Eva Holland

Searching for local produce with a minimal eco-footprint? Look no further than the Hale'iwa Farmers' Market, which claims -- convincingly -- to be Hawaii's greenest.

Hale'iwa Town is located on Oahu's legendary North Shore, in the heart of the big-wave surf scene. Its market is open every Sunday from 9pm to 1am, and aims to be Hawaii's first totally green, zero-waste market.

[Editor's note: Paul Brady has replaced Eva Holland as the pilot of the 2011 Explorer due to technical constraints. You can read his intro to the series here!]

There's something powerful about the American road trip. It's a travel tradition that's steeped in history but re-made fresh every summer by families across the country. And it's a standby in literature and pop culture – from John Steinbeck's classic Travels with Charley to Smokey and the Bandit through to the recent foul-mouthed buddy comedy, Sex Drive.

In 2011, it's time to refresh that tradition once again.

Times have changed since Steinbeck and his dog Charley made their way across the country 51 years ago. The interstate system has spread its web across the Lower 48. The internet age has arrived, complete with in-car GPS systems, a blanket of wi-fi and hundreds of travel apps. Gas prices have skyrocketed, and the country is clawing its way out of a brutal recession. But one thing hasn't changed: A cross-country road trip is still the best way to get into America's backyard, see its natural wonders and – most importantly – meet its people and tell their stories.

Parks Canada, the department in charge of Canada's 42 preserved national parks, turned 100 years old this week. CBC's Jon Hembrey explains the department's origins:

Parks Canada can trace its lineage back to 1885, when the country's first national park - at a tiny 26 square kilometres - was created in Banff, Alta.

The primary aim was to create a tourist destination close to the Canadian Pacific Railway and exploit the economic potential of the area's hot springs, said Claire Campbell, editor of A Century of Parks Canada, a collection of essays looking at the history of Parks Canada.

In 1911, the federal government created the Dominion Parks Branch, as it was called then, to look after the country's handful of national parks. It was the first of its kind in the world.

Today, Parks Canada administers parks spread out from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans, covering grasslands and mountain regions and marine environments. They range from remote wilderness preserves to high-volume tourist draws.

Traveling to Canada? Be sure to check out a park near you. Here are some photos from my nearest national park neighbor: Yukon's Kluane National Park.

[Hat tip to @thebanffcentre]

Gallery: Hiking in Canada's Kluane National Park

Traveling stateside this weekend? You're in luck: It's American Craft Beer Week, and events celebrating the art of beer are taking place at brewpubs and microbreweries in all 50 states.

I've always been a big believer in seeking out the best locally-produced brews wherever I travel, and as the craft brewing boom continues in the U.S. I've found my beer travels in America to be especially rewarding.

I've sampled local beers from Alaska to New Orleans to upstate New York. Sometimes a trip to the local brewery offers unique regional flavors and ingredients -- like in Skagway, Alaska, where the Skagway Brewing Co. offers a truly northern-flavored spruce tip ale. Other times, a visit to the brewpub just means a chance to kick back with the locals and enjoy delicious food and drink. Either way, it's worth the trip.

American Craft Beer Week runs until May 22nd. Check out the ACBW site or the #ACBW hashtag on Twitter to find out more about an event near you.

Come on, people, sing it with me: "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." The summer road trip season is here – and that means photo ops at scenic viewpoints, snacks melting on sun-soaked dashboards, and nights in roadside campgrounds or fleabag memorable motels.

Unfortunately, this summer season also brings some nasty gas prices with it. So what's the best region for an American road trip? I compared current prices state by state to find out.

Introducing another new blogger at Gadling, Eva Holland...

Where was your photo taken: Just across the Canadian border on the Chilkoot Trail. It's an international hiking trail that traces the historic route taken by stampeders during the Klondike Gold Rush, from Southeast Alaska into the Yukon.

Where do you live now: Whitehorse, Yukon

Scariest airline flown: I've never had any seriously dodgy flying experiences, but I have – twice – tried and failed to fly with Ryanair. Scariest airline? I'll go with the one that – twice! – canceled my flight on a few hours' notice and left me grounded, with no refund and no re-booking. I know they say you get what you pay for, but I figured even a dirt-cheap flight should still involve, you know, a flight.

Favorite city/country/place: Good old New York, New York. You just can't beat it.