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Canadian Road Trip Tips
Ways to Pass the Time during a Cross-Canada Road Trip
Anja's Canadian Road Trip – Blog Entry #3: How to pass the time on a long road trip
Canadian road trip tips - It's almost road trip time! We've planned a route, picked up the rental camper van, packed the snacks and oodles of layered clothing. There's just one last thing to plan for before we start the drive – road trip entertainment! With hours and hours of driving on the horizon, many of which without cell service and some without even a radio station, its best to be prepared with a few options of entertainment to help pass the time. Thankfully, this blog will share are some specific, Canadian-themed ideas to pass the time during long stretches of driving, from Audiobooks and podcasts, to games and playlists, buckle up because this adventure is about to get interesting!
Canada Road Trip Tips: Listen to Canadian Audiobooks and Podcasts
Canadian Authored Audiobooks
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery will transport us to Prince Edward Island, where we road tripped last summer, while adventuring out west this spring! Being one of my best friends' favourite novel series and movies, I know it will be the perfect thing to listen to during a long Canadian road trip!
- The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline offers a riveting Indigenous perspective in a purely fictional dystopian setting. Having heard so many wonderful things about this novel, I am excited to finally have the time to dive into it, even if that's while passing time during a long Canadian road trip.
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel was nominated for eleven Academy Awards in 2012 and won four including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score. I'm feeling positive that the book will keep us as captivated thanks to Canadian Martel's mesmerizing story telling.
Canadian Hosted Podcasts
- Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly is sure to delight us with its quirky marketing insights, often featuring Canadian anecdotes. We know it will make us think twice about original thought during our long Canadian road trip.
- The Secret Life of Canada unveils surprising and hidden stories from Canada's past, and who doesn't love learning a secret? We hope we'll pick up some secrets about some of the places we will be visiting during our long Canadian road trip!
- Canadian True Crime kept us on the edge of our seats with real-life tales on previous road trips, so we can't wait to hear what additional episodes have been added to pass the time on our long Canadian road trip.
Having a variety of audiobooks and podcasts downloaded before leaving the comforts of unlimited at home Wi-Fi, will ensure boundless stories as vast and varied as Canada. Just one of many Canadian road trip tips.
Ways to Pass the Time during a Cross-Canada Road Trip: Play Road Trip Games with a Canadian Twist
Sometimes, human interaction is needed, especially after a particularly deep audiobook chapter or podcast episode. That's where fun Canadian-themed car games come in! Whether you're traveling with kids or adults, these are sure to spark some laughs when you're wondering what to do during a long Canadian road-trip:
- Spotting Canadian Landmarks: Who'll be the first to spot a Tim Hortons, a provincial flag, or a moose crossing sign? Some Canadian landmarks can be easy in one province and nearly impossible in others, like Saskatchewan's grain silos or Alberta's pumpjacks. You could even make up BINGO-card style score cards and see who can make a line or fill their card with Canadian landmarks first!
- Trivia Challenge: A trivia battle tests everyone's knowledge of Canada. Here are a few questions to get you started: How may time zones are in Canada? What is the longest river in Canada? What city is known as the 'City of Festivals'? Did you know that only one Canadian province is officially bilingual? We were surprised to learn that it is New Brunswick!
- License Plate Game: Keep your eyes peeled for license plates from across the country - By the time we reach British Columbia, we hope to spy plates from every Canadian province and territory.
We're sure the kilometers will melt away as our competitive sides come out with these games during our long Canadian road trip.
Canada Road Trip Tips: Road Trip Ready Canadian Music Playlists
Of course, no road trip is complete without music. Pack your playlist with Canadian classics, modern hits, and tried-and-true sing-along anthems on your next long Canadian road trip.
Classic Canadian Artists
- Gordon Lightfoot's Canadian Railroad Trilogy is said to inspire minds during a prairie crossing - we can't wait to listen to this during our long Canadian road trip to see for ourselves.
- Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi is one of my all time favourite songs, and will be sure to add a timeless touch to our cross-Canada trip.
- The Tragically Hip's Bobcaygeon is the unofficial anthem of small-town Canada, and of course Wheat Kings and Pretty Things will be perfect on repeat along Trans-Canada Highway 16 in Saskatchewan.
Modern Canadian Hits
- Shawn Mendes' There's Nothing Holding Me Back will keep up energy when we need a pick-me-up on our long Canadian road trip.
- Alessia Cara's Scars to Your Beautiful will encourage reflective moments as we pass by the ever changing Canadian landscapes.
- Arkells' Leather Jacket will turn the car into a mini concert as we navigate northern Ontario's winding roads.
Canadian Karaoke
- Shania Twain's Man! I Feel Like a Woman! Because everyone knows this song!
- Celine Dion's It's All Coming Back to Me Now allows everyone to channel their inner diva.
- The Glorious Sons S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun) maybe I'm partial because, along with The Tragically Hip, The Glorious Sons are from my town, Kingston, but this is another sing-along hit that everyone will know the words to by the end of the song.
Thankfully, apps like Spotify make transitioning from one song to the next easy! A good playlist can be the ultimate endless soundtrack for an epic Canadian road trip. Remember, download your curated playlists to your phone - in sections without cell service you may end up with only a few songs playing on repeat and that is not what you want to do during a long Canadian road trip!
Canada Road Trip Tips - Embrace the Journey
As you plan your Canadian road trip, remember: the journey is half the fun. Whether you're binging podcast episodes, battling over trivia, or belting out Bryan Adams, these ideas will make your adventure as unforgettable as the destinations themselves. So, download your playlist, brush up on your trivia, and hit the road—Canada is waiting!
In the next instalment of Anja's Canadian Road Trip – Blog Entry #4: On the Road: A Road-trip Route from Kingston, Ontario, to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
From trivia challenges and epic playlists, to spotting Canadian landmarks and listening to audiobooks, make your road trip across Canada both entertaining and memorable.
Plan the perfect cross-Canada road trip with tips on entertainment, music playlists, and fun activities inspired by Canadian culture.
What to Pack for a Cross Canada Road Trip
How to Plan a Canadian Road Trip: Heading West from Ontario to British Columbia
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Comments 4
These are some great tips Anja Cahill . And many.
Wow - these are such a great suggestions, and I love the focus on Canadian content. I'm going to give a couple of those podcasts a listen, even though I'm not on the road! Another option for passing quiet evenings on the road, especially in spots without great cell service might be Canadian-themed board games
Sonya Richmond - Great idea!!
Love your taste in music. Did you make it to the Edmundfitzgerald Memorial? When Gordon Downy died someone painted the Bobcaygeon sighn just outside of Lindsay on highway 36, Gordon Downy was here RIP. I couldnt imagine traveling without music.