#fairmont banff springs hotel - the real place

[sirensea14]

Day 28 escape

[baileylisa]

Places in Canada Which Every Canadian Should Visit

Canada is a land where there are many exciting places and great adventures. Problem one: choose a destination! Here are 10 places where every Canadian should visit, who wants to see the real north – strong and free.

List of Top 10 places in Canada

Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta

Located within the bounds of the majestic Banff National Park, the area surrounding these two cities is a real miracle in the Rocky Mountains. This is a place with azure ice lakes, waterfalls, a rich animal world (from elk to sheep and grizzly bears) and spectacular grandeur. Stay at Banff, in a busy regional center with classic hotels such as the Fairmont Banff Springs, or enjoy the seclusion of Lake Louise, where there are a breathtaking silence and a stone’s throw to the hiking trails to the mountains.

Kluane National Park, Yukon

This giant national park, where Canada’s highest point (Mount Logan, 19,551 feet) is located, is located in the western Yukon. On its territory of 22,000 square kilometers, there are blue glaciers, lush valleys and untouched spaces. This beauty can be seen from the height of a bird’s flight on board a helicopter or an airplane equipped with skis (which allow you to make high-altitude landings on the snow). Or, even better, go skiing, using an extensive park network of trails, where you could walk days without meeting a soul.

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

The park is located on the shores of western Newfoundland, and it is truly a unique place where astonishing geological diversity (coastal lowlands, peaks, steep cliffs, untouched lakes, waterfalls, and even a former fjord now cut off from the ocean can be seen all in just a couple of days. Gros Morne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as a geological miracle, an area where the drift of the continents is clearly visible.

Long Beach, Tofino, British Columbia

Called “the best surfing city in North America” ​​by Outside magazine, Tofino is a beautiful beach town on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island, ideal for surfing and evening walks for nature lovers. Located right in the south of the city, Long Beach is the most mysterious place; a wide and very long beach with beautiful waves and bewitching beauty.

Cavendish Beach, Prince Edward Island

There is hardly a more pleasant place to spend summer days than Cavendish. A beach with reddish sand lining the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean with its cool waters, and with dunes and green hills behind.

Of course, you want to stay on such a beautiful beach as long as possible, but the trip to these parts will not be complete without visiting some historical attractions nearby, including the Green Gables Heritage Place. the Lucy Maude Montgomery museum and the houses of the most famous fictional character on the island.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Recently, this place is a serious contender in the competition for the right to be called the new seventh miracle of nature. The tide in this big bay that separates New Brunswick from Novaya Scotia is a real sight. In some places, the water here rises and falls more than 50 feet. This is best seen in a place like Hopewell Rocks. These are unique stone formations, which at low tide form the towers on land, but turn into islands when the water rises.

Churchill, Manitoba

Located on the shores of the Hudson Strait, this subarctic city has earned worldwide fame as the capital of polar bears. There are so many bears here that there is even a “prison for polar bears” in the city, which restrains wayward animals from walking into the city until they are released into the natural habitat. Polar bears in the wild can be found on foot, as well as from the air or from the ship (local travel companies organize bold raids at the mouth of the Churchill River in Zodiacs), and this is an unforgettable experience.

The Muskoka Lakes, Ontario

In 2012, the Muskoka Lakes were named the best choice for a National Geographic tour, and for a long time among Toronto residents, it was a favorite place for a country holiday, so every weekend the townspeople came here. And if earlier the opportunity to spend here more than one day depended on whether you had a place near the lake (or access to the place), then recently appeared elite real estate – for example the charming JW Marriott on Lake Rosseau – opened the way for those who do not have here is a cottage. Shop and eat in the wonderful villages scattered throughout the region, and then stay for a long time at Joseph, Rosseau, Muskoka or another similar lake.

CN Tower, Toronto

Although the glitter of records that this tower once held, faded against the background of taller buildings in Asia, this Toronto landmark – in the past the tallest detached building on earth – goes to the sky at 1,815 feet and is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. And despite the fact that her popularity has already passed a little, the visit here is as charming as ever with Airport Limo Toronto. There are a transparent glass floor and additional entertainment such as EdgeWalk – the opportunity to walk over the chasm to the main viewing platform five feet wide, located on top of the tower at an altitude of 116 floors above the ground.

Quebec City10 places in Canada

As the oldest fortified city in North America, Quebec has both European charm and sophistication, as well as the character of French Canada. It is also a place where, as every good Canadian student historian knows, Wulf defeated Montcalm in the plains of Abraham, saving Canada from the British Empire. This city is the birthplace of the magnificent Chateau Frontenac, the dishes of Putin, the clattering horse carriages on the wide streets, the New France Festival (held in August) and, of course, the world-famous winter carnival, which always has something to do, see and try in the capital La Belle Province.

The post Places in Canada Which Every Canadian Should Visit appeared first on Airport Limo Toronto.

from Airport Limo Toronto https://www.airportlimotoronto.com/airport-limo-toronto/

from Airport Limo Toronto https://airportlimotoronto3.wordpress.com/2018/10/01/places-in-canada-which-every-canadian-should-visit/

[sierramolly]

Places in Canada Which Every Canadian Should Visit

Canada is a land where there are many exciting places and great adventures. Problem one: choose a destination! Here are 10 places where every Canadian should visit, who wants to see the real north – strong and free.

List of Top 10 places in Canada

Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta

Located within the bounds of the majestic Banff National Park, the area surrounding these two cities is a real miracle in the Rocky Mountains. This is a place with azure ice lakes, waterfalls, a rich animal world (from elk to sheep and grizzly bears) and spectacular grandeur. Stay at Banff, in a busy regional center with classic hotels such as the Fairmont Banff Springs, or enjoy the seclusion of Lake Louise, where there are a breathtaking silence and a stone’s throw to the hiking trails to the mountains.

Kluane National Park, Yukon

This giant national park, where Canada’s highest point (Mount Logan, 19,551 feet) is located, is located in the western Yukon. On its territory of 22,000 square kilometers, there are blue glaciers, lush valleys and untouched spaces. This beauty can be seen from the height of a bird’s flight on board a helicopter or an airplane equipped with skis (which allow you to make high-altitude landings on the snow). Or, even better, go skiing, using an extensive park network of trails, where you could walk days without meeting a soul.

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

The park is located on the shores of western Newfoundland, and it is truly a unique place where astonishing geological diversity (coastal lowlands, peaks, steep cliffs, untouched lakes, waterfalls, and even a former fjord now cut off from the ocean can be seen all in just a couple of days. Gros Morne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as a geological miracle, an area where the drift of the continents is clearly visible.

Long Beach, Tofino, British Columbia

Called “the best surfing city in North America” ​​by Outside magazine, Tofino is a beautiful beach town on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island, ideal for surfing and evening walks for nature lovers. Located right in the south of the city, Long Beach is the most mysterious place; a wide and very long beach with beautiful waves and bewitching beauty.

Cavendish Beach, Prince Edward Island

There is hardly a more pleasant place to spend summer days than Cavendish. A beach with reddish sand lining the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean with its cool waters, and with dunes and green hills behind.

Of course, you want to stay on such a beautiful beach as long as possible, but the trip to these parts will not be complete without visiting some historical attractions nearby, including the Green Gables Heritage Place. the Lucy Maude Montgomery museum and the houses of the most famous fictional character on the island.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Recently, this place is a serious contender in the competition for the right to be called the new seventh miracle of nature. The tide in this big bay that separates New Brunswick from Novaya Scotia is a real sight. In some places, the water here rises and falls more than 50 feet. This is best seen in a place like Hopewell Rocks. These are unique stone formations, which at low tide form the towers on land, but turn into islands when the water rises.

Churchill, Manitoba

Located on the shores of the Hudson Strait, this subarctic city has earned worldwide fame as the capital of polar bears. There are so many bears here that there is even a “prison for polar bears” in the city, which restrains wayward animals from walking into the city until they are released into the natural habitat. Polar bears in the wild can be found on foot, as well as from the air or from the ship (local travel companies organize bold raids at the mouth of the Churchill River in Zodiacs), and this is an unforgettable experience.

The Muskoka Lakes, Ontario

In 2012, the Muskoka Lakes were named the best choice for a National Geographic tour, and for a long time among Toronto residents, it was a favorite place for a country holiday, so every weekend the townspeople came here. And if earlier the opportunity to spend here more than one day depended on whether you had a place near the lake (or access to the place), then recently appeared elite real estate – for example the charming JW Marriott on Lake Rosseau – opened the way for those who do not have here is a cottage. Shop and eat in the wonderful villages scattered throughout the region, and then stay for a long time at Joseph, Rosseau, Muskoka or another similar lake.

CN Tower, Toronto

Although the glitter of records that this tower once held, faded against the background of taller buildings in Asia, this Toronto landmark – in the past the tallest detached building on earth – goes to the sky at 1,815 feet and is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. And despite the fact that her popularity has already passed a little, the visit here is as charming as ever with Airport Limo Toronto. There are a transparent glass floor and additional entertainment such as EdgeWalk – the opportunity to walk over the chasm to the main viewing platform five feet wide, located on top of the tower at an altitude of 116 floors above the ground.

Quebec City10 places in Canada

As the oldest fortified city in North America, Quebec has both European charm and sophistication, as well as the character of French Canada. It is also a place where, as every good Canadian student historian knows, Wulf defeated Montcalm in the plains of Abraham, saving Canada from the British Empire. This city is the birthplace of the magnificent Chateau Frontenac, the dishes of Putin, the clattering horse carriages on the wide streets, the New France Festival (held in August) and, of course, the world-famous winter carnival, which always has something to do, see and try in the capital La Belle Province.

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from https://www.airportlimotoronto.com/airport-limo-toronto/

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[arieljenna3]

Places in Canada Which Every Canadian Should Visit

Canada is a land where there are many exciting places and great adventures. Problem one: choose a destination! Here are 10 places where every Canadian should visit, who wants to see the real north – strong and free.

List of Top 10 places in Canada

Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta

Located within the bounds of the majestic Banff National Park, the area surrounding these two cities is a real miracle in the Rocky Mountains. This is a place with azure ice lakes, waterfalls, a rich animal world (from elk to sheep and grizzly bears) and spectacular grandeur. Stay at Banff, in a busy regional center with classic hotels such as the Fairmont Banff Springs, or enjoy the seclusion of Lake Louise, where there are a breathtaking silence and a stone’s throw to the hiking trails to the mountains.

Kluane National Park, Yukon

This giant national park, where Canada’s highest point (Mount Logan, 19,551 feet) is located, is located in the western Yukon. On its territory of 22,000 square kilometers, there are blue glaciers, lush valleys and untouched spaces. This beauty can be seen from the height of a bird’s flight on board a helicopter or an airplane equipped with skis (which allow you to make high-altitude landings on the snow). Or, even better, go skiing, using an extensive park network of trails, where you could walk days without meeting a soul.

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

The park is located on the shores of western Newfoundland, and it is truly a unique place where astonishing geological diversity (coastal lowlands, peaks, steep cliffs, untouched lakes, waterfalls, and even a former fjord now cut off from the ocean can be seen all in just a couple of days. Gros Morne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as a geological miracle, an area where the drift of the continents is clearly visible.

Long Beach, Tofino, British Columbia

Called “the best surfing city in North America” ​​by Outside magazine, Tofino is a beautiful beach town on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island, ideal for surfing and evening walks for nature lovers. Located right in the south of the city, Long Beach is the most mysterious place; a wide and very long beach with beautiful waves and bewitching beauty.

Cavendish Beach, Prince Edward Island

There is hardly a more pleasant place to spend summer days than Cavendish. A beach with reddish sand lining the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean with its cool waters, and with dunes and green hills behind.

Of course, you want to stay on such a beautiful beach as long as possible, but the trip to these parts will not be complete without visiting some historical attractions nearby, including the Green Gables Heritage Place. the Lucy Maude Montgomery museum and the houses of the most famous fictional character on the island.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Recently, this place is a serious contender in the competition for the right to be called the new seventh miracle of nature. The tide in this big bay that separates New Brunswick from Novaya Scotia is a real sight. In some places, the water here rises and falls more than 50 feet. This is best seen in a place like Hopewell Rocks. These are unique stone formations, which at low tide form the towers on land, but turn into islands when the water rises.

Churchill, Manitoba

Located on the shores of the Hudson Strait, this subarctic city has earned worldwide fame as the capital of polar bears. There are so many bears here that there is even a “prison for polar bears” in the city, which restrains wayward animals from walking into the city until they are released into the natural habitat. Polar bears in the wild can be found on foot, as well as from the air or from the ship (local travel companies organize bold raids at the mouth of the Churchill River in Zodiacs), and this is an unforgettable experience.

The Muskoka Lakes, Ontario

In 2012, the Muskoka Lakes were named the best choice for a National Geographic tour, and for a long time among Toronto residents, it was a favorite place for a country holiday, so every weekend the townspeople came here. And if earlier the opportunity to spend here more than one day depended on whether you had a place near the lake (or access to the place), then recently appeared elite real estate – for example the charming JW Marriott on Lake Rosseau – opened the way for those who do not have here is a cottage. Shop and eat in the wonderful villages scattered throughout the region, and then stay for a long time at Joseph, Rosseau, Muskoka or another similar lake.

CN Tower, Toronto

Although the glitter of records that this tower once held, faded against the background of taller buildings in Asia, this Toronto landmark – in the past the tallest detached building on earth – goes to the sky at 1,815 feet and is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. And despite the fact that her popularity has already passed a little, the visit here is as charming as ever with Airport Limo Toronto. There are a transparent glass floor and additional entertainment such as EdgeWalk – the opportunity to walk over the chasm to the main viewing platform five feet wide, located on top of the tower at an altitude of 116 floors above the ground.

Quebec City10 places in Canada

As the oldest fortified city in North America, Quebec has both European charm and sophistication, as well as the character of French Canada. It is also a place where, as every good Canadian student historian knows, Wulf defeated Montcalm in the plains of Abraham, saving Canada from the British Empire. This city is the birthplace of the magnificent Chateau Frontenac, the dishes of Putin, the clattering horse carriages on the wide streets, the New France Festival (held in August) and, of course, the world-famous winter carnival, which always has something to do, see and try in the capital La Belle Province.

The post Places in Canada Which Every Canadian Should Visit appeared first on Airport Limo Toronto.

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[sentrava]

Real-Life Narnia: A Guide to Jasper, Lake Louise & Banff in Winter

While I had toured British Columbia and Alberta in the height of summer a decade ago, there’s no comparison to what it feels like when you first step foot on Lake Louise or cruise into Banff in winter, the surrounding peaks blanketed with a fresh covering of snow. It might as well be a different country entirely.

Our Canadian trip went a little something like this: one night in Vancouver, one night on the train, two nights in Jasper, one night in Lake Louise and two nights in Banff.

Since Canada by Design fully customizes each experience for your own travel style, you could easily extend this trip to take 10 days to two weeks if you had the time to spare. Many travelers like to tack on 48 hours in Vancouver or Calgary on either or both sides.

I should also note that we purposely planned our trip to be a bit more lax, since we were traveling with our moms. So if you’re the kind of energetic traveler who needs three activities a day on her docket, that’s no problem—we just barely scratched the surface of what there is to do in Canada in winter, and there were plenty of other activities like snowshoeing, ice-climbing or dog-sledding we could have used to fill our days.

And if you’re the type of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, go-with-the-flow jetsetter, you might like to follow our schedule, which was based on Canada by Design’s Snow Train to the Rockies tour and the perfect mix of planned and unplanned fun for a foursome with very different travel styles. Here’s a bit of a better idea of what each stop actually entailed.

VANCOUVER

What to Do in Vancouver

I’d been to Vancouver before, so didn’t feel the need to cram everything in on this visit; activities like Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain had already been checked off of my list. But what I did really want to do was mosey on over to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, so Canada by Design made sure we had vouchers, and we took a free shuttle to the other side of the river in North Vancouver.

This suspension bridge was amazing—the first iteration was built in the 1800s, and it’s been rebuilt and improved over time. The bridge has been under the current ownership since 1983 (the year I was born!) and a destination for 20 years. There’s also a little canopy park on the other side of the bridge, as well as a store and cafe for those who don’t want to cross (like my acrophobic mother!).

We also went to Granville Island, ate lunch at Edible, popped into the brewery for a flight and did a little shopping before arriving at Pacific Central Station in time for our 8:30pm departure on VIA Rail.

Where to Stay in Vancouver

We found a nice hotel, the Georgian Court Hotel, that was near the train station, clean and nice inside, and (most importantly) very friendly, so we were happy with our stay there. We tacked this on in addition to the Snow Train to the Rockies itinerary, and an important think to note is that your Canada by Design designer can incorporate basically any ask you have, as well. You basically set your budget, and they’ll give you options for hotels within your price point.

JASPER

What to Do in Jasper

The largest national park in the Canadian Rockies is a true stunner, rife in outdoor opportunities and wildlife. We hadn’t gone more than two minutes down the road from our hotel before we spotted a herd of elk, numbering at least 50! It was a sight to see, particularly when we spied a baby nursing. Awww!

Within Jasper National Park, there’s plenty to do by way of the outdoors (don’t believe me? check out these winter adventures). We spent an afternoon doing an ice hike into Maligne Canyon, which was epic, but I was under the weather so after the hour hike out to the actual ice canyon, I wasn’t feeling my best, so I listened to my body and stayed put while the rest of the group ventured into the frozen tundra wonderland.

If we were to go back to Jasper with a car, I wouldn’t hesitate in going out to Maligne Lake. You need a clear day and a good weather forecast, but many locals told us it is, bar none, one of the most scenic spots in the Canadian Rockies.

Where to Stay in Jasper

Just like the national park is the reason to visit Jasper, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is the place to stay in town. I’ve yet to meet a Fairmont I didn’t love, and the Jasper property was no exception. It’s surrounded by towering peaks, and the bi-level houses, cabins and rooms (numbering a whopping 440!) are situated around an expansive, 700-acre property. We got upgraded to a Junior Suite Lakeview with our very own fireplace, though the cabins sounded very charming, as well.

LAKE LOUISE

What to Do in Lake Louise

As you might expect, the lake is the central attraction in this small town, though there’s some good skiing just beyond town. It was so crazy walking out onto a frozen lake of this size; there’s also ice skating, and there were plenty of youth playing pick-up games of ice hockey. I was recovering from a nasty stomach flu, so we spent a good amount of time sipping hot toddies inside the Fairmont, which is open to the public, before taking a horse-drawn carriage ride around the lake.

Where to Stay in Lake Louise

If you’re trying to save money, there are options like the Deer Lodge, where we stayed, that are more no-frills but just a five-minute walk from the lake (this mid-range hotel has an epic hot tub that was unfortunately closed while we were visiting). If you’re going all out baller status, the famed Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the place for you (I stayed here on my first trip to the area).

BANFF

What to Do in Banff

Banff may very well be my favorite ski town I’ve ever visited, despite the fact that I’ve yet to ski its slopes. There’s an outdoor hot springs perched above the town that’s accessible by the public transportation (pro tip: your hotel key will likely get you free bus fare!). There’s plenty of shopping along Banff Avenue. There’s a decent dining scene, though be sure you make dinner reservations in advance or risk waiting up to two hours for a table.

There’s a distillery with great gin and a filling brunch. There’s Vermilion Lakes, which you need to take a cab out to in order to see some epic sunsets.

And there’s even a retro-themed bowling alley with 48 beers on tap and a sinful selection of pizzas. This is how we ended our last night in Banff, which was also a fitting (and fun!) conclusion to our week-long mother-daughter trip.

Where to Stay in Banff

There are so many cute, lodge-themed inns lining the main boulevard. We stayed at Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa (would you check out that hot tub pool?!), but I have a feeling they’re all quite similar, so pick a budget you’re comfortable spending on lodging and let your trip designer know, so he/she can recommend the perfect place just for you. I can’t tell you how handy it was to have a voucher for every coach, train ride, hotel stay and activity, and not have to plan any of it ourselves!

  If you’re feeling spendy, you can’t go wrong with the Fairmont Banff Springs or the Rimrock Hotel, with the best views in town.

What did I miss? Anything you’d like to know about visiting Jasper, Lake Louise or Banff in winter?

This post is sponsored by Canada by Design. All opinions are our own.

  PIN IT HERE

Real-Life Narnia: A Guide to Jasper, Lake Louise & Banff in Winter published first on https://medium.com/@OCEANDREAMCHARTERS

[missylou22]

Bear with me 😉 it’s going to be a while. But its pretty aMooseing, SEE WHAT I DID THERE?!

While I’m sure most of you dream of your tropical vacations, believe me, I do too… But this year I decided it was time to venture further North. To America’s tophat.

To be honest, My Canadian up there had been whining at me to visit for almost 3 years so it was only fair I let her plan the whole trip and just hand over my credit card. So she planned more than I ever expected, and we found two more blondes to round out the group for the week. I jokingly requested an itinerary, but really didn’t care. I was pretty much flying up there and not making any decisions- just put me in the car and let me be amazed!

I had NO idea what I was in for… sure I knew I was going to the Rocky Mountains…. our hashtags for the trip were #rockyroadgirls2017 and #fourgirlsoneporsche2017 🙂 and I knew we’d be hiking so I made sure to buy some practical cold weather boots… the day before I left… whoops!

I flew WestJet from Charlotte, through Toronto and on to Edmonton. I’ve never actually flown into Canada before. We visited Niagra Falls when I was little, but I don’t remember too much about it, other than purchasing an awesome tiny red backpack with a polar bear holding a Canadian Flag… I wanted to try to find it the last time I was home, but other things were more important.

So I jetted off to Canada and arrived in Edmonton around 10pm Mountain time… meaning midnight EST and Tanya introduced me to her cat Cooper, gave me the quick run-down and put me to bed. The next morning I finally met her husband (after 3 years) and we all drove to the largest Mall in North America, West Edmonton Mall!

Seriously, this place is a one stop shop… you could live here and be perfectly happy! Hotel, Amusement Park, Indoor waterpark, mini golf, pirate ship, sea lion show… For reals. yes, we rode the rollercoaster 🙂

I made sure to outfit myself in some authentic Canadian gear, no, not the cowboy hat… but with some Roots Sweats! And I wore them every night. We wandered around a bit more before deciding another stop in Edmonton was the Fort Edmonton Park – we rode a train!

With our tummys grumbling it was time for a favorite food spot (because of the menu descriptions – “Russian dolls are so full of themselves”) and Canadian delicacies – Caesars and POUTINE! Lucky for us, it was also right downtown, so the perfect snack before an extra bonus concert; Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey!

Mariah was pretty terrible… Lionel was AMAZING.

Another late night, and we crawled into our beds before the real adventure started.

Saturday we picked up another Rocky Road girl and the 3 of us threw our stuff into the Porsche for a 3.5 hour drive to Jasper, AB. While there wasn’t a set itinerary, we did have hotels already in place for each stop along the ride  – so we enjoyed a fattening breakfast with REAL Canadian Bacon (its better), and stopped for whatever sign we thought could be fun along the way. That meant, the Beaver Boardwalk for Adventure #1.

We giggled the whole way around the boardwalk, and came to the conclusion that we should probably stock up on the essential alcohol before getting into Jasper where prices would most definitely be inflated. Getting into Jasper we stopped along the way for all the photo opportunities.

I’ll be honest with you, this “hotel” was my absolute favorite acommodation this whole trip. We got a whole cabin to ourselves!!!

Adorable 🙂

We basically dropped our stuff and went off to continue the Jasper Adventure! Up to the Sky Tram! Yes, a giant enclosed ski lift to the top of Whistlers Mountain, well…. almost the top, I was coherced to hike up as far as we could. What a trek that was, I have not trained enough for this kind of physical exertion!

We got our first real glimpse of Canadian wildlife – a mama black bear and her 2 cubs which definitely earned us our Beers and Canadian beef.

Because we started drinking at dinner, we just continued a little to heavily throughout the evening. It was probably not the brightest idea as we had to be up early for a quick drive up to a GLACIER the next morning!!

I got to also finally experience another Canadian tradition…. Tim Horton’s! Breakfast & coffee, with a minor Gatorade mishap and we were off to experience a real life Glacier at Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure! Yes, it was cold. No, I did not care. Due to the wildfires happening up north, the views had been a little hazy but lucky for us it had rained the night before and we had the clearest day in weeks! I even tried the glacier water, but weirdly enough it tasted smoky!

But the Adventure doesn’t end there!! The other half took us to a skywalk off the side of one of the cliffs! I still can’t seem to find a fear of heights, so I sauntered right out onto the clear glass.

Super fun experience, we helped K out onto the walk (serious fear of heights) and all got our fabulous photos. By now I’m sure you’re following that we’re not a 1 or 2 Adventures a day type of crowd, so our drive back to Jasper took us to Athabasca Falls (in the only rain that came down during the day) .

Since we skipped lunchtime (again), we took a little jaunt through downtown Jasper for Greek & Pizza (the restaurant was a hodgepodge of everything). Once we were re-nourished we hiked around Pyramid Lake, visited the Jasper Park Lodge, and saw a few of the bridges on our 3rd hike of the day at Maligne Canyon (Jasper National Park).

A more leisurely morning followed with cold pizza for breakfast and took us back through the glaicers (for a pee break) and a few roadside photo opps before we hit Banff and picked up another Blonde!!

Banff!

And there we were… #fourgirlsoneporsche2017 ! Finally! Although I was the only Brunette, and American, I held my own 🙂 More hiking around Bow Falls and up about a million stairs to Waldhaus for, well, we weren’t really sure what – but you can’t ever go wrong with a Pub!

All this hiking, I again earned my beers. We joked to Jojo about not wanting whipped cream on her coffee and they brought us a side cup of whip. They’re pretty serious about their whipped cream! We wouldn’t let it go after that, and yes, we all shared the whip. I also had a giant skillet of poutine which really needed to be shared.

Could we stop there with my blisters screaming at me through my converse? noooooo, we shopped around downtown Banff, I got my fix of Canadian lawn mowers (spoiler alert, its Elk) had to go see the Fairmont Banff Springs who apparently houses these mystical mineral pools that we would most definitely come back to when the pricing was only $35 instead of $70 🙂 It was gorgeously refreshing.

We had to drop K off at the airport in Calgary  the next day (work always gets in the way) which left T, Jo and I to continue on to Drumheller! or…. DINOLAND!!

I was so excited to be here!! ALL THE DINOSAUR THINGS! The Largest dinosaur in North America and yes, our third stop (after the sign & t-rex) was the Royal Tyrrell Museum to get our learn on 🙂

Crazy thing about that photo of the T-rex hip… it’s TOO HEAVY TO ACTUALLY USE IN THE SKELETON. The one they actually use is a cast! I will never again make excuses for my hips. I’M A FREAKING T-REX. 🙂

Wouldn’t you know it, THIS PLACE has a hike attached to it too!! By this point I had stolen K’s flip flops before she hopped on her plane home. My feet thank her.

The hike was short, not too much to see – just incredible to think dinosaurs actually roamed around here millions of years ago! On our way back to the hotel we stopped at the neighborhood saloon. It was sufficently awkward. We needed slurpees after to feel normal again. And I made T and Jo stop and take photos of me with Batman Dinosaur.

I was also introduced to a new super entree (and they say American’s have terrible obesity feeding foods)… my dinner was a cheeseburger wrapped in a pepperoni PIZZA.

That ensured an early bedtime for us all, after testing out the waterslide and hot tub at our hotel.

Our last full day was a day of randoms. We drove by a sign for a suspension bridge, so we walked across it.

Adventure two was the Hoodoos, where we hiked more (surprise) and I learned what an Inukshuk is! So we left our own.

And then we got our heart rate up by hiking down into Horseshoe Canyon. I did have to flip off the shoes at one point, I was slipping straight out of them anyway so it was just easier to walk in the dirt barefoot. We searched for fossils down there too but came away empty handed.

I lost track of the days during this Vacation, which is hard for me to do. A full reset for my brain. I didn’t even check my email!! Our day wrapped up with the search for flip flops to wear home and pedicures to round it out before we said farewell to Jojo. My blister is happy for backless shoes. Although I did pop it before I got on the plane. It squirted across the bathtub. Grossly satisfying.

My flight back from Calgary to Toronto to Charlotte left before lunch and I was able to pack my Canadian purchases into my suitcase and still come in underweight! T drove the 3ish hours back home to Edmonton and I was happily eating dinner on my couch by 11pm. I had Friday to answer all those emails before I jump another plane to Jamaica.

The Journey never ends!

  Canada, eh? Bear with me 😉 it's going to be a while. But its pretty aMooseing, SEE WHAT I DID THERE?!