Whether you drive or fly into Alberta, Canada, there are several places to see that you will not want to miss! We flew from Seattle to Calgary, Alberta, Canada and rented a car to visit Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Banff. There are so many activities here to do that also include hiking, biking, horseback rides, and canoeing. So many emerald green lakes that you will not be able to take your eyes off of the stunning color of the lakes and the beauty of the snow capped mountains and jagged peaks. We stayed at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise with its gorgeous view rooms and beautiful lobby. This is an amazing property with hikes around the lake as well as canoe rentals.
We traveled just a short distance away to the Lake Louise Gondola, that is generally open May to October (check their website for exact dates). This is suppose to be a good area to view the Grizzly Bears on the gondola but we did not see any. It was a sunny day, but the wind was quite cool and we opted for the open ski lift chair instead of the enclosed gondola for the best open viewing experience. There are dining options here at the base of the gondola and a Wildlife Interpretive Center near the top of the Gondola. There are guided walks and hiking trails but do learn how to stay safe in bear country before adventuring out.
We also drove up to the Glacier Skywalk, also generally open May - October, (again, check exact dates online). "Explore the immense powers of glaciology from a fully-accessible, cliff-edge walkway that leads to a glass-floored observation platform 280 metres (918 ft) above the Sunwapta Valley. From ice-capped mountain peaks to vast glacier-formed valleys, the Glacier Skywalk is your front row seat to nature's most grand performance." You can purchase a ticket for this alone and a bus will take you up or add the Columbia Icefields. "This tour takes visitors onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier by Ice Explorer; a massive vehicle specially designed for glacial travel. An experienced driver-guide shares a wealth of fascinating information about glaciers, icefields and their impact on our environment during this one hour and 20 minute journey.
Mid-point in the tour, passengers can safely step out onto the glacier and take in the most stunning alpine and glacial vistas. Tours depart every 15-30 mins from the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre."
At some point in your journey, you will be in a National Park and will have to pay for a permit as you drive through.
After 2 full days of driving, hiking, and sightseeing, we ventured our way back to Banff to see the town. This is a bustling little town with shops and restaurants galore, not to mention the beauty that surrounds the town. I could have spent many more hours here going through all the shops and taking more pictures...but we had to go! Alberta, Canada is one of the most gorgeous areas in the world with rugged mountain peaks, meadows, spectacular wterfalls, glaciers and ice fields. At one point, there were many cars pulled over and people walking outside their cars on the highway side, so we decided to join them and saw a spectacular waterfall and mountain goats! If you are a hiker, a biker or just a outdoor enthusiast with a camera, this is a must see place for you to visit!
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