According to a recent survey from Ebates.ca, a leader in online cash back shopping, almost three-quarters of Canadians will take a road-trip style vacation this year.

I am not totally surprised by the results as relatively cheap gas prices at the pumps and a weak Canadian dollar should, one would think, make a road trip this summer's go to vacation.

However there are other reasons according to Ebates; "the ability to see sights along the way, not just at your destination" (63 per cent); followed by the "freedom to take unexpected detours" (52 per cent); "more flexibility in your schedule overall" (50 per cent); a belief that it "can be less expensive" (49 per cent), and desire for a "sense of adventure" (41 per cent).

Even RV'ing is seeing a big swing in interest. Parks Canada experts have put together a list of some of the best RV destinations where visitors can escape from the city and connect with nature.

So if you are one of those people anxious to hit the road this summer, some of my favourite suggestion include:

Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail details travel hikes

Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail, which offers stunning scenery, wildlife viewing (whales and moose) and the opportunity to touch the distinct Acadian and Scottish cultures that colour the history of the province. It is an on-going debate whether to do the drive clockwise or counter-clockwise, I prefer clockwise. It builds your anticipation of the sites along the route in a more logical fashion. If you are a golfer, there is a lot of buzz about Cabot Links new sister course Cabot Cliffs, which is opening this year. The golf writers and rankers are saying it could be in the top three in the world and it's not even open!

Gaspesie National Park

Route 132 in Quebec’s Gaspe region offers a scenic shore-hugging drive through silver-steepled villages surrounded by mountains and serenaded by the sea. The route forms a loop of about 900 kilometres. As the seaway widens into the gulf, try some ferry-hopping to explore both coasts of the St Lawrence River.

Icefields Parkway

The drive from Banff to Jasper through two of Alberta’s national parks along the stunning Icefields Parkway might be the best drive in the country. It offers an incredible mix of Rocky Mountain scenery and wildlife. On a recent trip I saw big horned sheep, more elk than anyone could count and a grizzly bear. Avoid the overwhelming urge to get out of the car to take a photo. It’s a bad idea, these animals are wild. Favourite stops include the Peyto Lake overlook, lunch at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and an excursion up onto the Athabasca Glacier aboard a Brewster Ice Explorer.

If you are looking for some lesser known but still amazing choices:

Sea-to-Sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler

The world-renowned Sea-to-Sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler is a great start to a breathtaking British Columbia road trip. The trick is to keep going past Whistler on Highway 99 until you reach Ashcroft and then hook on to the TransCanada Highway back to Vancouver. This incredible loop will take you into cowboy country, past incredible river gorges and through the only desert in Canada. At the end of your trip take a short diversion to Harrison Hot Spring for a soak in one of many of the province’s natural hot springs

Often missed by travellers who exit and enter Nova Scotia via the TransCanada Highway, the Sunrise Trail is a secondary driving route that hugs the province’s northern coast. Stretching from the New Brunswick border through to Cape Breton, the picture perfect fishing villages, stunning vistas and number of attractions along the way.

Beach in Nova Scotia

Most coastal areas of Nova Scotia offer a refreshingly chilly swim at best, whereas the waters of the Northumberland Strait benefit from the flow of the Gulf Stream current. Locals proudly boast that these are “the warmest waters north of the Carolinas.” Numerous beaches offer public access; Heather Beach located near Port Howe is a good choice for its’ extensive sandy beach and facilities.

Located in Malagash, Jost Winery is one of the leaders in the burgeoning Nova Scotia wine industry. Stop by for a free tour and tasting. Sample the Ceilidh Marechal Foch for a taste of wine made with only Nova Scotia grapes. If suds are more your style, swing by the Tatamagouche Brewing Company for a swig of their organic beers.

National Historic Site in Red Bay

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Trans Labrador Highway is a relatively new 1,054 kilometre frontier highway that allows you to explore the wilderness, culture and adventurous nature of Labrador. Make sure to visit the 16th century Basque whaling station turned National Historic Site in Red Bay. This section of the highway also offers numerous whale and iceberg viewing spots and the chance to visit the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada.