No Cars Go

The band Arcade Fire's "No Cars Go" teases that they know a place where no cars go -- a place where almost nothing goes. I instantly conjure up an image of a place untouched, unaltered by humans and all the mess we tend to bring. A place as close to its natural state as possible.

These places are nearly impossible to find anymore. Some say the only true wild places are under the sea or out in space. But there are a few locations that cling to their remoteness as their selling point for people who crave that sense of exploration.

And nothing says remote like a float plane! I came across King Pacific Lodge more than ten years ago and bookmarked it in my head as a must-see if for no other reason than it's only accessible by float plane. It has since been bought by a resort chain (it's nearly as impossible for hotels to remain independent as it is for any business these days.) But I still think it's worth a visit.

Located on the shores of Princess Royal Island in northern British Columbia, the lodge's biggest draw is fishing. I would opt for paddling around in a kayak or hiking through the woods of the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact temperate rainforest left on Earth. With the elusive white Spirit Bear, rainforest wolves, bald eagles and virgin wilderness as far as the eye can see, I think it's as close to "No Cars Go" as you maybe can get.

Plus...did I mention the float plane??!