Canadian Rockies at it’s Best

A very popular enquiry with us at the moment is a trip to the Canadian Rockies together with an Alaskan cruise and whilst I have been lucky enough to do the planes, trains and automobiles in that area I have not done the cruise to Alaska unlike my namesake the singer Jane McDonald.

My husband Ed and I to celebrate a big birthday of his flew into Calgary and after staying just the night travelled by coach into Banff and from there our adventure started. The town of Banff is quaint and struck me as a typical ‘cowboy town’ where you would not be surprised to see tumbleweed blowing down the main street – but obviously with 21st Century conveniences. Cowboy style bars offering country music, rib shacks and twee boutiques – it is a real mixture but extremely welcoming! Do not miss out on the Banff Hot Springs and make sure you take a tour of the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel which was built in 1888 by the Canadian Pacific Railway company where both Royalty and many ‘A’ listers have stayed over the years. The most spectacular aspect of Banff though is the Gondola ride from literally the town centre offering the most amazing views of the Majestic Rocky Mountains.

Next on the list is the drive from Lake Louise to Jasper – AKA the Columbia Icefields Parkway of 144 miles and probably will be one of the most scenic mountain drives you will ever make taking about 5-6 hours. It can be done by coach but if you do it by self-drive you will be able to stop at whichever stunning lake or bewitching waterfall you care to and take as long as you like exploring.

The Athabasca Glacier is especially worth a visit -as it is so accessible it is the most visited Glacier in North America. It is up to 1000ft thick with ice and is receding at the rate of 16 feet per year.  Lake Louise is a sight to behold as well, as long as you can sidestep the camera-toting tourists who are no doubt doing the same thing as you!

To spend a day or two in Jasper relaxing is ideal and the infamous Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is the ideal place to do this with elk grazing in the grounds of this hotel and even taking you by surprise by being right outside your room when you least expect it!

I will continue with this trip in my next blog which will take in the highlights of Jasper, the Rocky Mountaineer rail journey and Vancouver.

The friendliness of the Canadians is exceptional and their unanimous wish is for you to enjoy their country and have an amazing time which there is no doubt you will do!