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The architecture is varied, there’s a definite mountain influence which adds to the charm of the town. The surrounding landscapes are spectacular too with Lake Louise close by.
The iconic luxury hotel there has one of the most photographed views in the Rockies, a clear, blue-green mountain lake framed by the forested slopes and snow-capped peaks of the Rockies. It’s a lovely place to take a canoe out for a paddle in the summer months. Back in Banff, we visited the official RCMP shop in the town and had a chat with a real Mountie! We then took the gondola up Sulphur Mountain which offers breathtaking views of six mountain ranges. At the upper station there is a skywalk which follows the summit ridge. You can also enjoy an evening meal in the restaurant.
Reluctantly leaving Banff, on the next part of our Canada holiday, we headed north-west to Jasper, driving through some incredible scenery on the way and stopping at the Athabasca Glacier. This six-kilometre tongue of ice is the most accessible part of the Icefields and we visited it on the snow bus which takes you right up on to the glacier. It was an amazing experience and one I’d recommend, a camera is a must!
After a night in Jasper we moved south-west to Kamloops in British Columbia. Kamloops sits on the banks of the Thompson River, surrounded by the rugged scenery of the foothills of the Rockies. Again we only had a short stay here before moving on to Vancouver but Kamloops seemed like an interesting city with plenty to do in both the summer months and the winter with a ski resort and Nordic park nearby.
On the way to Vancouver we stopped for lunch in Hope, a lovely little town which is famous for its wood carvings. In Vancouver, I stayed at the Georgian Court Hotel, a smart, modern building with spacious rooms and some nice luxury touches. On the first night I was invited to a drinks reception at the Vancouver Lookout. The 360º sunset views of Vancouver, the harbour and mountains were stunning and we even spotted a Bald Eagle. The next day I enjoyed a city tour and a walk in the beautiful surroundings of Stanley Park which feels quite wild despite being in a major city. A trip to the Capilano Suspension Bridge followed, this bouncy bridge spanning a deep gorge is not for the faint of heart, or indeed the vertigo sufferer!
The final place on my whistlestop tour was the Grouse Mountain Bear Sanctuary where we saw four of the cutest orphaned bear cubs you could imagine. I’d been scanning the landscape for bears without any luck all the time that we were in the Rockies so at least I could return home having finally seen some!
I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and would definitely recommend a Canada holiday for your next getaway.
Marianne Hale travelled to Canada’s west coast and the Rocky Mountains with Titan Travel to experience the breathtaking mountain scenery.
