It's late October and cooler temperatures are signalling the onset of winter tires over the next few weeks and with that snow will be here before we know it.  The changing of the seasons also ushers in a change to sporting activities, such as skiing or snowboarding.

Once the snow is firmly on the ground, questions can swirl as to road trip destinations for some weekend or even mid-week (if your lucky!) skiing/snowboarding.  A great spot to look into for your next trip maybe the Eastern Township region (about 1.5 hr east of Montreal, or 3.5 hrs from Ottawa).   

Easily accessible by four hundred highway from Ottawa, Toronto & Montreal, the area offers a cluster of destinations, including: Bromont, Mount Sutton, Mount Orford and Owl's Head (pictured above).

With so many ski/snowboard options to choose from, the area is a great experience to visit multiple ski resorts during a single trip!

Most Eastern Township resorts don't have the built-up resorts atmosphere, such as the likes of Tremblant.  Having said that, most are in close proximity to urban centers, such as Magog, Bromont, Sutton and Sherbrooke - options that offer variety in terms of accommodations and dinning. 
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Below is a map showcasing Owl's Head ski resorts in the area.  Highway 10 is the primary route through the region and easily links up with major auto routes through Montreal and continuing to Ottawa and Toronto to the west. 

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Your Best Moment
The leaves are turning on the trees and before you know it, winter will be here blanketing the ground in snow.  With that in mind, it's time to reflect on the summer that was and the highlights that it brought and gave you those big smiles!

What's your most memorable road trip moment from this past summer?  Was it a brief instant while stopping to stretch the legs or at days end to reminisce about the day that was?

My moment -- to help
Digging through an amassed list of pictures taken over the past several months, the trip to British Columbia back in July made the list of "Best Road Trip Moment from this Summer" for this writer.  

Our week long BC road trip consisted of a rental vehicle upon landing in Vancouver and driving to the Okanagan Valley and its beautiful arid landscape for the first leg of the trip.

The last leg of our trip took us back to Vancouver and the below picture taken from Queen Elizabeth Park produced the best road trip moment.

​Having previously lived in Vancouver, its natural beauty was never lost upon me, but the view from Queen Elizabeth Park was a brand new place for me.  Taken at dusk, this picture really exemplifies how the urban and natural settings co-exist in this wonderful part of Canada.  (The view is to the east of Vancouver with Grouse and Seymour Mountains in the background.)          ​

The excitement of a road trip can sometimes overwhelm ones decision making when it comes to the all important issue of "what to pack".  Pack too much and you run the risk of running out of room in your vehicle to fit everything, not to mention make the vehicle feel cramped and uncomfortable.  On the other hand, packing to little runs the risk of missing out on that all important item, such as your bathing suite when it comes to that impromptu stop at a beautiful lake on a warm summer day. 

Compression bags (such as the above) offer a great cargo solution when faced with that packing dilemma of "more or less" luggage.  The benefit offered by the compression bags is that clothing space can be dramatically reduced once you expel the excess air from its pouch.

An Auto Spa Canada staffer once used a similar product when completing a cross-Canada road trip.  The staffer placed none essential clothes in the compression bags which freed up luggage space for his daily wardrobe.    

There's nothing worse then having a closet filled to the brim with useless carry-bags. More so, ones that never seem to quite match your intended use, but hold-on, there maybe an answer for you. 

The OGIO Renegade backpack was recently used by an Auto Spa Canada staffer this past summer and received an outstanding two thumbs up!  The staffer used the bag for a range of activities, including: cottage night-over, gym and air travel carry-on bag.

A key benefit of the OGIO Renegade described by the staffer were its numerous pockets, allowing him to store essential electronic gear (e.g. 15'' laptops, tablets, headphones), travel papers and the all important sun-glass holder.

If you've ever got tired of having to setup a tent and fiddle with its various poles, your in luck!  The Coleman pop-up tent has been used multiple times by an Auto Spa Canada staffer for some great car-camping road trips.

It's as easy as pulling the tent out of the storage case, finding a suitable (preferably flat w/ minimal roots) location and letting the tent pop-out.

(It does take a few practices at folding the tent back into the storage case, so it's best to try this at home before heading out of your first pop-up adventure. )

Traveling in your vehicle on lengthy trips can create opportunities for the passengers to rest their eyes, relax and nap.
If your pressed for vehicle space, typically a normal pillow is too cumbersome to keep on hand.

The Thousand Islands encompass an area of the St. Lawrence river that extends from Brockville all the way to Kingston. From the Ottawa area, the drive to the region can range between 75 minutes to 2 hours (depending on which area you seek to venture to). 

The above photo was taken while waiting for the Howe Island ferry.  This portion of the Thousand Islands is located just outside Gananoque, which can be considered the largest area of concentrated islands in the region.

From fishing, boating, kayaking, canoe, etc. there is an endless supply of water activities to fill an action packed vacation.  If your into biking, the Thousand Islands Parkway has a bike path that extends its entire length from Gananoque to close proximity of Brockville.

For the more experienced road biker, try the ride between Gananoque and Kingston on Hwy 2 as it offers a nice mix of rolling hills with views of the St. Lawrence and the adjacent countryside.  Also, you can bike onto Howe Island as an alternate route to and from the Gananoque to Kingston bike route.