USA and Canada: North by Northwest

The hometown of Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, of films like Sleepless in Seattle and series like Grey's Anatomy, Seattle has a picturesque skyline, between the sea and the mountains, with the imposing peak of Mt Rainier dominating the horizon. The Space Needle, a symbol of the city, was built for the 1962 World's Fair, but it was mainly the Boeing factory that was crucial for the city's economic development, to which Microsoft, Starbucks, and Amazon have been added.

Vancouver is a bustling metropolis located on Canada's west coast, in the province of British Columbia, notable for its spectacular geographical location, surrounded by towering mountains and the Pacific Ocean. This unique combination offers panoramic views and a wide range of outdoor activities. One of the jewels of the city is Stanley Park, a vast urban park offering forests, trails, beaches and breathtaking views of the city and ocean. It is a great place for walking, jogging, cycling and simply enjoying nature. Vancouver is one of Canada's most culturally diverse cities, with a cosmopolitan population reflecting a variety of traditions, languages and cuisines. Neighbourhoods such as Chinatown and Little Italy are testimony to this rich diversity. The city is also an important economic and financial centre and a focal point for innovation and technology. It is home to numerous technology companies and offers opportunities in sectors such as film and television production. The city is often ranked as one of the cities with the best quality of life in the world. This is due to its clean environment, rich cultural offerings, accessible outdoor activities and its lively, welcoming atmosphere. Sports enthusiasts will find many options in Vancouver, from skiing in the surrounding mountains in winter to water activities in the ocean in summer. The city is also home to professional sports teams such as the Canucks (ice hockey) and the Whitecaps (football). In summary, Vancouver is a city that combines urban modernity with natural beauty, offering a wide range of experiences and activities for residents and visitors alike.

Kamloops, known as the "Tournament Capital of Canada," is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Situated at the confluence of two rivers, the city boasts stunning natural surroundings. Visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, or golfing on one of the many courses. Highlights include Riverside Park and the Kamloops Wildlife Park, where you can get up close with local wildlife. In winter, the area transforms into a paradise for skiers and snowboarders. With its cultural events, cozy cafés, and a historic downtown, Kamloops offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

You head east along the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 5 and Highway 16), passing through a varied landscape that includes majestic mountains, coniferous forests and spectacular canyons. On the way, you pass through picturesque towns and villages such as Clearwater and Valemount, with breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies and boreal forests. Finally, you arrive in Jasper, nestled in the heart of Jasper National Park. Jasper National Park is the largest park in the Canadian Rockies, famous for its spectacular landscapes made up of turquoise lakes, towering glaciers, wild forests, and abundant wildlife. Iconic sites such as Maligne Lake, Mount Robson, and Maligne Canyon make it an ideal destination for those seeking unspoiled nature, adventure, and breathtaking scenery.

the trip from Jasper to Lake Louise/Banff is one of the most breathtaking moments of the journey: a wild land, crossed by the Icefield Parkway (one of the best panoramic roads in North America), amidst majestic mountains, vast forests and colossal glaciers. In November 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway workers searching for gold instead discovered a cave with hot springs on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. The government immediately purchased the land and created Banff National Park, Canada's first national park. The park covers 6,641 square kilometers (slightly less than South Tyrol) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows, and rivers, and is a paradise for hikers, with over 1,600 kilometers of trails. The Trans-Canada Highway, Banff-Radium Highway, the scenic Bow Valley Parkway, and the majestic Icefields Parkway are the main roads that traverse the park and facilitate visitors in spotting abundant wildlife: caribou, elk, deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, brown bears, grizzly bears, wolves, and a large number of small and large mammals.

Cross the land of the cowboys, passing through the Rocky Mountains and leaving Banff National Park, towards the plains surrounding the vibrant city of Calgary. set between the foot of the Rockies and the great Canadian prairies, Calgary has developed from an oil-boom, former frontier town to a rich, wealthy city. It owes its celebrity to the Calgary Stampede, a huge cowboy festival that is held annually in July. Calgary hosted the XV Winter Olympic Games in 1988.

Two thousand lakes, rivers, forests, majestic mountains, here is Glacier National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a paradise also for wild animals, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, brown bears and grizzly bears, wolves and cougars. The name does not derive so much from the existing glaciers, few, small and retreating, but from the enormous expanse of ice that created its valleys during the last ice age, about 20,000 years ago. Only one road crosses it, Going-to-the-Sun Road, an 80 km long road, one of the most picturesque in the country, with stunning views at every turn.

Missoula, with just 75,000 inhabitants, is the second largest city in Montana after Billings. It is a pleasant university town with a vibrant artistic scene, famous craft breweries, and the historic Fort Missoula Museum, a fort for settlers during the battles against the Nez Percé Native Americans.

Yellowstone is one of the largest parks in the USA, and the oldest national park in the world (it was opened in 1872). What truly makes it unique, though, is its enormous central area, which is in fact the huge caldera of a dormant volcano (the last eruption dates back to 640,000 years ago). Thousands of geysers outburst in the caldera, and several other geothermal features can be seen there – hot springs, mudpots, acid lakes. The area is also home to many animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, moose, deer, cougars and coyotes.

Yellowstone is one of the largest parks in the USA, and the oldest national park in the world (it was opened in 1872). What truly makes it unique, though, is its enormous central area, which is in fact the huge caldera of a dormant volcano (the last eruption dates back to 640,000 years ago). Thousands of geysers outburst in the caldera, and several other geothermal features can be seen there – hot springs, mudpots, acid lakes. The area is also home to many animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, moose, deer, cougars and coyotes.

The landscape between Yellowstone and Jackson Hole is marked by the magnificent Teton mountains, rising sheer from the flat, large prairie, amidst lakes, waterfalls and forests where moose and bison roam free. The tallest peak of the range is Grand Teton, with a height of more than 4,000 m. Jackson is the typical base-camp for visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton. This lovely, Old Western town has turned into a popular winter and summer resort for hipster youth; it offers several sushi bars and fashionable clubs.