience. We grabbed the bottle of Whiskey and then insisted on bringing a flashlight, finally dropping it, then we climbed the hill away from the other travelers. A few minutes later, we were there, sheltered from the noisy vacationers, discussing some subjects that life inspired us and suddenly, the clouds turned purple and then turned purple: the moon was rising. At first it was a wink through the clouds, then she kept us in hypnosis until we saw her hidden face in spite of ourselves. When we left, it lit up the path of return with its brilliance and honored us by performing the song of the coyotes.
Saguaro National Park, Arizona, United States
You know, when it happens: you're on a trip, then it's inevitable, there are always places or things you hadn't planned on your itinerary (and fortunately otherwise traveling would lose all its meaning)? Saguaro National Park is one of those for me! In reality, I thought I would have to walk for hours to be able to see a cactus, but no! It grows by the thousand and it's even the opposite you have to be careful not to step on one of them (as much for us as for the plant :P).
My positive and surprising points: Observation of all kinds of different cacti, you really feel like you are in a western movie, warmth, change of scenery, observation of insects and animals, sleeping in a campsite is really cheap, and in addition, you sleep in the company of cacti all around! It is magic. Park near main roads.
Practical links (English):
Basic info (price, plan your visit): https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
Campsite: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/camping.htm
I also give you the place of the campsite where I slept for cheap (10$US/night for the tents) http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=1327
Link and info for the national park pass ''America the beautiful''
America the Beautiful Pass
Tofino, British-Columbia, Canada
You were starting to think that I just like national parks, actually I like nature a lot but I visit a bit of everything while traveling. The city you absolutely must visit in Canada is Tofino. The ocean and the beach, good company, new friends, surfing, good beer and good food, this is the place where you definitely feel on vacation without having to go too far!
My positive and amazing points: In the morning it is foggy, in the afternoon it is sunny most of the time. Tofino is more than a city, it's a community. The people are trippy and are nice. There are no problems there! This is ''the place'' if you like surfing.
Outstanding ambient energy!
Practical links:
Basic info (price, plan your visit, camping, accommodation): https://tourismtofino.com/
Taken from my film REPERES: '' Tofino is a love story for me. You catch the wave or you don't catch it: it's the Pacific Ocean that drives us! It's incessant pleasure and it's quite difficult not to get into the mood... The locals will immediately include you in their way of life: the beach, surfing, toasting a kiwi cocktail, take a boat trip to secret islands, and all of this, of course, with as bare feet as possible. Even the most useless situations become pleasant: A minute of waiting caused by construction on the only main road turns into an improvised game of volleyball... Isolated from the big cities and 6 hours from Victoria, there, we are on holiday. You feel in Australia in Byron Bay; it’s the coolest city in Canada!”
5 musts, but...
It's hard to choose only 5 places, because really, Canada and the United States are full of surprises, and whether you're doing a roadtrip, whether you're traveling by bus or by plane, you're sure to love the area! This is striking, because both countries are large and diverse. In 2011 I met an Irishman who was taking a photo of a gas station in Saskatchewan, near the trans-Canada highway during my return trip from Vancouver to Montreal (coming from a year's work-visa trip to Australia). I asked him "what exactly was he taking a picture of?" Because to me it was just an old gas station in the middle of nowhere. He told me that was precisely what was incredible, to have so much free space as far as the eye could see! It was then that I realized how lucky we were to have so much grandeur and nature nearby. Returning to my country in the past after more than a year abroad, it did me good and I felt moved and pampered to live in Canada.