American Plan or Housekeeping??

By Rodney Schlafer 
Former All-Canada Show Director 

One of the first steps in planning a trip to Canada is deciding what type of trip to take. It is truly a personal preference and for me I like them all. There are basically two options for trips (however some have modification to appeal to different needs), they are American Plan (AP) or Housekeeping (HKP). The short answer to explain the difference is it the food.

The American Plan:
With the American Plan option your food is included in the price of your trip. When comparing trips make sure you compare Apples to Apples. Some lodges make their AP all inclusive including everything including your food, boat, motor, gas, and guide. Typically license and bait are extra, but again some do include those as part of the package. The AP is more of a structured trip with hours when the dining room is open usually with a few hour blocks to accommodate everyone. This package is great for those that want to relax and have everything done for them.

The Housekeeping Plan:
With this plan you cook your meals; most HKP camps have all the cooking utensils, you just need to bring your own food. Again when comparing your options know what is included as some lodges include a boat, motor and gas in their plan. This package is perfect for families with kids who may be picky eaters, or for those who enjoy cooking and want to save a little money by doing it on their own. It also lets you set your own schedule. Some lodges offer a Modified Housekeeping plan where you have the option to eat in the lodge for Breakfast or Dinner if you choose and you just take care of a lunch.

After you choose the plan, you next decision will be whether you want to drive-in, boat-in or fly-in…so what type of trip are you taking this year?

Making memories and living life

By: Jennifer Young, All-Canada Show owner

This summer has been so fun. My family has made so many great memories together. As I get older, I am starting to appreciate people in my life more than ever. I recently had a friend who died of a heart attack at age 41, and his facebook page had pictures of a cruise that he took with his wife and daughters last year. I am certain that his family is so glad that they didn't wait to take that vacation.

When money is tight, people sometimes want to give up things that they should keep (family vacations) and keep things that should be given up (wasteful spending - daily cups of coffee from Starbucks, fast food, extra vehicles, interest from credit cards, etc). If you want to discuss more ways to save money for your next trip to Canada, please email me at jennifer@allcanada.com

When I look back on my life, I can remember the sights, smells, sounds from trips to Canada and other places much more than I remember other childhood memories. My youngest child is 9 and my oldest is 13, and it seems like yesterday when they were born. They all remember our trips together to Canada, and it is such a great tradition - way better than going to Disney World! Take your kids with you on your fishing trip to Canada - it is OK for them to spend some time at the camp or lodge without video games and all of the other entertainment that they have at home. Kids love to spend time with their parents, and they love it when your cell phone is turned off or not usable! Parents love their children, and we want the best for them. The biggest gift that you can give your children is your time. Enjoy them now while they are still young.

I am laughing out loud (lol) in the boat. It is an unusual picture of me, but it makes me smile every time that I see it, so I wanted to share it with you.

Booths for Sale - 2011 All-Canada Show

By: Jennifer Young, owner

The vision of the All-Canada Show is to be THE best place in the world to plan and book your next fishing or hunting vacation to Canada.

Our website has evolved over time. It is AllCanada.com
It includes multiple ways to search for lakes, fish species, trophy hunts, lodge name and more.

The All-Canada Show is a sport show that travels to 11 cities in January and February. Here is the website that includes facility locations, show hours, hotels, show attractions and features by city: AllCanadaShow.com

If you own a Canadian lodge, camp, resort, or outfitting company and are looking to promote your business to Americans, please contact me at jennifer@allcanada.com or 920-983-9800 X 111.

New facebook page for All-Canada Show

by: Jennifer Young, owner, All-Canada Show

Check out the All-Canada Show page (Company) on facebook.

You can post your pictures of Canada any time.

It is a great way to stay in touch!

Planning the All-Canada Show for next year

Jennifer Young, General Manager - It is always fun to start planning next year. The shows went well in 2010, and we had some tight turns (shows back to back). We had a great group of staff from truck drivers, to sales, to office, to seminars on the road this year. The photo is of the Chicago show held at Pheasant Run in St Charles, IL. We will be posting our 2011 show dates and locations on www.allcanada.com by the end of the week.

Thanks for all of you who attended the shows. We are looking forward to seeing you next year.

Spring Fever

It seems all of the people in the Midwest are getting Spring Fever. We have enjoyed the snow and the cold, and now we are ready for Spring. When it hits 50 degrees, we don't want to see freezing again until next winter.

Canada is calling. The sunny days, the big fish, the quite lakes, and the big sky.

We are planning our Canadian fishing trips and reminiscing over past trips.

This year will be a great time to travel to Canada. Everybody wants to go fishing up there. We can't wait.