Five wild weekend activities that you don’t need to plan far ahead | Canada Voices

Travel offers an opportunity to step back from school pick-ups, work meetings and always-on-the-go stresses of day-to-day life. Escape doesn’t require booking two weeks off a year to go abroad. Canadians are increasingly looking for ways to make the most of their weekends, closer to home and without a ton of planning required.

“People want to be engaged,” says Wayne Smith, professor of Hospitality and Management at the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and director of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research. “We’re seeing that people push away from technology [and say] ‘I want to be a human doing, not a human being.’” That, he adds, more often means searching out exhilarating activities.

Claire Newell, a Vancouver-based travel expert and founder and president of Travel Best Bets, says these adventures should meet specific criteria. To make sense for today’s busy travellers, they need to be “easy to book, with high energy or high impact.”

Whether you’re looking to zip through the trees in rural British Columbia or hurtle down rapids along Nova Scotia’s coast, here are some of the country’s most exciting weekend adventures — no (or minimal) bookings required.

Whitewater rafting in Green Oaks, N.S.

A distinctly east-coast experience, Tidal Bore Rafting Resort gives visitors the chance to ride a tidal bore, a surge of water that’s unique to Nova Scotia. Expect an experience more akin to an aquatic rollercoaster than a gentle float down the river.

Similar adventures:

New Wave Expeditions, Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Que.

After taking in the waves, and views, along Quebec’s Jacques-Cartier river, join your fellow river rafters for a post-run BBQ on-site.

Sunwapta River Rafting Tour with Maligne Adventures, Jasper, Alta.

Take a plunge into the crystal clear, glacial waters of Jasper. This experience involves a trip down a 13-kilometre stretch of river with rapids up to Class 3.

Zip-lining in St. Williams, Ont.

Nestled in the heart of Ontario’s Norfolk County, Long Points Eco-Adventure is a wonderland for adrenaline-pumping day-trips, which typically require just a few days’ notice to book. We recommend their Treetop Canopy Adventure, which includes eight zip lines over the area’s lush marshes. End your adventure-filled day with a $10 wine tasting at the properties’ Burning Kiln Winery.

Similar adventures:

Ziptrek Eco Tours Eagle Tour, Whistler, B.C.

This zipline adventure takes visitors over the Fitzsimmons Valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. With a heart-stopping 30-floor descent, this one is for the real thrill seekers.

Treeosix Adventure Parks Zipline Adventures, Cypress Hills, Sask.

Situated in a Lodgepole pine forest, this adventure dispels the incorrect stereotype that Saskatchewan is flat and full of wheat fields.

Archery in Edmonton

At Combat Archery, visitors can get their cardio in as they duck and dive around the 5,200-square-foot arena with a group of friends, trying to score points against their opponents. Definitely save this one for a group outing — while there are no food facilities on-site, you can bring in your own bites.

Similar adventures:

Timber Lounge, Dartmouth, N.S.

Thrill-seekers can try their hand at axe-throwing or just pop in to take in the action with a drink and snack. The vibe here feels like your favourite local bar merged with your rec athletics teams.

Riot Axe, Guelph, Ont.

Truly an off-the-cuff experience, Riot Axe has specifically designated drop-in hours where visitors can come by to throw and socialize.

Hiking in Banff, Alta. The Big Beehive Hike is short, steep and incredibly rewarding, combining turquoise lake views and a heart-pumping climb into one unforgettable adventure. Come for Lake Louise, stay for the countless other jaw-dropping views.

Similar adventures:

Grasslands National Park, Val Marie, Sask.

This Prairie province spot may be Canada’s best-kept secret. The vast skies, rolling landscapes and almost eerie silence make the Grasslands feel otherworldly. Pro-tip: stick around for some of the country’s most awe-inspiring sunsets.

Cape Split Hike, N.S.

Chances are you’ve heard of Nova Scotia’s infamous Cape Split Hike; it’s a renowned coastal classic, and with good reason. Featuring sweeping cliffside views over the Bay of Fundy, this hike is pure East Coast magic.

Snow Adventures in Whistler, B.C.

Walk — or rather, slide — in the footsteps of Olympic greats on the official Olympic Bobsled and Skeleton track at Whistler Sliding Centre. Try passenger bobsleigh, where you can ride in a real bobsleigh driven by a professional pilot, reaching speeds of 125 kilometres an hour.

Similar adventures:

Affordable dogsledding with Windrift Adventures, Moonstone, Ont.

You don’t have to travel far for a taste of dogsledding. Just north of Toronto, Windrift Adventures offers an accessible, adrenaline-spiking introduction to the sport—powered by an enthusiastic team of huskies and some winter magic.

Scale the Saint Boniface Ice Climbing Tower, Winnipeg

Urban ice climbing, anyone? Winnipeg’s Saint Boniface Ice Climbing Tower lets thrill-seekers test their grip on a towering wall of ice in the heart of the city — no mountains (or reservations) required.