Backpacker Buzz

How well do you handle your bike? 

Put your mountain biking skills to the ultimate test on Whistler Mountain, where riders from all corners of the world eat, drink, and breathe adrenaline.

If you’re not quite the expert mountain biker, no worries, Whistler welcomes beginners too.

Just be ready to cut your teeth. Read more »

The sun is high. The streets are bustling. Out on the sidewalk you see jugglers juggling and poets spitting rhymes. Just around the corner the scent of brautwerst mingle with the sound of easy blues. And out on the river, you cheer as colourful dragon boats race by.  

No, this isn’t a dream. It’s just a typical summer day in Edmonton, Canada’s own Festival City. Where every day is another celebration.

Suddenly real life isn’t so boring, hey? Read more »

Sorry to break it to you, but summer’s running out of time. As the final days of August roll by like a dog lazing in the sun, don’t forget about all those summertime activities you swore you would do.

Like hike the Grouse Grind. Or rough it out on the West Coast Trail.

Uh, well, maybe not. Read more »

The annual Salmon BBQ at HI-Vancouver Jericho Beach is firin' up the grills again this Thursday evening. Local members get to chow down for free while enjoying some live music and see what Vancouver's first hostel has been up to over the year. All this with a new eco-friendly twist. Read more »

With the new HI-Whistler up and running, the world of budget travel in Whistler just got bigger and better. Hostelling International has partnered with Moose Travel Network to get you up there and having fun, without a big price tag.

For $99, get the Sea to Sky Adventure package with Moose. It includes hop-on, hop-off transportation between Vancouver and Whistler, one night at HI-Whistler, dinner on your first night, and a whole lot of fun in between. Read more »

Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, turns 125 years old this year. If you've ever struggled trying to figure out what to get someone for his or her birthday, try doing it for a 125-year-old.

But we're thinking something a little more personal and since experience is the best gift you can give, here are our top five places to enjoy a piece of birthday cake and some quality time with Banff National Park. So grab a slice, put on some comfortable shoes and celebrate. Read more »

The new, modern HI-Whistler opens its doors to the public tomorrow and we've got more photos from inside Canada's newest hostel. Take a peek! Read more »

Though the minivan has almost wiped out Griswold-style summer vacations in the family station wagon, there's still a lot of fun to be had by packing the fam into whatever vehicle you've got and hitting the road.

If you don't want to camp, but you don't want to splurge on hotels, we've put together a list of the best family-friendly hostels in Western Canada to offer another option, whatever your means of getting around.

All of these hostels offer family rooms that give you privacy as well as space to spread out. At most HI hostels, the price of a family room is the same as a private room, you just pay $10 each for kids aged 6-17. Kids five and under stay for free. Read more »

It's no tropical cabana but HI-Vancouver Jericho Beach is one of the best places to stay in Vancouver during the summer. Summer's short and sweet here but the folks over there fill the calendar with activities and events all summer long. Parties, kayaking, a little environmental help and BBQs are all on order. Read more »