debbie olsen travel writer

Debbie Olsen

Debbie Olsen is an award-winning Métis writer and a national bestselling author based in Alberta, Canada. Olsen loves adventure, history, nature, photography, great food and family—not in that order. She has contributed to 13 Fodor's guidebooks and has written four travel books. Follow her travels at wanderwoman.ca and on Instagram at  @wwtravelmag . 

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Calgary Herald travel columnist Debbie Olsen receives international writing award

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A long-time freelance travel writer for the Calgary Herald has won an international travel writing award. Debbie Olsen was one of three recipients of the award for Best U.S. Travel Destination Article at the IPW Conference in San Antonio, Texas on May 23, 3023. With nearly 5,000 attendees from more than 60 countries, the conference which is sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA is the largest travel trade show in the United States. The IPW Travel Writer Awards were established to honour outstanding work in print journalism for United States travel destination stories.

Olsen won the award for an article titled Indigenous America explored in Arizona , written for Postmedia. She was the only Canadian recognized at the 2023 IPW Travel Writer Awards and is the only Canadian writer to ever receive the award for Best U.S. Travel Destination Article in the 16-year history of the IPW awards. Olsen has been writing about travel around Alberta and other destinations for the Calgary Herald for nearly 20 years.

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Wander woman travel magazine.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Six Travel Guidebooks to Explore Less-Travelled Places in Canada

by Carolyn Ray | Dec 22, 2023

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Featured image: Discover off-the-beaten-path destinations like the Abraham Lake Ice Bubbles with these g uidebooks for Canada | Photo by Debbie Olsen

Make travel planning even better with local guidebooks 

by Carolyn Ray

We’ve come to rely on our smartphones for travel information, but when it comes to smaller destinations, nothing beats an accurate, well-written guidebook for hidden gems and inside information. Our latest reader survey shows that when it comes to planning travel, more than one guidebook is preferred, with Lonely Planet being the go-to for many women. Other popular guidebooks mentioned include Frommer’s , Fodor’s and Rick Steves, alongside Moon Travel Guides , Rough Guides , The Collected Travel Series and DK (Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Guides.)

In Canada, local guidebooks are flourishing, particularly in less-travelled places, so we invited travel writing colleagues from the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) to share their best work. These six books cover places in Eastern Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, written by local travel writers who actually live there. Not only have these talented authors been writing about their own backyards for years, all of these guidebooks about Canada are produced by small, independent publishers. 

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Six guidebooks for canada to help you get off the beaten track.

Whether you’re driving, walking or road-tripping, these six travel guidebooks will help you discover natural spaces, historic places and little-known backroads, from the Big Muddy Badlands, Whitehorse Wildland, Columbia Icefield or Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. 

1. Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide by Laura Byrne Paquet

This guide to day trips from Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, focuses on communities, natural areas, restaurants, shops, historic sites and more within a 100-km drive of Parliament Hill. It covers Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais, areas author Laura Paquet has been covering since 2014 on her OttawaRoadTrips.com website and for years before that for magazines and newspapers. 

“During the pandemic, a local publisher approached me to write the book because interest in local travel skyrocketed,” says Paquet. “I love writing about this region, as there are so many undiscovered things to see and do.” 

Where to get it: Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide is available from Ottawa Press and Publishing at a cost of $19.95

A sculpture of basketball inventor James Naismith holds pride of place in his birthplace of Almonte, Ontario, a charming community about a 40-minute drive southwest of Parliament Hill  / Photo by Laura Byrne Paquet

2. Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide by Laura Byrne Paquet

Like its predecessor, this guidebook by local Ottawa resident Laura Byrne Paquet starts in Ottawa but takes travellers further afield to popular destinations such as Kingston, the Tremblant resort in Quebec and the Adirondacks in northern New York state. Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide includes areas Paquet has been covering for almost 10 years on her OttawaRoadTrips.com website, as well as in magazines and newspapers.

“My previous book with a similar format, on places closer to Ottawa, was such a success that the publisher approached me to write a sequel,” says Paquet. “I was happy to—I love sparking people’s interest in these places!”

This guide to weekend getaways from Ottawa focuses on communities, natural areas, restaurants, shops, historic sites and more within a drive of 100 to 450 kilometres of Parliament Hill—basically, the outer limits of the distance most people are willing to drive for a weekend or long weekend trip. 

Where to get it: Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide is available from Ottawa Press and Publishing for $19.95

Boat cruises through the 1000 Islands in the St. Lawrence River are popular outings from Gananoque, Ontario, and other communities on both the Canadian and American sides of the river / Photo by Laura Byrne Paquet

Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide by Laura Byrne Paquet. Get it here !

Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide by Laura Byrne Paquet Get it here!

3. Saskatchewan’s Best Scenic Drives, Revised and Updated Edition, 2023 by Robin and Arlene Karpan

Saskatchewan is tailor-made for backroad exploring, with more roads than any province in Canada—enough to circle the equator four times. Possibilities are mind-boggling, from drives through spectacular river valleys to sweeping natural grasslands, lake-studded boreal forest, wild badlands, breathtaking viewpoints, little-known hideaways, historic treasures, and some of Canada’s largest sand dunes.

“We’ve been exploring Saskatchewan’s backroads for many years and wrote and published Saskatchewan’s Best Scenic Drives for those who enjoy the journey rather than travelling somewhere by the fastest route,” say the Karpans. “We offer suggestions for taking the road less travelled – secondary highways, gravel roads, and lonely backroads. These routes take visitors into some of the most gorgeous countrysides that Saskatchewan has to offer.” 

Drive a third of the way across Saskatchewan entirely in the Qu’Appelle Valley. Take a little-known backroad through the Big Muddy Badlands. Wander through the Thickwood Hills to the other-worldly “Crooked Trees”. Combine your drive with awesome hikes and nature walks. Precise directions, GPS coordinates, and maps make it easy to visit many of Saskatchewan’s scenic wonders. Where to get it: Saskatchewan’s Best Scenic Drives is available is available on Amazon here , at bookstores for $29.95 , or direct from Parkland Publishing.  Email: [email protected]

Read More: Travel Experts Share Hidden Gems in Canada

The Qu’Appelle River winds across southern Saskatchewan in a broad valley rich in agricultural land / Photo by Robin and Arlene Karpan

4. The Great Saskatchewan Bucket List by Robin and Arlene Karpan

Saskatchewan abounds with natural wonders, but The Great Saskatchewan Bucket List takes you to the best of the best. Follow award-winning writers and photographers, Robin and Arlene Karpan, to almost every corner of Saskatchewan, from the deep south to the far north, to experience the cream of the crop. Discover 50 unforgettable Saskatchewan natural places before you “kick the bucket”. In every case, it’s something special that leaves you with a sense of wonder. 

“After several years of travelling to almost every corner of Saskatchewan, we identified 50 unforgettable places as among the best of the best,” say Robin and Arlene Kaplan. “We hope that this book will be used to not only see the specific places mentioned, but will also serve as a starting point to visit other fascinating sights in the same area. Now is the perfect time to start checking things off your bucket list.” 

Where to get it: The Great Saskatchewan Bucket List is available on Amazon here , or direct from Parkland Publishing . Email: [email protected]

Hunt Falls on the Grease River in northern Saskatchewan plunges 15 metres in a single drop across a 60-metre-wide fault line / Photo by Robin and Arlene Karpan

Saskatchewan’s Best Scenic Drives by Robin and Arlene Karpan. Get it here !

Great Saskatchewan Bucket List Guide Book by Robin and Arlene Karpan. Get it here !

5. Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta by Debbie Olsen

Have you ever wanted to dine in a water tower, explore the site of a former beaver ranch or take a scenic potty break in a mountain-top outhouse?  Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta is the ultimate guide for travellers looking for the quirky, unique and inspiring side of Alberta. Travel writer and author Debbie Olsen, a proud Albertan who’s visited nearly every corner of the province, has assembled a list of over 150 unusual places, things to see and events that make Alberta one-of-a-kind; from its dozens of roadside attractions and surprising landforms to its fascinating historical sites and off-beat museums.

Organized into four regions – South of Calgary, Edmonton to Calgary, the Alberta Rockies and North of Edmonton – this guidebook takes you on a journey across the province, with lively text that sheds light on each location’s interesting history, as well as maps, contact information, fact boxes and colour photographs that bring the spots to life.  

The book also features themed entries, such as museums that celebrate Alberta’s energy production, unusual roadside attractions, unusual bathrooms (for regular people), unusual festivals and events, and unusual foods invented in Alberta.  Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta is a fun and entertaining jaunt for armchair travellers and road-trippers alike.  

Where to get it: Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta is available at bookstores for $29.95 , or on Amazon here .

The Burmis tree in the Crowsnest Pass is quite possibly the world’s most photographed dead tree. Protecting the dead tree was a consideration when the highway was built. When vandals cut off a limb of the tree, locals glued it back on and built a support for the limb / Photo by Greg Olsen

6. 200 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta (Second edition) by Debbie Olsen and Leigh McAdam

The first edition of “ 125 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta” was a Globe and Mail bestseller. The new edition is organized by region for easy reading and navigation. Each hot spot entry includes a detailed destination profile, colour photographs and a sidebar of at-a-glance information, featuring all the activities one can expect to enjoy.

Some of the hot spots include: Whitehorse Wildland, one of the few places in Alberta where you can drive to an alpine meadow; Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains; and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador. 200 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta is the perfect companion for all visitors travelling to Alberta, from those preparing to witness the province’s natural wonder for the first time to those who are looking forward to experiencing it all over again.

Where to get it: 200 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta is available at bookstores for $29.95 , or on Amazon here

Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the highest concentration of Cretaceous fossils in the world as well as fascinating geological formations / Photo by Greg Olsen

Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta by Debbie Olsen. Get it here!

200 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta b y Debbie Olsen and Leigh McAdam . Get it here !

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Carolyn Ray

As the CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman, Carolyn is a passionate advocate for women's travel and living the life of your dreams. She leads JourneyWoman's team of writers and chairs the JourneyWoman Women's Advisory Council and Women's Speaker's Bureau. She has been featured in the New York Times, Toronto Star and Zoomer as a solo travel expert, and speaks at women's travel conferences around the world. In March 2023, she was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse and was the recipient of a SATW travel writing award in September 2023. She is the chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), a member Women's Travel Leaders and a Herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Sometimes she sleeps. A bit.

We always strive to use real photos from our own adventures, provided by the guest writer or from our personal travels. However, in some cases, due to photo quality, we must use stock photography. If you have any questions about the photography please let us know. Disclaimer: We are so happy that you are checking out this page right now! We only recommend things that are suggested by our community, or through our own experience, that we believe will be helpful and practical for you. Some of our pages contain links, which means we’re part of an affiliate program for the product being mentioned. Should you decide to purchase a product using a link from on our site, JourneyWoman may earn a small commission from the retailer, which helps us maintain our beautiful website. JourneyWoman is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you! We want to hear what you think about this article, and we welcome any updates or changes to improve it. You can comment below, or send an email to us at [email protected] .

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Lacombe-based travel writer Debbie Olsen lands international writing award - Red Deer Advocate

Accomplished Lacombe-based travel writer Debbie Olsen has landed a prestigious international award. She was one of three recipients of the award in the category for ‘Best U.S. Travel Destination’ at the IPW Conference in San Antonio, Texas this past May. Olsen, who penned a travel column for the Red Deer Advocate for about 20 years and currently writes for the Calgary Herald, has also been published in numerous travel magazines over the years – …

Lacombe-based travel writer Debbie Olsen lands international writing award

Accomplished Lacombe-based travel writer Debbie Olsen has landed a prestigious international award.

Lacombe-based travel writer Debbie Olsen lands international writing award - Castor Advance

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Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta Paperback – Aug. 1 2022

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Have you ever wanted to dine in a water tower, explore the site of a former beaver ranch or take a scenic potty break in a mountain-top outhouse? Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta is the ultimate guide for travelers looking for the quirky, unique and inspiring side of Alberta. Travel writer and author Debbie Olsen, a proud Albertan who's visited nearly every corner of the province, has assembled a list of over 150 unusual places, things to see and events that make Alberta one-of-a-kind -- from its dozens of roadside attractions and surprising landforms to its fascinating historical sites and off-beat museums.

Organized into four regions -- South of Calgary, Edmonton to Calgary, the Alberta Rockies and North of Edmonton -- this guidebook takes you on a journey across the province, with lively text that sheds light on each location's interesting history, as well as maps, contact information, fact boxes and color photographs that bring the spots to life. Here are just a few of the unusual, obscure and intriguing things you'll read about:

• The Fort Museum, Fort Macleod: the birthplace of the RCMP Musical Ride
• Maggie's Diner, Tack and Feed, High River: the set of the hit TV show Heartland
• Donalda and District Museum, Donalda: the world's largest collection of oil lamps
• World Famous Gopher Hole Museum, Torrington: Alberta's first gopher museum
• Abraham Lake's Ice Bubbles: the world's most beautiful ice bubbles
• Lake Minnewanka and Minnewanka Landing: the site of Banff's sunken ghost town
• Fort Chipewyan Ice Road: the winter road that connects Fort McMurray to Fort Chipewyan and Fort Smith
• Wood Buffalo National Park's Beaver Dam: the world's largest beaver dam, which can be seen from space.

The book also features themed entries, such as museums that celebrate Alberta's energy production, unusual roadside attractions, unusual bathrooms (for regular people), unusual festivals and events, and unusual foods invented in Alberta. Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta is a fun and entertaining jaunt for armchair travelers and road trippers alike.

• Print length 272 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Firefly Books
• Publication date Aug. 1 2022
• Dimensions 19.05 x 1.6 x 24.13 cm
• ISBN-10 022810372X
• ISBN-13 978-0228103721
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About the author.

Debbie Olsen is an award-winning Alberta-based travel writer who loves to explore natural areas around the world. She is the coauthor of 200 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta , the editor and main contributing writer of 150 Nature Hot Spots in Canada and has written for nine Fodor's guidebooks about Alberta. She also writes a regular travel column for the Calgary Herald .

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Firefly Books (Aug. 1 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 022810372X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0228103721
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 699 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 19.05 x 1.6 x 24.13 cm
• #37 in Canadian Travel Photography
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Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta Paperback – August 1, 2022

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Have you ever wanted to dine in a water tower, explore the site of a former beaver ranch or take a scenic potty break in a mountain-top outhouse? Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta is the ultimate guide for travelers looking for the quirky, unique and inspiring side of Alberta. Travel writer and author Debbie Olsen, a proud Albertan who's visited nearly every corner of the province, has assembled a list of over 150 unusual places, things to see and events that make Alberta one-of-a-kind -- from its dozens of roadside attractions and surprising landforms to its fascinating historical sites and off-beat museums.

Organized into four regions -- South of Calgary, Edmonton to Calgary, the Alberta Rockies and North of Edmonton -- this guidebook takes you on a journey across the province, with lively text that sheds light on each location's interesting history, as well as maps, contact information, fact boxes and color photographs that bring the spots to life. Here are just a few of the unusual, obscure and intriguing things you'll read about:

• The Fort Museum, Fort Macleod: the birthplace of the RCMP Musical Ride
• Maggie's Diner, Tack and Feed, High River: the set of the hit TV show Heartland
• Donalda and District Museum, Donalda: the world's largest collection of oil lamps
• World Famous Gopher Hole Museum, Torrington: Alberta's first gopher museum
• Abraham Lake's Ice Bubbles: the world's most beautiful ice bubbles
• Lake Minnewanka and Minnewanka Landing: the site of Banff's sunken ghost town
• Fort Chipewyan Ice Road: the winter road that connects Fort McMurray to Fort Chipewyan and Fort Smith
• Wood Buffalo National Park's Beaver Dam: the world's largest beaver dam, which can be seen from space.

The book also features themed entries, such as museums that celebrate Alberta's energy production, unusual roadside attractions, unusual bathrooms (for regular people), unusual festivals and events, and unusual foods invented in Alberta. Top 150 Unusual Things to See in Alberta is a fun and entertaining jaunt for armchair travelers and road trippers alike.

• Print length 272 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Firefly Books
• Publication date August 1, 2022
• Dimensions 7.5 x 0.63 x 9.5 inches
• ISBN-10 022810372X
• ISBN-13 978-0228103721
• See all details

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About the author.

Debbie Olsen is an award-winning Alberta-based travel writer who loves to explore natural areas around the world. She is the coauthor of 200 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta , the editor and main contributing writer of 150 Nature Hot Spots in Canada and has written for nine Fodor's guidebooks about Alberta. She also writes a regular travel column for the Calgary Herald .

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Firefly Books (August 1, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 022810372X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0228103721
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.54 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 0.63 x 9.5 inches
• #77 in Kayaking Travel Guides
• #446 in Canadian National Parks Travel Guides
• #1,890 in General Canada Travel Books

About the author

Debbie olsen.

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