Need your help! Planning trip to Canadian Rockies

Robinette · Apr 7, 2006

Hi everyone!

I am planning an anniversary trip for my husband and I to the Canadian Rockies. I have been searching the internet and gathering as much info as possible. I remembered about this Canada Board here on the DIS and thought I would drop by and ask you all for your opinions and suggestions. I am a bit lost with planning this whole thing since we have been doing only Disney World for so many years!

We will be go in early September and have one week. The kids are not joining us this vacation. The plan is to fly into Calgary (looking into using Frontier Airlines out of Detroit or WestJet out of London, ON) and visit Banff, Jasper, Lake Lousie and Moraine Lake.

Someone suggested getting Handbook of the Canadian Rockies by Ben Gadd, have not done that yet though.

We are hoping for some adventure, lots of sight seeing and a little relaxation.

Some questions I have are
1) Do we need a hotel reservation every night ahead of time? We are arriving September 4th or 5th. Can we just get a room for a night at the Banff Springs Hotel when we get there or is this a busy time of year?

2) How many days should I need for each stop. I am thinking a few days for Banff and Jasper. One day for Lake Lousie and Moraine Lake. (a week wont be long enough, will it?!)

3) Should we rent a car upon arriving in Calgary and just drive ourselves around for the week (would love to get a Jeep Wrangler) or should we use trains or tour groups?

Anything you guys think we shouldnt miss, please let me know. And throw in some of your favorite hotels or cabins. Looking forward to your replies!!!

Thanks,
Robin

ChisJo · Apr 7, 2006

Although I can't answer everything for you, the one thing I have to say is:

RENT A CAR! There is so much to see and so much space in between the points that if you didn't have a car, you would probably get frustrated! I couldn't imagine having to depend on the train or bus in Banff.

Secondly, make sure you have your hotels booked before hand. You never know when there is a tournament down there, or large weddings - plus the weekend you are going is our Sepember long weekend - the weekend before schools and universities start - so make sure you have something booked or you may be disappointed.

It is so beautiful down there, and it will be gorgeous at that time of year. Take the time to take it all in....And remember - don't get out of your car if you see a bear and especially, don't feed it.

Jo

bonnyl · Apr 7, 2006

This is a good website to do some research and planning (Discoverbanff(dot)com). The Banff Springs Hotel is rather pricey (around $400 CDN per night) but is an absolutely beautiful hotel. You should spend some time just walking around the hotel itself. There is golfing, horseback riding and even a spa at the hotel.

I would suggest spending at least a day in and around the Banff area. Just walking down the main street and visiting all the shops can take almost a day itself. Make sure you stop at the Indian Traders Post (at the end of the bridge and to the right).

Travelling from Banff to Jasper is approximately 300 km (186 miles). Banff to Lake Louise is approximately 57 km (35 miles).

There is so much to see between Banff and Jasper I would definitely rent a car in Calgary and drive. The scenery is breathtaking and you may miss some of the sights if you rely on bus transportation or tours.

These are some websites that might be useful to you ... (sorry cannot post links yet)
3w1(dot)travelalberta(dot)com/Rockies
3w(dot)banfflakelouise(dot)com/generalinfo/banff(dot)html
3w(dot)visit-jasper(dot)com/home1(dot)html
3w(dot)canadianrockies(dot)net

Enjoy your trip!! :thumbsup2

DareToDisney1 · Apr 7, 2006

You have to rent a car. I moved out west in June and have already gone on 2 Rockies vacations. Both times we have stayed in Canmore which is 10 minutes outside of Banff. You will hit Canmore before you hit Banff coming from Calgary. It is a really nice town with nice shops and dining. There is also a tourist centre that can give you tips on trails to drive down (where to see the most wildlife). We took an hour drive and saw mountain goats, a fox, elk, deer, a black bear and a moose. I highly recommend the Falcon Crest Lodge in Canmore, it is only one year old and comes will a full kitchen and BBQ on the deck, you can go down to the Sobeys and make your own dinnver a few nights. I am going there for my 3rd time in May. Make sure to ask for a mountain view room.

BitsnBearsMom · Apr 8, 2006

We too are heaiding to Calgary/Banff for the long weekend in May - Reading all the links with interest!! Can't wait to go!! Dh and I (and the kids) are going to book the falcon crest lodge too for 1 or 2 of the nights... looks like a beautiful hotel!

disney funseeker · Apr 8, 2006

I too say rent a car.

Summer rates are still on until after the holiday weekend so Banff Springs Hotel is very,very, expensive.
But you have to walk through that hotel inside and out. Maybe dine at the Bow Valley Grill there. We always dine there when we are in Banff. Good food, good service.

The reason you need a car is because of the many sites along the way. The icefields parkway drive is the most beautiful route from Banff to Jasper.
Columbia Icefields is along the way and Athabasca Falls is closer to Jasper. Stop at Athabasca Falls. So much to see.

I'll try to post some pictures for you later.

princess pooh · Apr 8, 2006

Definitely rent a car! We stayed in Banff for 5 days and Lake Louise for 2, and we drove around to the sights we wanted to see. The bus tours can get expensive and we like the freedom of having our own car. You'll need to get a parking pass but it's worth it.

I also really recomend booking a hotel in advance. DH has been there for huge conventions in September and November so the hotels can really fill up.

DH used to work in Banff and he recomends visiting:
Johnston's Canyon
Icefields Parkway
Sulpher Mountain
Lake Louise (hike to the teahouse)
Morraine Lake
Bow Falls
Banff Springs Hotel
Emerald Lake
Spiral Tunnel
Marble Canyon
Bow Valley Parkway
Lake Minewanka
Vermilion lakes

I hope you have an amazing trip! I love that area and it's my favourite place to travel to

Robinette · Apr 8, 2006

Okay, I will definitely rent a car. You guys have convinced me of that. And I didnt realize it was a big convention month, so I will start lining up hotels too. The Falcon Crest Lodge looks very nice. I will show my husband the website.

We are going to go to Banff Gondola I am terrified and excited to do this.

I think the days we spend in Lake Louise, we are going to stay at Emerald Lake Lodge. It is a 25 minute drive from Lake Louise according to its website. But then also the Chateau Lake Louise looks beautiful too. It is so hard deciding!!

Princess pooh ~ you recommened the ice fields parkway, I found this Columbia Icefield is that what youre talking about?

Disney fun seeker ~ I would love to see your pictures!!

Oh, another question! Are the colors in full change at the beginning of September or will we be too late for that?

Thank you for the help everyone, I will be checking into all that you mention. Bonnyl ~ I am off to look at all the links you posted, THANKS!!

Pokemom · Apr 8, 2006

The leaves probably won't be turning color yet in September - usually they don't turn until October. You have gotten many good suggestions here - if you want some more detailed info, I would suggest going to the Canadian forum at fodors.com or at tripadvisor.com. They both have some Banff experts who will give you very detailed information about the Rockies. When you go to Jasper, you should go on the Jasper Tramway. If you are able, walk to the top of the mountain, the view is gorgeous.

princess pooh · Apr 8, 2006

Robinette, we just drove along the icefield parkway and stopped to see the sights. It's a really beautiful drive! We didn't make it to the Columbia Ice Fields but DH has been there with his family and they really enjoyed it.

We also stayed at Chateau Lake Louise and it's a beautiful hotel. The service there was just amazing!

disney funseeker · Apr 8, 2006

Toulouse · Apr 9, 2006

Robinette said:
We are going to go to Banff Gondola I am terrified and excited to do this.

If you have your heart set on the gondola, just be aware that subject to the weather, you may not see a thing. If there's an overcast sky with low cloud cover (and it doesn't take much for low cloud cover in the Rockies) you won't be able to see anything from the summit. If you can, don't limit yourself to doing the gondola on one particular day - if you get there and the weather is good that day - go then. Otherwise you could have an overcast sky the next day and miss the chance.

sunny_stace · Apr 12, 2006

hey, I just recently moved back to Ontario after living and working in Jasper for six months. I think the most important thing I can tell you is to remember how far apart places in Alberta really are! Though things look close it will take you about 6 hours to get from Jasper to Banff and Lake Louise! It will take you 8 hours at least to get from Calgary to Jasper! However, the drives are worth the wait as it is the most beautiful landscaping God has created!

Also, if you rent a car, please please please be careful with wildlife since it's the last time of the year when they're especially active before hibernation and migration and such!

What else, if it's warm enough still, try white-water rafting! Definately my favourite pasttime there! Definately go out to Maligne (pronounced Ma-leen) lake and see the "Hull Of the Gods" (I cried it's so beautiful!)...and be sure to stay at the Jasper Inn (where I worked! Best housekeeping award winners!), and also go buy stuff from CounterClockwise at the Jasper Marketplace and tell them Stacy Sent you! (they saved my summer by offering me the most wonderful job!)

Also fun to know, Stephen King based "The Shining" on the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - I've heard stories from people who work there about the ghosties!

Also, be sure to make your reservations far in advance if you can...the Americans come up from the states to see the folliage and all....

Let me know if you want more Jasper info! :thumbsup2

disney funseeker · Apr 13, 2006

Hey, Sunny Stace, we're headed to Jasper on Saturday.

Will have to check out Counterclockwise.
I'm looking for a place to stay when my parents come to visit this summer. Going to do the Jasper, to Calgary loop via Icefield parkway with them. will look in Jasper place as well for them.

Robinette · Apr 13, 2006

Thanks for sharing the pictures disney funseeker!!

Robinette · Apr 13, 2006

Thanks Stacy for all the info. White-water rafting... great idea!! We will be up for that.

Tabetha · Apr 13, 2006

Emerald Lake Lodge is beautiful. You'll love it. A friend and I were driving cross country doing the fringe festival circuit (theatre) and wound up driving through the mountains at 2am. We were pretty tired, and decided to pull over and pitch a tent.

Then we saw the mountain lion.

So we decided not to.

We saw a sign for Emerald Lake Lodge and pulled into the parking lot (there's a lot down below, you wait in a little shelter and they drive down from the lodge and pick you up.)
We called up to the lodge, but they were booked up. We begged them to let us stay in the shelter (a little house, almost), and they kindly agreed that it was safer and let security know we'd be down there. We thanked them profusely, and promised to come up to the lodge for breakfast (spend some money there as a thank you).

Well, we went up in the morning, and had a wonderful gourmet breakfast in the overwhelmingly lovely lodge. We felt very silly when we saw how nice the place was - we'd slept down in their shed like squatters!

It was a wonderful memory, though.

Robinette · Apr 17, 2006

Tabetha said:
We called up to the lodge, but they were booked up. We begged them to let us stay in the shelter (a little house, almost), and they kindly agreed that it was safer

Very nice of them to let you guys stay there. I have only seen pictures of the lodge on their website and feel in love with it from that.

Checking airfare today and I found roundtrip from Detroit for around $350 total. When I first started checking it was over $500 so I am thinking it is time to book it!

Tabetha · Apr 17, 2006

$350 is pretty good! I hope you have the best time - it is truly beautiful out there. It just gets more and more beautiful around each bend.

Betty X · Apr 17, 2006

I recommend the Banff Springs Hotel. I did a project on it for University and gave tours of the hotel to my classmates. Go to Cave and Basin. It is the original hot springs and the coolest thing there is tropical fish in the hot springs. You have to go down stairs to get there but it's very cool and it's free. If you are coming from the Banff Springs you keep going straight instead of turning right at the bridge to get back to the townsite.

Coyote's Grill is a really good restaurant that is a favourite of the locals. There is really good shopping there and really good candy and treats along the main drag. Make time to go up and down both sides to shop!

I made a website on Banff for my class. Here is a link......

www.members.shaw.ca/tlsapach/index.html

Need your help! Planning trip to Canadian Rockies

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