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I consider myself extremely lucky that I get to write for a living, and not only that, be able to take my friends and family on crazy fun adventures when the time comes. This time around it’s going to be a crazy adventure with one of my long time best friends, Kandice. She and I have been friends since we were 16. I actually disliked her immensely for two years beforehand, until we both realized that actually who we disliked was a mutual friend. We ditched said mutual friend and were solid sister friends ever since.
What can I say, we were 16? Merciless, heartless and wrinkle-free.
We are not 16 here, so there’s really no excuse for us other than our awesomeness.
Kandice and I have had numerous family vacations together, including the obvious one to Disneyland where our goofy photo was taken. We take the kids with us, do the required parenting and have a blast doing it.
However, we haven’t had a solid girls vacation without our darling children since we were 19. I won’t even tell you how long it’s been since I was 19, but I can tell you that the road trip was to Vancouver. And oh, what a good time that road trip was! We even met an actor off of our favorite TV show at the time, the X-Files, at the bar in Kitsilano of course.
Here’s where we get back to how lucky I am. Since I am an avid traveler and write a lot about it on this website, I was chosen to take a road trip sponsored by Esurance this summer – WITH my best friend! Not only that, but because I’m a local Alberta girl that travels all over, I get to introduce you all to Esurance, which is an online auto insurance company that launched in Alberta in 2015 – and Alberta is the only province in Canada where Esurance is available!
This little ol’ Alberta travel writer + Esurance = Besties Summer Road trip!
Let’s talk a little about this company that is sending me on a fabulous road trip with my bestie. Esurance is all about providing insurance for the modern world, taking care of people the way a modern company should. Esurance works hard to continually innovate, leveraging the latest technology, offering competitive prices and a simple, efficient experience, while providing customers with personal care from knowledgeable experts. Albertans can now save time and manage their insurance easily and efficiently – online! That works for me!
We also all think about savings when it comes to insurance and Esurance was born online and by nature was built to save their client money. It has smart online tools, fast, efficient claims and services (which we all know can be very hard to find!) and when Esurance saves money, it passes the savings on to its customers. Their rates are competitive and they also offer personalized discounts for their customers. Going back to the information about claims, they also offer a hassle-free claims experience so that you can feel confident that it will be solved quickly. Their licensed insurance experts are available 24/7 for you! They can help you understand your coverage options and help you find the right coverage for you.Now, I am going to be writing a series of posts about road trips, how I prepare for them, how I plan them and you guys know how serious I am about my road trips. This is the perfect time for me to talk about how I plan my road trips. I have been (literally) from one end of the US to another, but I’ve never written about it!
I can hear you now…. MAGPIE!! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?! (stop yelling, I hear you!)
You are most likely wondering how I actually planned where I was going on this trip. Other than the typical throwing a dart at a map attached to the wall, I have wanted to go back to Victoria, British Columbia for a while now. I only had a couple of days to spend there in the fall of 2014 – and that was my very first time there- so when it came time to pick a Canadian road trip adventure, I knew that it was going to be there. I fell in love with the island instantly and can’t wait to head back.
How do I plan the route?
Well, Kandice lives in Calgary and I live in Edmonton, so I knew that my very first stop was going to be my parent’s house on July 1st. I’m going to sleep over there, then pick up Kandice first thing in the morning Saturday. This was important, because we are missing the July Long Weekend travel rush on the mountain highways. We have a week together and it wasn’t imperative to leave right away. I don’t like driving on the long weekends through the mountains, so I am glad that we can leave the Saturday. In my many road trips, I’ve learned that you really have to plan ahead when it comes to long weekend traffic!
We are going to travel as far as we can without exhausting ourselves on Saturday (most likely reaching Vancouver) then be up bright and early for the ferry to Victoria first thing in the morning!
Once we are there, we are going to spend four days playing it by ear and doing what we like. I loved visiting Cowichan Bay, so I am sure that I am going to take a day trip out there to eat at their fabulous bakery and listen to the sea birds. We are going to do some wine tours (where someone else drives!) and take it easy. Then it’s time to drive home, slowly again without rushing, and that’s that!
So while Esurance wants to send me on a road trip with my bestie, they also have a fabulous giveaway for YOU!
You can enter to win a Smart Driver Care Package filled with innovative items to keep you safe and connected on the road no matter where you’re heading, including a 4G booster that extends your cellular range and battery life.
I know that I get to go on a road trip and I am SO spoiled – but that 4G booster!! I am drooling, you guys! For those of us that drive in Alberta, that booster is a MUST! I personally would love it for the lake, as we have no coverage out there. There are still so many places in Alberta that we need a booster. I am so excited that someone gets to win the Smart Driver Care Package that is worth approximately $400!
You can enter the contest below, good luck everyone!
Love,
Karlynn
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Esurance. All opinions and language are my own.
Lauryn R says
I love road trips! I have been on so many, it’s definitely one of my favorite ways to vacation! 🙂 One day I hope to own an RV and travel the US. One crazy road trip that comes to mind is the time that I drove 22 hours straight (by myself) from Florida to Texas, it was crazy but still so fun!
Heather Atherton says
Cowichan Bay, one of our favourite spots. Live 10 minutes from this view!
BeABraveBeing says
New Jersey 2011 it was nice to see a different side of the east coast.
KnowNothingMan says
Driving down to Disney land when I was 10.
ScottMacmillan says
A visit to the grandparents when I was 7.We had moved a 100 miles away the previous 6 months.It was a real adventure driving what seemed to be forever and then seeing my happy smiling grandfather.As a little kid its hard to believe things still exist when they aren’t in sight or you are at a great distance.It was very memorable.
ckorando says
I’ve never been on a road trip, but would love to go sometime.
wigget says
a road trip around Vermont searching our covered bridges
JeanneCoulombe says
All of us ladies took a road trip from NH to NY to see our friend and stay at her cottage on the lake
jozywails says
A van full of us girls, drove from Charleston, SC, to Atlanta to see a concert.
Bev Koch-Smith says
Wow wee enjoy your trip.
Linda says
My best road trip so far was from France to Germany.
Anne Taylor says
We drove my sister’s van (no AC) from Victoria to Ontario to visit my inlaws. We had 4 daughters with us ranging in age from 4 to 14, it was August and we loved every minute of it!
Carol Arndt says
Sounds like fun enjoyed your spot need to go again ! I would love to win .
The Kitchen Magpie says
Make sure to click through and enter on my website!
Amy Melby says
Awesome, I love a good road trip! We are headed to Osoyoos in July so a power booster would be sweet!
Thanks for the chance! Have a great trip!
Heather Pollock says
OMGoodness…..sounds like soooo much fun\U0001f60e
I look forward to seeing your adventure posts \U0001f600 safe travels
beyondumami says
The best road trip that I have been on so far has been the crazy 15 hour drive (we did one night stopover) to portland! So much fun! 😀
jenness m says
Across the prairies to Calgary Stampede in 2003!
Sherry W says
Love your blog and can’t wait for your book!!!
Elaine Hernon Bureyko O'Hern says
Have a great trip to fab BC!
Elaine Hernon Bureyko O'Hern says
Have a great trip to fab BC\U0001f603\U0001f495
WendyHutton says
shared on facebook https://www.facebook.com/wghutton/posts/10153645231881981
JanetMeisner says
I think the best trip was a road trip to Ottawa to visit the Parliament buildings with the children.
ACanadianFoodie says
Good for you, Karlynn! It’s about time your trips get paid for. I still think Disney owes you back pay on all of your posts about your wonderful times with them.
🙂
V
MaggieCheung says
Best road trip I’ve been on was many many years ago when I was like 10 with my parents and siblings. My parents drove us from Toronto to Maine .. first time out of the city and it was a wonderful experience!
MaggieCheung says
Hi there, I just tried to share on FB but the link is broken in the widget. Can you let me know when it is fixed so I can share? =) Thank you!!
And thanks for the chance to win! =D
Carole D. says
Best road trip I have ever been on was Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and Revelstoke. It was my little family with my parents and uncle from Europe. It was amazing.
Carole D. says
The best road trip I have ever been on was Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and Revelstoke. It was my little family with my parents and uncle from Europe. It was amazing.
Carole D. says
The best road trip I have ever been on was Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and Revelstoke. It was my little family with my parents and uncle from Europe. It was amazing.
MelissaMcEachern says
My most memorable road trip started with a flight to Sacramento, California to meet up with a close friend, and then driving down to southern California together. We did the tourist thing, and took pictures everywhere – the State Capitol, San Francisco bridge, Alcatraz, the ocean and the forest and the wildflowers. We stopped in San Francisco to get fish and chips (and Ghiradelli chocolate!!), went to a farmer’s market and bought the perfect picnic lunch (fresh rye bread, some artisinal cheeses, salami and roast chicken, peaches, and wine) plus flowers wrapped in newspaper, stopped at a state park to hike after our picnic, and had perfect timing driving through Carmel and got to enjoy one of the best classic car shows I’ve ever seen. Plus hours and hours of “car-aoke” and awesome girl time while we drove. That was 10 years ago, and I think it’s time for another!
WendyHutton says
best road trip I have ever been on is when my hubby at the time as he put it kidnapped me for the weekend and we just headed into northern Alberta checking out all the wilderness along the way