Icefields Parkway
Wow, simply wow did Alberta, Canada blow me away this January!
As an American, I’ll be the primary to confess that I’m completely a type of individuals who by no means appreciated my very own yard till I left. Once I was I child I dreamed of Peruvian jungles and sipping espresso by the Eiffel Tower. North America was solely on my radar as a spot to depart.
Actually I’ve by no means actually been anyplace in North America. Time for that to alter.
Now that I’ve been abroad for many of my maturity, I’ve come to actually recognize every part there’s to be discovered proper again the place I’m from. And solely after I moved to New Zealand just a few years in the past and my love for nature was rekindled did I begin to look to my longtime neighbor to the good white north – Canada.
Bow Valley Parkway
So a lot of my buddies in New Zealand have traveled to Canada and shared their superb tales with me. It was simple to get impressed. And after I spent the winter hanging out with my Canadian buddies Hecktic Travels in Wanaka, did I actually begin to think about visiting Alberta and eventually attending to relaxation my eyes on the Rocky Mountains.
Spoiler alert – it blew all my expectations out of the water!
Whereas I can’t wait to dive in and begin sharing all of the superb tales and memorable moments from my 10 days highway tripping round Alberta, I believed I’d begin off with a little bit inspirational characteristic about my favourite 20 photographs from the journey that satisfied me that I beloved this mighty epic space of Canada!
Get pleasure from!
P.S. in the event you’re inquisitive about my digicam gear that I used on this journey, make sure to try my submit about it right here.
Johnston Canyon
The tasty Calgary meals scene
As a normal rule, I’ve discovered that the colder the nation the much less thrilling the meals scene typically is. Is it simply me?
Anyhow, I used to be shocked and elated to find that Calgary has an superior rising foodie scene. What an introduction!
And never simply Calgary, I ate rather well my total time in Alberta. However what was most standout for me was my very first day in Alberta I spent the entire morning hanging out at the Simmons Building, consuming my manner via the perfect of the perfect. Don’t fear, I’ve a lot extra to share about this quickly, however my brunch at Charbar was one in all my favourite meals in a very long time.
The mindblowingly superior highway journeys
In hindsight, whereas I used to be in Alberta for 10 days, I didn’t cowl very a lot floor, which was completely fantastic by me. I prefer to take issues gradual and actually get to know the locations I go to, what about you?
I had a very nice SUV rental (4 wheel drive) which is crucial on a winter highway journey in Alberta. All of the roads are coated in ice and snow and it was nice not having to fret about chains or not having the ability to go the place I needed to go.
My favourite drive was on the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise. Critically, don’t miss this one, it’s epic! And there’s normally wildlife about too!
Bow Valley Parkway
Icefields Parkway
Street 724 out of Canmore
The frozen lakes that made me a bit nervous
It’s been a very long time since I’ve skilled a “actual” winter and one in all my favourite surprises was seeing all the frozen lakes. How magical!
At first I used to be a bit skeptical to stroll out on them however contemplating the highs after I was in Alberta hovered round a balmy -15 celsius and the lakes had been coated in footprints, snowshoe prints, and ski tracks, I believed my probabilities of staying above water had been pretty good.
It had been a very long time (since I went to school in New England) since I performed round in a lot snow and was in such a winter wonderland of frozen lakes. Man, it was lovely!
Lake Minnewanka
The fairy story frozen waterfalls
Once more, I don’t assume I had ever actually seen that many frozen waterfalls earlier than I went to Alberta, and undoubtedly none as lovely because the stroll alongside Johnston Canyon close to Banff.
I awakened vibrant and early tremendous excited to lastly see Johnston Canyon. It was the coldest day I’ve skilled in my complete life round -27 celsius, but it surely was so nonetheless and pure I beloved each minute of it.
Even when my hair froze.
I joined the primary tour of the day with Discover Banff Tours out to the canyon, and the snow was nonetheless glowing and was so dry it squeaked below my toes. I couldn’t consider it. It was undoubtedly essentially the most fairytale second of my journey!
Johnston Canyon
Mush mush dogsledding time!
I used to be so excited to strive dogsledding in Canada. I had been as soon as earlier than in Wanaka, however I used to be dying to strive it out in a spot the place it was actually famend.
After leaving Calgary, I drove straight to Canmore and hopped on a dogsled journey for the afternoon with Snowy Owl Tours.
And it was every kind of magical, guys. Between zooming via the frosted timber and getting my first actual glimpse of the Rocky Mountains to taking part in round with the pups, I used to be in heaven. HEAVEN!!
This was the Alberta I had been dreaming about!
Fairly just a few of you guys have been asking me about my purple jacket – I wore the Musher jacket by Parajumpers (which is on sale now btw) throughout my journey to Canada and holy crap did it preserve me alive. You want a very strong jacket to go to Canada in January, and this one was superb. I’ll be writing extra about them quickly as I’m collaborating with PJ this yr on some enjoyable frosty tasks.
Engaged on my snowboarding at Sunshine and Lake Louise
Okay, I’m not going to lie. One of many predominant causes I needed to go to Canada was to have my first actual snow journey. As a result of I simply correctly discovered to snowboard in New Zealand this previous winter, (I’m utilizing the phrase “correct” veeeerrrry loosely right here guys haha) I used to be dying to hit the slopes at a number of the huge resorts in North America, and the Big 3 around Banff was on the high of my listing.
I caught the gondola as much as Sunshine Village at sundown after arriving in Banff and was blown away by the sheer dimension! I stayed on the resort for the night time and woke as much as a layer of contemporary snow earlier than hitting the slopes. I beloved the mellow extensive runs and attending to glide via the timber for the primary time. It was superb!
After that I spent two days at Lake Louise getting higher and having fun with the superb views (and meals)!
Principally I made a decision I want to maneuver to Banff to do a correct snow season, what do you guys assume?
Admiring the starry skies
Identical to New Zealand, Alberta has some lovely darkish skies. In addition to the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights, visiting in winter means you could have for much longer nights and also you don’t have to remain up fairly so late to stargaze, which clearly I’m a giant fan of.
My favourite reminiscence of watching the celebrities was simply exterior Canmore. I drove up there at night time and had the place to myself, watching the celebrities twinkle over the warmly lit city surrounded by the Rockies.
It was a lovely second I gained’t be forgetting anytime quickly.
Hanging out within the cozy cabins
I used to be so excited to remain on the Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff as a result of it seemed like simply what I imagined – rustic, cozy picket cabins full with clawfoot tubs and your personal hearth.
I by no means needed to depart this place it was heaven!
It was tucked away simply exterior city with essentially the most lovely views of the mountains, and it was snowing after I arrived. Critically couldn’t have been extra idyllic!
Pretending to be good at snowshoeing
Generally I actually must surprise what it have to be prefer to be naturally athletic. Critically, what’s it like??
As a lot as I wrestle with all types of sports activities and outside actions, I nonetheless love them and throw myself into them wholeheartedly. And within the case of snowshoeing, throwing myself via the snow, normally on my face. Strolling is tough guys.
I LOVED snowshoeing! Whereas in Canmore I flew up by helicopter to the close by Kananaskis Country (the place they filmed elements of the Revenant btw) with White Mountain Adventures for some heli-snowshoeing. Sure, it was tremendous epic. The proper different for winter backcountry adventures for individuals who aren’t critical skiers, it was essentially the most excellent option to expertise the pure wilderness of the Rockies.
Pigging out on poutine
Sufficient stated.
*Right here’s an incredible article about how superior Poutine is.
I chowed down on some superb poutine on the Eddie Burger Bar in Banff, together with an important burger. Oink oink!
Strolling across the frosted forests
If I needed to selected one factor that I completely beloved above all else in Alberta, weirdly sufficient it could most likely be the forests.
One factor we don’t have sufficient of in Wanaka is outdated forest, and I actually actually miss attending to discover the woods in my free time.
And Alberta has no scarcity of large outdated forests simply ready to be explored. And the perfect a part of entering into winter in addition to seeing the timber heaving with snow? All of the grizzlies are sleeping.
Someplace on the Bow Valley Parkway
On the shores of Lake Louise
Studying in regards to the scorching swimming pools and the historical past of Banff (as a result of I’m a historical past nerd guys)
One of many first spots I checked out in Banff city was the Cave and Basin, a historic web site with thermal scorching springs.
Within the mid-1800s the springs and cave had been “found” by explorers and railway staff and it was changed into a reserve which finally turned the birthplace of Canada’s nationwide parks in 1885.
You’ll be able to’t swim in them as we speak however you possibly can dethaw and heat up on the close by Banff Upper Hot Springs.
Lastly getting to go to Lake Louise
I do know Lake Louise is iconic however I can’t assist it, it was a spot I used to be dreaming of visiting on this journey. And I used to be tremendous excited to see it in winter, as an alternative of from the inventory commonplace Instagram photograph of it from the blue lake from a canoe.
There wasn’t a touch of blue after I was there, it was coated with a layer of ice and snow and the timber had been frosted within the distance.
I had an important view of the lake and glacier from my room on the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and was up each morning earlier than dawn to inch my manner alongside the lake admiring the superb surroundings.
Alberta, you rock.
Have you ever guys been to Alberta? Do you take pleasure in touring in winter? Any spots right here you dream of visiting too? Share!
Disclaimers: Many because of Travel Alberta for internet hosting me in Canada. Aaaand a number of the hyperlinks on this submit are affiliate hyperlinks (I gotta pay the payments). However like at all times I’m holding it actual – all opinions are my very own, like you would anticipate much less from me.