Short Scenic Drives around Banff and the Canadian Rockies

Banff National Park, Alberta

It is hard to go wrong on a vacation to Banff and the Canadian Rockies. Whether you are driving or catching an airport connector from Calgary, within minutes of being outside the city, you will be surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains on all sides. Even getting to your destination is an adventure through stunning scenery. In winter, snow flickers in the fields like stars in the sky. The green fields and forests are full of grazing animals in spring and summer. Regardless of time of year, if you keep your eyes open on your trips, you are likely to see some wildlife. If you don’t want to spend too much time in the car but fancy a nice scenic drive – check out my home made Kananaskis Route.

Kananaskis Country makes for a great scenic drive in the Rockies.

Kananaskis Country

When I say I found this drive, I mean a million other people have probably driven it before but it doesn’t become an official ‘great drive’ until I give it the go ahead. After a visit to the beautiful Rafter Six Ranch just outside Canmore, I took a wrong turn and missed the highway turnoff. However the signs were still there for Canmore and Banff so I followed and was rewarded for my sheep-like tendency. If you want to make a day trip of it, have a day trip to Kananaskis Golf Course or Inside Out Rafting for example. You will need to drive about 20km past Canmore and turn into Kananaskis Country. Keep on the back roads and you are rewarded with raw beauty.

There are water reservoirs with eagles floating overhead hunting for dinner and possibly local writers. An elk stood alone on the side of the road chewing the grass not fussed about this annoying human interruption. The winding Rocky Mountain roads back to Canmore are just gorgeous. There are very few other cars on this road as it is a longer way to go than the highway. Vacations are made from the little things like driving adventures after a game of golf with buddies or a day horse riding at a ranch with the family. Remember who told you first… or fifteenth anyway!

Visit Rafter Six Ranch –

Exshaw Alberta TOL2CO Canada

1-888-26-RANCH

Banff’s New Brewery – Drinking in Banff

Banff National Park, Alberta

Jasper Brewing Co. has long been my favorite pub / brewery in the Canadian Rockies. Along with the Grizzly Paw in Canmore, it is quite unique in the respect that it makes its own delicious beer right on location. At times, Canadian beers like Molson and Canadian can be a bit light so having a full bodied beer full of perfectly mixed hops and barley can be quite refreshing. The annoying thing is that I don’t live in Canmore or Jasper so where do I go when I went a delicious and original brew? Well my problems have been solved thanks to the ambition of Jasper Brewing Co. who is setting up a brewery in the Clocktower Mall, Banff. Opening June 2010, it is going to be a big hit in town.

Beer - the cause and solution to all of lifes problems!

The founding principle of a place like Jasper Brewing Company is quite simple – they just want to make the highest quality beer possible and as a man who takes his beer seriously, I can relate. Aside from the superb tasting beer, the selection of flavors to choose from is endless. You can try and taste all in one setting but the chances are you won’t remember the next day! Food wise, the menu waters the mouth. Pastas, hamburgers and sandwiches all go great with a good beer.

The location of the new brewery in Banff couldn’t be more perfect either. The Clocktower Mall is one of the most unique buildings on Banff Avenue. It looks more like a Swiss chalet than a mall with flags blowing gently in the wind from the roof. The outdoor decking area looking down on Banff Avenue must be the best location for a beer in Banff during the summer. Though Banff boasts some great pubs like the St. James’ Gate and Wild Bills, the Banff Avenue Brewing co. – opening in June 2010 promises to be one of the best.

Contact Jasper Brewing Co.

624 Connaught Drive

Jasper, AB

T0E 1E0

Phone: 780-852-4111

Fax: 780-852-2200

The Best Coffee Shop in Banff

Banff National Park, Alberta

If ‘people watching’ is one of your favourite sports, you are going to love Banff. So many different kinds of people stroll up and down the streets of this gorgeous little town. Window shopping is a big favourite amongst tourists as is stopping in for a beer in one of the many pubs or if it’s that bit too early – a coffee. Though Banff doesn’t have many commercial franchises, it does have a Starbucks (and a half) one in Safeway. I would love to say it’s terrible but truth be told, it does great coffee, has a warm atmosphere and friendly staff. There is also three Evelyn’s Cafe’s (and counting) and a Second Cup. However, it is the hidden hippy cafe on Bear Street that for me is the winner of Best Cafe in Banff- the WildFlour.

The Wild Flour does the best coffee in Banff.

‘People watching’ is also one of my favourite pastimes and this cafe is an ideal place to do it. Grab the best latte in town, sit at the window, pretend to read a newspaper and just watch the world go by. Admittedly it is a bit pricier than other options around town – and this says a lot compared to Starbucks. However, there is a difference. Each coffee or tea is prepared personally and with care. All the girls that work there have a passion for caffeine that is shared with their customers. The cafes itself is big and bright and though it can, at times, get a bit too busy for my liking, it has a very welcoming feeling.

The Wildflour is also the only cafe in Banff that offers a proper menu for sandwiches and soups. Some of the options are a bit off the wall but compared to the plastic packaged sandwiches you find elsewhere, this is a nibbler’s heaven. If you have some time free in Banff and you want to relax and enjoy a good espresso cafe and uniquely delicious food, this is not just your best option but your only one!

Bison Courtyard, Bear Street

Jasper Raft Tours

Raft Jasper and Jasper National Park with experienced Jasper raft guides. Jasper National Park is Canada’s largest Rocky Mountain Park and one of North America’s largest natural areas. Click here for Jasper rafting
specials!

Whitewater Rafting Jasper National Park

Whitewater Rafting Jasper National Park offers guided river trips, in eight person rafts, ranging from introductory white water to some of the best commercial white water rafting in Canada’s Western Parks. Click here to book!

JASPER, Alberta – See many of the Canadian Rockies main attractions on an interpretive tour running from Jasper to Banff, Alberta. Sundog Tours operates guided tours between two of Alberta’s most scenic mountain towns including a stop at the Columbia Icefields between destinations.

The tour follows Canada’s most scenic highway, the Icefields Parkway, and stops at several scenic and popular sightseeing destinations along the way. Sundog offers either a one way excursion ending in Banff or Lake Louise or the option to continue back to Jasper. The tour lasts between 6 and 12 hours depending on whether you decide on a one-way or round-trip excursion.

On the tour, you will see Bow Lake, the Weeping Wall, Crowfoot Glacier, Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls. The highlight of the tour is a stop at the Athabasca Glacier where visitors can take the opportunity to ride the Snowcoach Tour onto the glacial fields.

Website: Click Here!

BANFF, Alberta – Sundog Tours offers an interpretive tour to Lake Louise, a must see attraction in Banff National Park. Learn about Banff’s touring history on a guided tour to pristine glacial lakes in the Canadian Rockies.

The Lake Louise Tour passes through breathtaking winter landscapes as you learn about the mountaineering history in Banff. Learn how the untouched wilderness attracted tourists and about the accident that changed the course of Canadian Rockies culture. Finish off the day at the historic Num-Ti-Jah hunting lodge with a hot chocolate accompanied by spectacular views of Banff National Park.

The Lake Louise Tour departs once a day from the town of Banff and lasts between 4 and 5 hours.

Website: Click Here!

BANFF, Alberta – Adventure into the Canadian Rockies wilderness on an interpretative winter hiking tour. Sundog Tours offers guided hiking tours through Johnston Canyon for an opportunity to witness spectacular winter sightseeing.

Trek through prime wildlife sighting terrain while admiring the natural splendor of the canyon. The tour follows the steels walkways that were built into the canyon walls, providing a safe and exciting winter adventure.

The Johnston Canyon Icewalk is about four hours in length and passes by the popular upper and lower waterfalls transformed into ice sculptures by the winter temperatures.

Website: Click Here!

BANFF, Alberta – Learn about Banff’s rich history on a guided tour through some of the Canadian Rockies most popular sightseeing attractions. Sundog Tours departs daily from Banff on wildlife and sightseeing tours that will connect you to the history and folklore of the region.

You will have the chance to take short walks with rewarding sweeping views and panoramic vistas. There are plenty of opportunities on this three hour tour to snap pictures of stunning frozen scenery and winter wildlife.

The tour stops at several important and scenic locations in Banff National Park including A Canadian National Historic Site, the Cave & Basin. Your guide will educate you on the daily habits of Canadian Rockies wildlife and how animals adapt to survive the winter season.

Website: Click Here!

JASPER, Alberta – See many of the Canadian Rockies main attractions on an interpretive tour running from Jasper to Banff, Alberta. Sundog Tours operates guided tours between two of Alberta’s most scenic mountain towns including a stop at the Columbia Icefields between destinations.

The tour follows Canada’s most scenic highway, the Icefields Parkway, and stops at several scenic and popular sightseeing destinations along the way. Sundog offers either a one way excursion ending in Banff or Lake Louise or the option to continue back to Jasper. The tour lasts between 6 and 12 hours depending on whether you decide on a one-way or round-trip excursion.

On the tour, you will see Bow Lake, the Weeping Wall, Crowfoot Glacier, Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls. The highlight of the tour is a stop at the Athabasca Glacier where visitors can take the opportunity to ride the Snowcoach Tour onto the glacial fields.

Website: Click Here!

BANFF, Alberta – Sundog Tours offers daily tour departures from the town of Banff through the scenic and serene mountain lakes of Banff National Park. Tour the beautiful Canadian Rockies terrain surrounding Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

The guided tour meanders through Banff National Park’s magnificent collection of glacial lakes. Once you arrive at Lake Louise, you can see the reflection of the Victoria Glacier and Mount Victoria in the calm lake waters. During the tour, be on the look out for wildlife sightings such as elk, deer, and mountain goats.

The tour departs daily from the town of Banff from several locations. Make sure to bring your camera along to snap some shots of the castle-like Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise before the tour’s finale at Moraine Lake.

Website: Click Here!