The collapse of US tourism could cost $21 billion in revenue for 2025

Barbara you will learn in time that most of kevin's stories are made up.  He rarely goes to Vegas and claims to have multiple degrees which have been disproven over time based on his ignorance of the subject matter of his his alleged degree.  For example, he claims to have been an accounting major but has been unable to know what revenue is.

He claims to have had multiple jobs and even claimed to have owned a business.

He did have a blog and all of a sudden it dispeared with no explanation.  Usually when a writer leaves the LVA a reason is given. 

He is the Walter Mitty of the LVA

Tom's all butt-hurt because I keep calling him out on his "Tom-stat" lies and his slavish, slobbering Trump-love. He claims to know everything about my entire life and career. Isn't that stupid? That's why I call him Stupid Tom; I wouldn't be surprised if that was the name on his driver's license. He's a nasty old MAGA moron who sits and shits in Old Fart City in Arizona, so what do you expect.

To move away from stupid Tom's attempt to ruin this thread:

I've crossed the Canadian border 43 times in my life. First time was when I was a little kid and went with my parents to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. My mom wanted to see Butchart Gardens, so we took the ferry to Victoria via the San Juans. God, what a fantastic and beautiful trip. 

We all had so much fun at the World's Fair that we decided to go to Expo 67 in Montreal. What a gorgeous and totally cool city!!

Many years later, I went by myself to the Canada Expo in Vancouver...was it 1985? Talk about a party! All the various national pavilions were fascinating. I loved Canada Place with the big swoopy-roofed building! And wow, what a variety of cuisines--incredible melting pot!

Our family went to Banff twice and Jasper once when we were in our early 70s Happy Campers mode. We returned via Waterton. Some of the best experiences of my life! God God God, how beautiful.

Last year, I knew I was going to be preoccupied with a bunch of legal nonsense, so I squeezed in a Canada trip in early May despite knowing that the weather might not cooperate. I took the Sea to Sky to Whistler and kept going north until you're forced to turn inland. I camped at Joffre Lakes. Such unmatched, incredible scenery! I continued inland and made my way through Golden and Revelstoke to Radium Hot Springs. Took the tunnel to Kootenay NP. The grandest sight I have ever beheld when I popped out of the tunnel and saw the huge mountain range stretching to the horizon.

My target was Kananaskis. I got the feeling that no one who isn't Canadian knows about it. But it rivals Banff in every way and is much, much less crowded. I spent three blissful days camped by a big blue lake before a storm blasted me out of there. I retreated to Vancouver via the "Coq," a fantastic journey in and of itself. I spent a day in Hope on the way--what an awesome little town.

I could wax poetic about BC and Alberta for hours. I really really want to go back again this year. Might wait until June, though. I think that's the optimal time: decent weather, but before the big crowds hit.

Kevin, I love your Canadian stories. They are amazing and make me proud to be a Canadian.  I usually get an annual pass to Butchart Gardens.  The gardens are lovely all year round. The Sidney Anacortes Ferry still isn't running.  I think Washington State is building a new ferry and it will start up again.  I love that trip through the San Juan Islands. 

Expo 86 in Vancouver changed the city forever. It was a very memorable summer. 

Thanks for the great report, Kevin!!! My mother moved to Chilliwack many years ago, so my family would plan scenic roadtrips from there every year.  We would drive through Hope and the Fraser Canyon over to the Kootenays and would head up to Radium Hot Springs and over to Banff National Park. Coming back we would drive to Golden and Revelstoke and down through the Okanagan.  The scenery was stunning and the OK peaches were wonderful in August.

June is a great month to travel.  Nice and warm but less tourists on the road. Nelson is a neat place to visit in the Kootenays, as well as Nakusp with its hot springs.

I am really enjoying this thread. 

Cheers! And a Happy New Year to you!

Three areas I'd really like to visit this summer that you must be very familiar with are Harrison Hot Springs and its namesake lake, Garibaldi Provincial Park, and there's an idyllic mountain valley just northwest of Victoria that has such a mild climate, there are vineyards...the valley is surrounded by mountains. Is it called...Cowichan?

Also on the Island...the drive out to Tofino. The drive to the coast across the "waist" of the Island...is it Hwy 4 through Tweedsmuir Provincial Park? Nanaimo bars! The ferry trip from the northern tip of the Island (forgot the name of the town). 

And south of the border...have you ever driven the Mountain Loop Highway? How about Hwy 542 up to Mt. Baker? Hwy 20 to North Cascades National Park? 

You come down here and I'll go up there. Then we can share photos 📸 🤓

I think I meant Strathcona, not Tweedsmuir.

Harrison Hot Springs is lovely.  We want to visit there next summer. My grandchildren also want to go to some waterslides as we have none on Vancouver Island.  Garibaldi Provincial Park is stunning. A wonderful area to visit.

The Cowichan Valley is just north of Victoria.  My son and daughter live in Cowichan.  It's called the Warmland as there are many wineries, dairies and lush farmland throughout the area.  My son has an old house with a wonderful orchard which produces so much fruit that it keeps us busy all summer long trying to harvest everything. Bing cherries, italian plums, grapes, bartlet pears, peaches, many types of applies, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. The area is drenched in sunshine. Very unique.

The drive to Tofino is wonderful.  We have seaside towns, Parksville and Qualicum which are a lovely place to start and then you head out to Port Alberni, Cathedral Grove, which has ancient trees, and onto Hwy 4 to Tofino. 

The ferry trip is the inside passage route from Port Hardy which is at the top of the island to Prince Rupert.

I haven't done that trip yet.

I have been to North Cascades National Park. Loved the trip. We really need to keep the Coho Ferry.  It's our gateway to the Cascades.  We have a spectacular view of the Cascade Mountain Range from downtown Victoria. It's beautiful.

I haven't been up to Mount Baker yet, but we have a beautiful view of it from the Saanich Peninsula.  It looks so close and breathtaking.

I am a believer of the Cascadia movement.  Greater autonomy of the Pacific Northwest through a political coalition of the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Our late premier talked about the coalition a lot.  We have so much identity.