Five stops along the Icefields Parkway in Jasper and Banff National Parks

If you're visiting both Jasper and Banff national parks on your Canadian Rockies vacation (and you should be!), you will drive the Icefields Parkway connecting the two parks. This 3 hour stretch has been described as one of the most scenic highways in the world, and after our fall 2013 visit, I concur. The parkway takes approximately 3.5 hours to drive, but families will definitely want to stop … [Read more...]

Where to stay in Banff National Park: Brewster’s Mountain Lodge

During a vacation in Banff National Park, visitors have three main lodging options: camping, hotels and lodges outside of the town center, or Banff town hotels. Because Banff can get crowded and parking and driving can be a hassle even in the off-season, we recommend a hotel in town to be within walking distance of dining, shopping, and tour departures. Brewter's Mountain Lodge is located in the … [Read more...]

How to spend two days in Banff National Park, Alberta

Hopefully, you have more than two days to explore Banff National Park with kids, but if you are limited on time, here's what you should do first. Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies: Whyte Museum is a great place to start. It may be small, but does an excellent job with both an art gallery and exhibits detailing the history of the park, starting with the First Nations' presence and … [Read more...]

Deer Lodge Lake Louise: Where to stay near the lake

When arriving at Lake Louise, it's impossible to overlook massive Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise planted directly at the lake shore. However, en route to the lake, you'll drive directly past the much more modest, historic, and beautiful Deer Lodge, operated by Canadian Rockies Mountain Resorts. This is where you want to be. Why? Deer Lodge is fits its surroundings perfectly: its log-hewn … [Read more...]

Lake Louise Alberta hiking: Lake Agnes Tea House

The wilderness surrounding Lake Louise, Alberta may be the most stunningly beautiful in the greater Banff-Lake Louise area. And if you've been to Banff, you know that's saying something. Plenty of backcountry treks depart from Lake Louise and its next-door neighbor, Lake Moraine, making Lake Louise Alberta hiking some of the best in the Canadian Rockies. Our favorite--to the Lake Agnes Tea … [Read more...]