Hello From The Canadian Rockies: Our First Excursion To Calgary, Banff And Lake Louise

My husband and I try to go skiing for a week atperfectly groomed Norquay, high altitude Sunshine
least once a year and so far we've been to aboutVillage - located on the Continental Divide, and the
15 different ski resorts on the east coast,unbelievably huge and scenic ski area of Lake
anywhere from Ontario to Quebec, NewLouise. Well, there is definitely something to be
Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. But we had neversaid for West Coast skiing..... Two outstanding
been out west in the Rockies. Well, it was time toattractions are the historic Fairmont Banff Springs
change that..... So we planned a trip to theHotel and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and I
Canadian Rockies, and for both of us it was thehad an opportunity to explore both these
first time for us to see this majestic mountainmagnificent structures in detail. Canada's history is
range. Just after we landed on March 4, 2006 weinextricably intertwined with the history of the
started off with a whirlwind four-hour tour ofrailroads. The Canadian Pacific Railroad played a
Calgary to get a sneak peak at Canada's Heart ofkey role in opening up the west and these
the New West. Our extremely knowledgeablecastle-like railway hotels figured prominently in
tour guide took us to the Calgary Tower, FortCanada's development of the West Coast. Last
Calgary and past the Stampede Grounds andFriday a wonderful adventure provided the
Calgary's Saddledome. Of course Canada Olympichighlight of my trip: I went dogsledding with
Park was one of the main attractions on this tour.Snowy Owl Adventures on a crisp crystal-blue
The same evening we enjoyed a wonderful Italianwinter day, high in the mountains above the town
feast at Il Giardino on 4th Street and we had aof Canmore. Our adventure was almost over, but
chance to get to know one of Calgary's mostI had one more chance for exploration: on
successful entrepreneurs. We enjoyed theSaturday I took the gondola up to Sulphur
wonderful hospitality of Deirdre and Henry BrostMountain from where I got a perfect 360 degree
at the historic Twin Gables Bed & Breakfast andpanoramic view of Banff and the surrounding
got a huge surprise at breakfast when wemountain ranges. I checked out the Cosmic Ray
realized we were enjoying our morning meal withStation and after a brief forest hike past the
two big celebrities (you'll have to read the articleBanff Springs Hotel, I visited the Banff Park
to find out which famous people shared the B&BMuseum, one of Canada's oldest natural history
with us....). After breakfast we walked all the waymuseums. Our Alberta explorations were rapidly
from the Twin Gables to downtown from wherecoming to an end, and just before we headed to
I took the C-Train to get to the Kensington area,the airport we went on one final walk through
one of Calgary's main restaurant and shoppingCalgary and explored the famous +15 walkway
areas. I had a brief lunch at a Vietnamesesystem that keeps Calgary visitors sheltered
restaurant called Indochine Bistro where I foundfrom the harsh winter air. We also explored a
out that the young owner had originally come tobeautiful tropical hideaway called Devonian
Canada as a refugee from Vietnam. What anGardens.... Along the way we got to explore some
amazing success story: from Vietnamese boatgreat skiing, magnificent mountain scenery and
person to successful Calgary restauranteur.... Thenhistoric buildings, the exuberance of a dog-sledding
it was time to head west on the Transcanadateam raring to go and the outstanding hospitality
Highway to our destination for the next week:of the people of Alberta. We'll be back.....
Banff, a picturesque town nestled inside theSusanne Pacher is the publisher of a web portal
famous Banff National Park, also a UNESCO Worldfor unconventional travel & cross-cultural
Heritage Site. Of course we went skiing and weconnections.
had a chance to check out 3 major ski resorts: