We left Glacier National Park and headed for Canada. We had heard and read horror stories about the difficulty crossing the border, but did not find that to be the case. We pulled up to the border patrol agent pulling our 5th wheel, rolled down the window, and were asked several questions. After responding appropriately, we were sent right through. Several things you should know when crossing:
- DO NOT carry a firearm. There are gun shops in Montana that will rent you a locker to store your firearms while in Canada.
- No fruits or vegetables
- No cannabis
We had an RV reservation in Cochrane, AB Canada, west of Calgary. It was a good location for seeing the many sites around this area. It was a 1 ½ hour drive to Banff and a 2 hour drive to Lake Louise. We decided to be adventurous and make the trip to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway as a day trip. It was worth the drive, albeit 4 hours to Jasper and then 4 hours back in one day. It was a little long!
The Icefields Parkway was interesting. Seeing the jagged mountain peaks and huge glaciers along the drive was amazing. The glaciers are massive and only when you are sitting in front of them do you actually realize their size.
When we arrived in Jasper, we found a small quaint town filled with souvenir shops and restaurants. We took the short drive to the Fairmont Hotel and as with many other Canadian Fairmont Hotels we have visited, were delighted with its beauty. This particular hotel was like stepping back in time. There were lawn games and outdoor group seating under the trees overlooking the beautiful lake. There was a general feeling of slow paced living and elegance.
Banff
We traveled to Banff arriving mid-morning. Parking was plentiful, even for the large pickup trucks that we drive. The crowds can get large in downtown, so as always, the best advice is to arrive early and find a parking spot. We parked at the south end of town next to the Bow River, another beautiful river, turquoise in color, flowing through the town. We found Banff to be quite enjoyable with plenty of Souvenir shops, restaurants, or various galleries for Art and Photography.
A short drive up the mountain is a must to visit the Fairmont Hotel. It’s setting is spectacular and the hotel is quite grand.
A few places to visit for a view and photo opportunities:
Surprise Corner overlooks the Bow Falls and is a great vantage point for the Fairmont Hotel sitting above the town.
Vermillion Lakes, there are two, provide a great opportunity for taking pictures looking over the town of Banff and a great view of Mount Rundle, which can be seen from everywhere around Banff. The reflection off the lakes can be stunning, but when we visited the lakes were a bit rough from the wind and rain, so we didn’t get the reflection picture.
North of town, we took the Mount Norquay Road to a viewing point high above Banff and was able to experience views of where we had been earlier in Banff, Mount Rundle, and the Vermillion Lakes. Interestingly, everywhere there is a nice vantage point, they have strategically placed two red chairs. For me, it’s a reminder to stop, sit, and enjoy the view. They are also good to include in a photo for context and color.
We continued up Mount Norquay Road to Ski Norquay. The ski area was not that large but is very popular with locals because of the steepness of the runs. The other two ski areas are Sunshine, located between Banff and Lake Louise, and Lake Louise. We were told these two are more of the tourist ski areas. I guess we are spoiled by the Colorado ski resorts, but these ski slopes are not nearly as large. Someone in Texas told me the Banff area was the best skiing he had experienced, even above Switzerland (I don’t have a reference point for that!). He also told me he had never been so cold while skiing.
Calgary
On one of our last days in Canada, we took the short drive from Cochrane into Calgary. It is a large metropolitan city with everything you would expect from a city that size (including traffic). We visited Canada Olympic Park, the home of the 1988 Winter Olympics. The giant ski jumps are still standing and the bobsleigh track is still running. The top of the ski jump is actually the highest vantage point in all of Calgary. There is a terrifying zip line that runs from the top of the ski jump to the bottom. Try it if you are brave enough. I wasn’t! Our husbands had fun sitting in some of the bobsleds and imagining what could have been.
