Fly With Me Friday: Canadian Rockies Edition
If you’re a travel bug like me, I’m sure you’re frustrated about cancelled travel plans because of quarantine, and just ready for your next adventure. While we may not know when we can next hop on a plane or jump in the car for a road trip, we can take advantage of the time we have now and plan for our next ventures. Do some research, reflect on past experiences, and stay hopeful for the future, all while staying safe and in the comfort of our own homes.
For this week’s travel post, I’ve compiled some of my favorite sights and insights of one of the world’s most beautiful places- Banff, and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, Canada.
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD:
We stayed at a cute little hotel in Canmore for our first 3 nights, about 20 minutes outside of Banff- it’s definitely cheaper to stay here while not too far from the sights! The hotel was called Canmore Inn and Suites, and was connected to another hotel with discounts for a full breakfast buffet (I’m talking freshly made pancakes drowned in the infamous warm Canadian maple syrup. Plus a huge selection of jams, bakery items, meat, eggs- you name it). Staying at the hotel gives you a discount: only $7 CAD per adult and $4 CAD for children, per day. It’s important to fuel up with a healthy breakfast so you’re nice and energized for the long walks and hikes throughout the day!
In Sunwapta Falls:
On night 4, we stayed at a lovely cabin in the Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge, which was conveniently located in Jasper, just about 30 minutes from the center and a great spot to stay after a long drive through Icefields Parkway. Right behind the lodge are the falls themselves, perfect for a nice stroll before it gets dark.
Must try: Beavertails!
This place is famous for its delicious pastries. I’m sure we can all agree Starbucks just can’t compete with a Canadian Tim Hortons, but trust me when I say a Beavertails pastry, which comes with a plethora of options for toppings, will be the best pick-me-up while you take a stroll on the homely streets of downtown Banff.
TOP SIGHTS:
We began our first day exploring Lake Minnewanka. with plenty of family-friendly hiking trails leading to some great views.
Icefields Parkway is a 230 km road that connects Lake Louise and Jasper. Ideally, you need a whole day to stop at all the major destinations, then stay the night as you approach Jasper at a location like Sunwapta Falls . Along the way, you’ll come across two of my favorites:
Bow Lake
Peyto Lake
Athabasca Glacier
Also along Icefields Parkway is Athabasca Glacier, where you can walk up to a certain part of the glacier and enjoy views from the visitor center. Alternatively, taking a guided tour will allow you to walk on ice that’s thousands of years old- letting you experience probably the closest thing to an ice age.
Keep an eye out for photo opportunities off the road, even where you may least expect it.
Lake Louise
Pictures really don’t do this place (or any of the other places, really) justice. Beat the crowds and arrive early in the morning- around 6am, to truly take advantage of the pure serenity that surrounds it.
Not far from Lake Louise is Moraine lake, which also has several easy and serene hikes nearby
We also spent one full day in Yoho National Park- just an hour out of Banff. The most famous destination there is Takakkaw Falls.
Takakkaw Falls
Nearby is Emerald Lake- a cheaper (but just as enticing) alternative to canoeing at Lake Louise.
Emerald Lake
Moraine Lake
Emerald Lake
If you’re wanting to get a glimpse of fall colors on the mountains, you’ll be able to spot some closer to Jasper and beyond Sunwapta Falls:
Sunwapta Falls
Wildlife
You’ll come across plenty of wildlife on your drives, and with a bit of luck and a lot of silence, a bear may also grant you an unexpected visit.
Here are some elk performing their daily rituals…
Biggest takeaways:
Canadians are like the nicest people ever. Never shy from asking for directions or questions about the park- everyone always seemed happy to help.
Don’t be afraid to explore the unknown, especially if you have some time to kill.
Take it in. Don’t spend too much time trying to capture every scene, as tempting as it may be, because no picture will really do justice to the beauty that you’re surrounded by. By feeling completely present and focusing all my attention through what all my senses were experiencing: from the sounds of the immense turquoise waters to the sight of exploding waterfalls, it really felt like a bonding experience with mother nature, and only grew my appreciation for God’s creations.
“As spiritual and deep as that may have just sounded—I promise, it’s real.”
Check out this mini itinerary that I created in my travel journal for more interesting spots to look into visiting and a general idea of their locations:
