Our family did the Canadian Rockies ABD in 2019. This was the only ABD we have ever done without a US guide... in 2019 they had 4 guides, all were Canadian and they ran the trip in pairs back to back from late June to August.
We went in July and the weather was chilly - it rained on the first day of the trip and many in our group had to buy extra layers in Calgary because we weren't prepared for the cold.
There is the Stampede festival in Calgary that time of year which may be of interest - Calgary has a strong Western vibe, much like Ft. Worth, Texas if you're familiar. Banff and Lake Louise are breath taking. We did a mead (fermented honey) tasting, a bike right, a glacier hike, a raft tour in Canmore; we also did the hike to Agnes' Tea House by Lake Louise.
Aside from the views, I personally didn't find much "extraordinary" about the trip. The trip got me to read a bit about Canadian history which I enjoyed. The scenery was spectacular! The food and activities were decent - but honestly not as memorable as the other ABDs we had done. We picked it primarily for the views, the proximity to the US and less jet lag. Let me know if you have any specific questions. Hope that helps.
Have you done any of the North America/South America ABDs? If so, which ones?Thanks so much for the information. This is exactly what I was looking for. We are looking to stay in North America this year due to the price of airfare but we are struggling with a good destination.
Have you done any of the North America/South America ABDs? If so, which ones?
Sayhello
OK, that's useful information, because I was totally going to recommend the Arizona/Utah trip because it is a FABULOUS itinerary to a (to me) fascinating and beautiful area. (Everyone should see the Grand Canyon at some point!) But if the details of the trip (like the hotels) don't appeal to you, then that's a no-go. Although really the hotel in the Grand Canyon is the only "rustic" hotel they use. The other 2 (especially the one in Moab) are beautiful. This ABD is still one of my favorites.I did the So Cal trip last year. I considered the Arizona/Utah trip but I don't think I am really all that interested in that destination and the hotels that are used are not how we like to travel. It is completely understandable why the hotels on that trip were chosen but it is not for us.
Our family joined the Canadian Rockies ABD in late June 2019...
Overall, we really enjoyed the trip and would recommend! Let me know if I can provide any additional info!