Calgary is bustling with near-endless things to do and experience. But sometimes, you need to take a break, maybe a short drive out of the city and hit the road for a new adventure. Considering Calgary is the perfect gateway to local u-pick farms, hiking trails and mountain destinations, all that’s needed is a trusty ride.
The latest model to join the beloved Volkswagen SUVW family is the compact Taos. It’s always game for whatever adventure you’ve planned, whether you’re hoping to shop-hop in towns and cities or you’re a hardcore outdoors enthusiast. Behind the wheel of the Taos, every drive is an adventure especially when the Taos is always game.
Stock Up on Fresh Produce at U-Pick Farms on the Prairies and in the Foothills
The Drive: A roughly 2-hour circuit
To make a great circuit on this trip, first head past Cochrane to Buckler Farm, one of Alberta’s heritage family farms, for your pick of delicious veggies. Then travel east to pass by berry u-pick farms like Pleasant View U-Pick Berries to stock up haskaps, raspberries and saskatoon berries. With your Taos loaded with bags of new goodies, pre-packed hiking gear and room for more, complete the circuit by continuing on to Drumheller. A visit there to see the hoodoos is always worth the stop before heading home.
Don’t worry about gas mileage for this adventure — the Taos has a 184hp turbocharged engine, meaning you get lighting fast response and killer fuel economy all rolled into one smooth drive.
Hit the Trails, the Cafés and the Shops in Bragg Creek
The Drive: 35 to 40 minutes west of Calgary
Bragg Creek is packed with adventure and scenery. Stroll the eight kilometre Trans Canada Trail for incredible natural sights, or pack your mountain bikes and head to the West Bragg Creek Trailhead to explore the 141 km of mixed hiking and biking trails. Then spend some time shopping and snacking after working up a sweat. Visit Cinnamon Spoon for its can’t-miss cinnamon buns or stop into The Best Little Wordhouse in the West to browse some of its 40,000 books and its range of accessories, clothing, souvenirs and more.
Worried about space between your road trip supplies and shopping? The Taos has a roomy cargo space on its own or the back seats can easily pop down to add even more storage. Then there’s the center pass-through that makes storing long items even easier.
Really Enjoy the Drive On Highwood Pass
The Drive: Three to four hours without stops, or a full day with stops
Feel like more of an adventurous scenic route where you can really play with your all-new Taos? Highwood Pass is the highest paved pass in Canada, so it boasts some serious driving fun with stunning views. This trip is worth making a day out of, so make sure to load up the roomy cargo with hiking gear, a picnic, or even camping gear if you plan to stay overnight.
Thanks to the Taos’ 4MOTION® All-Wheel Drive, it evenly distributes power as needed between the front and rear wheels. That means you and your always game Taos can really enjoy those twisting mountain turns, steep climbs or declines all without worry.
Enjoy a Scenic Tour of the Icefields Parkway
The Drive: Three hours from one end of the Parkway to the other (not including stops)
Sometimes an adventure is just about enjoying the drive. If you love scenic trips, then visit the Icefields Parkway. The route passes through Banff and Jasper National Parks, and in that 232 km stretch of road, you’ll admire picturesque mountains, valleys and, of course, icefields.
The best part of being behind the wheel of a Taos is that it’s just plain fun to drive. It’s the type of car that can take you anywhere you want to go and that adds to the enjoyment of the journey.
Whether it’s a trip to Bragg Creek for a hike or just a long drive for the sights, the Volkswagen Taos is always game. For more information visit www.vw.ca.
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