My Dream Vacation
All throughout my life I have been inspired by the incredible beauty the earth has to offer. I have always managed to find beauty in the most basic landscapes and have been completely captivated by the wonders of this world. As I have gotten older I have became more curious in the country I love and am proud to call home. Being Canadian is a blessing and our land is absolutely stunning. I have traveled east to New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland, I have traveled west to Alberta, but one of my dreams now is to discover the northern territories. Yukon seemed to be a desirable choice for me as the rugged mountains are stretched across the landscape. Perhaps one of the most amazing wonders that can be seen here that I would want to see most of all, is the Northern Lights.
Who I will be as a tourist?
For
this vacation I would take a mix between an explorer and individual mass
tourist approach. I will create my own schedule on what I would
like to do and be on my own time, however there are certainly more dangers from
wildlife and climate that may require certain activities to be organized by an
expert to avoid danger. Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs states that safety is one
of our basic necessities we need before we can enjoy the activity we are doing.
This is an important consideration for this vacation as there is an abundance
of wildlife and an unsuitable climate. Once I have achieved the
safety concern I would be an allocentric tourist. I want to go on
many adventures within Yukon to enhance my tourist experience by seeing the
rugged mountains, the clear lakes, and the unearthly northern lights.
Why Yukon?
The
consumer’s behaviour model shows my personal and social determinants influence
why I would want to visit here. This is because I have high expectations for
this vacation based on my previous vacation experience to Alberta. While I was
there I fell in love with the mountains and the unexplainable
beauty in Canada. In terms of recreational based resources I would
love to see the resource based areas in this territory. I want to explore the
nature of the land by being able to hike my way to them. Characteristics and
features of service also feeds my desire as there are some main attractions I
would wish to see here. These include the northern lights, the mountains, and
beautiful lakes. The
gateways to discovery further explains why my dream vacation is to visit Yukon
Territory. Often our dream vacation is influenced by our previous
favourite vacation; my favourite vacation being Alberta. I enjoyed exploring a part of the country with scenic mountains and
lakes. Going here made me really want to explore the entirety of Canada. I have
always wanted to discover the territories and with Yukon’s mountainous
landscape it drew me in right away.
Yukon
is truly a place of mystical hidden beauty. Perhaps the most appealing of all
is the magic of the northern lights. To watch the bright colourful lights dance
across the sky is said to be one of the most incredible experiences in the
world. The thought that the sky can be another colour other than its ranges of
blue leaves even adults to feel their childish sense of wonder and delight once
again.
Budgeting and Planning:
Traveling
to Yukon is not a cheap vacation. The flight from Toronto to Whitehorse via
WestJet costs 1002.07$. I have chosen to reside in the Little Atlin Lodge
Cabins which costs 958.00$. Using this vacation package gave me access to many
of the activities provided along the lake, and near the cabins. Some activities
I have chosen are outside of the grounds, therefore I have elected to rent
a car costing 217.10$. The lodge recommends all shopping is done in
Whitehorse before traveling to Little Atlin Lodge, as it is in a very secluded
area. Therefore my total budget for this vacation is 2500.00$ leaving extra
room for essential food, and any souvenirs or excursions I may wish to
purchase. NOTE: these costs are based on the assumption that I will be travelling alone, the total cost would vary based on the number of travellers.
My elected vacation week runs from September 11 to September 16 2017. I chose this date as this is one of the times of the year that viewing the northern lights is possible. Also Little Atlin lake is said to be stunning this time of year as many of the flowers and bushes begin to show their colour, and the lake becomes crystal clear. The Little Atlin Lodge offers a number of outdoor experiences that can be done with a member of the staff or on your own if you prefer.
Daily Schedule
Day
1: This day will begin with the flight to Whitehorse. Once I have landed I will
spend the afternoon shopping for food and equipment I may need for the week. I
will then drive to Little Atlin Lodge and spend the evening exploring the
trails around the lake, and northern lights viewing.
Day
2: This day will be spent taking a motorboat (Provided by Little Atlin Lodge) to
explore the Little Atlin Lake, and to do some fishing. The lake is engulfed in
colourful hills, especially in the fall time. I then plan to hike Monarch
Mountain, which is nearby, and has a duration of 3 hours. The evening will
consist of a campfire provided by the Lodge and viewing of the northern lights.
Day
3: The plan for this day is to go for the White Mountain hike. It is on the
land of the Lodge and is 2 hour in duration. I will then take the 360 degree
view of the area where the Lodge employees offers to take their customers. This
evening I plan to walk to a secluded part of the lake to look at the northern
lights.
Day
4: This day will begin with an early rise and drive to Skagway. Once there I
shall complete the A.B. Mountain hike, which has a full day duration. The
evening will consist of a campfire provided by the Lodge and viewing of the
northern lights.
Day
5: My last day will be a canoe along Lake Atlin as well as going over to Snafu
Lake. Here I can explore the small lakes and creeks in the surrounding area.
Later in the afternoon I will drive one and a half hours to the Takhini
Hotsprings. The admission cost of the spa is 8$. This night will finish off
with a canoe ride to the middle of the lake and viewing the Northern Lights
once more.
Day
6: Today I will travel back to Whitehorse traveling through Tagish and
Carcross. I will then begin the flight back into Toronto.
Conclusion
Traveling to Yukon is certainly a dream I wish to fulfill. Through researching the area I was able to see how many activities can be done in the territory. Traveling throughout Canada is something I have always wanted to do, so taking the journey north is the next step in my life of traveling.
References
http://www.travelyukon.com/http://explorenorth.com/wordpress/the-new-welcome-to-yukon-signs/
http://www.travelpod.com/lodge/Little_Atlin_Lodge-Whitehorse.html
http://littleatlinlodge.com/english/default.htm
https://northwestpaddlesandpaths.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/white-mountain-yukon/
https://skagwayshoretours.com/a-b-mountain/
