Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Alberta Travel Tips

[Eggoman]

Greetings my Canadian Brothers & Sisters (any anyone else reading this who would care to offer an opinion!):

My wife & I have the opportunity to spend ~10 days in the Banff/Jasper area SOON! We will be flying into Calgary...

Where should we go/avoid?

Where should we stay/avoid?

Where should we eat/avoid?

We are very adventurous and avid outdoors people in our mid-50s.

I greatly appreciate ANY info that you would care to share with us!

Greg

[ALR-bishop]

Vancouver and Victoria are worth the effort as well , and the Rocky Mountaineer scenic railroad out of Vancouver has stops at Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise. Do not miss Lake Louise. By the way, the train is a first class operation with gourmet food and full observation cars. It has overnight stays in each location and uses the Fairmont hotels in each, which are spectacular

[Eggoman]

THANK YOU, Al!

Any one else care to share info? It would be most welcome!

[Writehooks]

Congrats on picking Calgary as your drop-off point ... it's the second-best city in Canada (after Victoria, where I grew up). Your first stop should be the fabulous Calgary Zoo, followed by a tour of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (located in the downtown core) and the Glenbow Archives. If you're renting a car to drive north to Jasper, allow yourself time for a day-long detour to the dinosaur graveyard at Drumheller, a small town in the Alberta badlands, about 2 hours northeast of Calgary and 2.5 hours south of Edmonton. This is one of the world's largest deposits of dinosaur fossils, and there's a great museum containing skeletal reconstructions. You can even sign up to go on an archeological dig! In Edmonton, check out the world's largest shopping mall (West Edmonton Mall), the Provincial Museum of Alberta (one of the world's largest collections of First Nations artifacts) and the sparkling new $800 million home of the NHL's Oilers, which is right downtown.
Enjoy the trip, eh?

[Eggoman]

THANKS for the tips Murr the Blurr!

Any other thoughts from anyone???

[RichardSimon]

Yes Victoria is great, if you can extend your trip go to Burchart Gardens.
And if you are a foodie or even if you are not Vancouver is wonderful.
Highly recommended.
And if you go to Vancouver Stanley Park (yes Mr Stanley Cup) is great.

[familytoad]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought this Blu-ray Disc way back in 2010 to plan my trip.
Alas I never went, but the disc is amazingly beautiful.

Looks like Lake Louise is a do not miss!

[smallpaul2002]

Banff is beautiful, plan on spending a few days there, Lots of hiking and trails to visit, you can also take a hike up Mount Rundle..Next I would go to Lake Louise and visit Moraine lake, it is smaller than Lake Louise but it is the most photographed lake in the world, just beautiful to look at and the water is aqua blue as the lake is naturally glacier fed. (It is also pictured on the back of a Canadian $20 bill)..Have a great trip, beautiful area in Canada to visit..

[Eggoman]

THANK YOU, ALL!

We got started with our planning a bit late and are having a bit of a challenge with lodging, but we are flexible and are willing to move every day or 2 if we have too! That may make it easier to see more things/places/sights/eats, tho!!!

Didn't realize it was Canada's Sesquicentennial (Happy Brithday!) and that admission to ALL National Parks was FREE because of it!

Can't wait!

[Eggoman]

...who offered an opinion or PM! We just got back from a 10-day visit to Banff & Jasper in the Canadian Rockies...

...in a word - STUNNING!

Too much to see, too little time...

And the hospitality and GENUINE WELCOME that we received from our Neighbors to the North was remarkable!

I offer a view from our porch at the Emerald Lake Lodge of Emerald Lake near Field, BC.

...and yes, the water really is THAT color!

[irv]

Originally Posted by Eggoman

...who offered an opinion or PM! We just got back from a 10-day visit to Banff & Jasper in the Canadian Rockies...

...in a word - STUNNING!

Too much to see, too little time...

And the hospitality and GENUINE WELCOME that we received from our Neighbors to the North was remarkable!

I offer a view from our porch at the Emerald Lake Lodge of Emerald Lake near Field, BC.

...and yes, the water really is THAT color!

Glad to hear you had a great time!

I have to get out that way sometime myself. My last trip out anywhere near there was the Calgary Stampede when I was just a young lad.

I have also never been to the east coast but would also love to do that someday as well.