'SaskHiker' gives tips for summer stay-cations

Jay Brown, a.k.a. "SaskHiker", says people don't realize the diversity of Saskatchewan's nature. In addition to the prairies it contains the Canadian Shield,badlands, and plenty of other terrain. To find it, Brown says you need to be willing to take a step off the main highways.

"You have all these different unique geological areas that are different in their own way and offer their own type of beauty," he said. They're just perfect for the weekend stay-cation or even a week or two-week road trip if you really want to explore the whole province."

• SaskHiker shares his top nature spots in Saskatchewan

Brown offered two quick suggestions for a quick weekend vacation.

Grasslands National Park

"It's like you're literally looking at an ocean of grass," Brown said about areas of Grasslands National Park. "It'll really kind of make you take a deep breath."

The park in southwest Saskatchewan is also a dark light preserve, so visitors are able to go at night and not be interrupted by any artificial lights.

Cypress Hills

Also in southwest Saskatchewan is Cypress Hills. Brown says the hills are a great recreation area. People can camp, hike, mountain bike and horseback ride to name a few activities.

Brown part of new TV series

Brown just finished four weeks of filming the new TV series, Canada's Greatest Explorer.

He competed against 11 other explorers from across Canada in a series of outdoor challenges.

He saidit was an amazing experience to see parts of Canada he's never seen before. Details of who was crowned Canada's Greatest Explorer still can't be released.