Photo by Shelley Ward

Many people think you need to travel far to see great places and go on new adventures. While this may be true for some, it isn't for me.

I have lived in northern Manitoba for 28 years. As a kid for many of those years, my parents would take me camping all over Canada and the U.S. As I got older, I came to realize that even though I had experienced numerous amazing places, the best place to be in the summer is up here in Northern Manitoba.

The summers here are something that everyone should be lucky enough to experience once in their lifetime, yet I get to spend all summer here every year. The days are long for the majority of the summer, with daylight from 4 a.m. until 11 p.m., allowing you extra hours to fit in everything you want to do and see.

There are waterfalls hidden along out-of-the-way hiking trails that will take your breath away. If you're like me and not into hiking, then you can tour many creeks and rivers by boat or canoe.

If golf is your game, then, like me, you will love the courses that are scattered all over the north. Almost every town is home to a 9- or 18-hole course that has built-in tree and water hazards -- no more golfing out in open fields. You just have to watch out for the birds that like to swoop down and then fly away with your ball in beak.

The best part of living up here, though, is all the great lakes nearby. Some smaller ones are perfect for spending a lazy afternoon fishing, while others are extremly large. Many lakes are home to trophy-sized fish that turn grown men back into children as they stare in awe at the size of catch on the end of their lines. As a kid growing up, nothing was better then going out fishing with Grandpa and seeing who could net the biggest fish.

Clearwater Lake is by far the best, though. It has a little bit of everything. There are two campgrounds and three sandy beaches that are packed with people on the 30+ C days. You can spend the day exploring it by boat or going on a hike through the lake-side caves. You never know when you might see a bear, moose, deer or other wildlife -- many just as curious about who you are as you are in them.

It is also home to cottages tucked in along the shore, some appearing to be there since the early days of settlement on the lake. Others, grand and impressive, make a statement that just because you live in the north doesn't mean you can't live in style. A drive through the cabins leaves you wondering if live really could be better anywhere else in the world.

A perfect day is heading out to the lake and spending the day swimming, playing volleyball and just enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. Everyone just relaxes and enjoys themselves, not really thinking about how good they really have it.

The lake is the cleanest and clearest lake I have ever visited, and it has left me somewhat spoiled knowing that I have this great gem in my backyard and others have to travel thousands of miles from all over Canada and the U.S. to experience the same thing.

I think I will continue to spend my summers in the north, enjoying the lakes, small populations and many hot days. I'll leave my traveling for the winter when it's -40 C and seems like winter is never going to come to an end.