Read feature articles of his experiences, reviews and exploits in the Canadian Rockies - Banff National Park.You choose some accommodations to be close to Banff centre, shopping and restaurants. You choose some for price and you choose some for luxury but some you reserve for those special vacations. These Hotels and Lodges are unique, memorable, peaceful, invigorating and exciting. Mount Assiniboine Lodge is one of these. It is accessible only by helicopter, hiking or skiing yet is still adjacent to Banff National Park and only three hours from Calgary International Airport. Intrigued?
Mount Assiniboine Lodge, though only 3 hours from Calgary can only be reached by hiking, skiing or helicopter.
If you are catching the helicopter, you hop on from Canmore, 20 minutes drive east of Banff. If you ski or hike; the helicopter can carry your luggage. Located in Assiniboine National Park, BC – this will be one of the most unique accommodations you have ever had the pleasure to stay in. it was built in 1928 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Though rustic, it is comfortable and can fit as much as 30 people per night. It is now owned by BC parks but managed brilliantly by Sepp and Bard Renner since 1983. They provide a full service package at the lodge which includes all meals, lodging, winter and summer guiding and helicopter access.
Though you may not be located next door to a shop that makes soap in the shape of an elk or a fudgery (not sure if that’s a word) with overly addictive sweets, you have everything beautiful that nature can provide you. Wherever you are staying in the Rockies whether it be Banff, Jasper or Assiniboine you are going to have a great time. A wise philosopher…or maybe Janet Jackson once said that ‘the best things in life are free’. Well it may cost a little extra to stay in a place like the Mount Assiniboine Lodge but the rewards are endless.
For a long time I complained that Canmore gets all the good live music. I thought that Banff was just full of loud cover bands that turn up the speakers to the point that you can’t hear yourself speak. Sometimes this can be good on a big night out and especially when you are actually speaking rubbish. However, finally I have found a place that has regular smaller acoustic sets where you can sit down with a nice cold beer or three and enjoy the music. Wild Bills – at the centre of all Banff hotels and accommodations is ideal.
Ducks have wild Bills as does Banff.
The bands that play there vary greatly. From American rappers like D12 to the bluesy reggae of Australian singer Toby, it really does host all sorts. Wild Bills is a great venue. It is surprisingly big so you can be centre stage or all the way around the back of the building to have a quiet drink and enjoy the music from afar. It has been around Banff a long time and has a reputation as somewhere that always has some sort of entertainment on whether it is line dancing or cattle catching.
Though Canmore really does have a great live scene, Banff is equally good though you just have to look a little harder for it. Keep in mind that this is Banff and there are specials every night of the week. On Monday night for the Toby gig for example, you could get two beers for $7 – not bad at all for a place like Wild Bills. If you are staying in a hotel in Banff and looking to watch live music, the best thing to do is just ask one of the staff. Word of mouth carries a lot of weight.
Call Wild Bills for more info on live gigs –
201 Banff Avenue
Banff, AB T1L 1C4
(403) 762-0333
The snow is melting, concrete is beginning to show on the roads and fields after a long absence, the blue skies are beginning to release comforting warmth from the sun – yep, winter is coming to a close in the Rockies. Take a moment to shed tears about the loss of another skiing season and then get excited about a mountain biking adventure in the parks and dominant mountains of this wonderful holiday location. Whether you are a novice cyclist or one who likes to challenge yourself to steep hills, there is something for everyone out here around Banff and the other towns of the Rockies.
Mountain Biking in the Rockies can be challenging but the rewards make it all worth awhile.
There are a few options to choose from. You can bring your own bike, rent a top class mountain bike, do some research about the best trails to take or go with one of the experts. Rocky Mountain Cycle Tours fall into this last category. Since 1977, they have been providing world class bicycle tours and multi-sport trips not just in the Canadian Rockies and British Columbia’s West Coast but internationally in places as far away as New Zealand and Vietnam. To put it short, these guys have the experience and knowledge to make sure your cycling trip to the Rockies is as perfect as possible.
Rocky Mountain Cycle Tours are the local bike tour company for the Banff and Jasper area and offer very affordable trips with local, friendly guides, top class accommodations and great food on all trips. Among the many trips they organize is the ever popular Icefields Parkway Cycle Tour. This is one of the most stunning drives in the world and it is even more enjoyable when seen from two wheels on a mountain bike. The fresh mountain air and eye-catching 360 degree views make you forget about the sometimes challenging slopes. It really is one of the best adventures you could have on a vacation. Summer is just around the corner. Make sure to book early!
For more info, email res (at) rockymountaincycle.com
or call at
1800 661-BIKE(2453)
Jasper National Park is full of out door activities and adventures to make anyone’s vacation in the Canadian Rockies as fulfilling and exciting as possible. Regardless of season, there is a list the length of my arm to choose from and I have pretty long arms. Jasper has some great hiking trails in the summer but just because the snow has taken over the earth, there is no reason to stay indoors or restrict yourself to the ski hills. Jasper Adventure Centre has a ton of recreation trips in both summer and winter and snow shoeing in the Jasper wilderness is one of the best.
Snowshoeing is a great way to see Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies.
Jasper Adventure Centre’s program offers an intimate and unique way of seeing the wonderland that is Jasper in winter. Aside from seeing the natural beauty and the wildlife, the expert guides will fill you in on everything from animal prints and scats to how they survive in such harsh conditions. You will have to bring your own warm winter apparel but boots are available on request.
To get the most out of a vacation to a place like Jasper National Park, you really have to go out and see it in its vast and wild beauty. Companies like Jasper Adventure Centre are there to bring you to the right place with the right guide and the right gear. You can walk around the Coliseum in Rome and enjoy it but if you don’t know some of the history and facts about what happened and happens there, your experience is lessened. Snow shoeing brings you as close to stunning winter wilderness as you are ever likely to be.
Some hotels and lodgings in the Canadian Rockies have the power to simply blow you away. My list of favorites are the Fairmont Lake Louise and the Pyramid Lake Coast Resort in Jasper but the Nakoda Lodge just outside the boundaries of Canmore is one of the most stunning locations I have ever seen. Forget motels and city hotels, as far as accommodations around Banff go, this is paradise. Only a short drive from either Banff National Park or Calgary, you are instantly transported to another naturally stunning world.
Beautiful Kananaskis Country.
Nestled amongst secluded, serene woods and overlooking the eye-opening and tranquil Chief Hector Lake, it is comfortably up there as one of the finest lodges in the Canadian Rockies. As ideal for a picturesque wedding of up to 250 as it is for a corporate conference meeting, it really does have it all. You can promise that your staff will be extremely relaxed amongst the trees and the placid lake. Wedding guests could sleep comfortably amongst the sounds of nature and wake up with a dip in the lake while the bride and groom enjoy a lazy morning in the comfort of the newly refurbished rooms.
The Nakoda Lodge sells itself as a lodge that will transport you back to a quieter, simpler time. It has an intimate, rustic charm, with all the modern conveniences you require. It is remarkable to think that such a lodge can be running so close to a big city like Calgary but such is the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Whether you are in Canmore, Kananaskis or even Banff- there is always a hidden gem around the next corner. The Nakoda Lodge is definitely one of the most sparkling hidden gems.
Highway 1A, between Morley and Seebe
16 km West of Morley
Phone: 403-881-3949
Toll Free: 1-877-881-3949
The words Banff and bingo are not just beautifully alliterated, they really do go hand in hand. From quiz nights to pool competitions and live music to poetry readings, Banff has a huge amount on offer for such a small town. Of all the time I have lived here in Banff surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, I have never made it to the Thursday night bingo night in the legion. The Royal Canadian Legion is great for many reasons. Firstly – it’s location – right above the Bow River. Secondly it is a great place to go for a game of pool with a friend for a quiet chat. Thirdly they have delightfully cheap jugs of beer and finally a mixture of all of the above with crazy bingo nights on Thursday.
Blow some steam off with bingo in Banff!
When I walked in, I expected fierce competition from a few old locals. Though there was the usual smattering of friendly Banffites, the place was also packed full of people of all age, race and nation. With 8pm approaching, I dare say the atmosphere was electric! Cards can be bought for anything from $1 upwards at the start of the night. The caller takes her job professionally and you really do get your value for money as she gets through games at super speed. In fact, despite the numbers in the room, your faithful writer managed to call out a shy bingo, winning $15 in the process. My bingo associated peer pressured me into investing this straight back into the jugs of beer.
Bingo at 8pm in the legion is a great way to kick off your night rather than having a drink in an overpriced Banff hotel. It is a cheap option that can actually win you a fortune if the numbers fall correctly for you. With the Canadian Rockies surrounding you, a cool cheap Kokanee in your hand, a vibrant nightlife ahead and the echoes of that number that was never called in your head – you are ready to tackle Banff!
Can you picture a better location in the world than the Canadian Rockies to play a relaxing round of golf? There is no such thing as a bad golf course up here and with some of the world’s finest hotels and scenery surrounding the course; you are guaranteed to have an incredible vacation. Stewart Creek Golf Course is an example of a golfer’s paradise on earth. Elk strutting around on manicured greens, beautiful country club flashing in the distance, a waving flag flickering against the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies. Screw the American dream – this is the Canadian dream!
The Canadian Rockies is the perfect backdrop for a great round of golf.
From the first hole where you are welcomed with a ‘Beware of Bears’ sign, you know that you are in for a unique round of golf. The course architect Gary Browning set out to sculpt the rugged landscape into layered fairways and subtly sloped greens all surrounded by threatening but pristine forest. There are 35 bunkers strategically placed around gushing streams, crystal clear lakes, restored mine entrances and rocky outcrops. As well as being thoroughly enjoyable to play, it is also challenging.
The course is quite pricey but you can save money by booking into one of the cheap but beautiful hotels in nearby Canmore. Besides, it is more than just a round of golf; it is a trip through the history of Canmore, it is a wildlife walk where you are likely to see anything from a coyote to a mule deer. As far as golf resorts and vacations go, a trip to the Canadian Rockies and Stewart Creek Golf Course promises to be one of the best you will ever have!
Ah! I can almost smell the freshly cut grass of the golf course already. I have always loved playing golf even when it was with a pitching wedge with no grip and with views of council houses and motorways to admire. It almost seems unfair that the Canadian Rockies is blessed with golf courses that have beautifully manicured fairways and greens as well as literally the best views in the world. It is almost like a dream sequence as you watch your ball fly towards snow capped mountains and a deer leaps from the lake. When you rest in your hotel later, it feels surreal. No-where is this scene more poignant and the atmosphere more relaxed than Kananaskis Golf Course.
Golfing the Rockies' is an unforgettable experience.
Located deceivingly close to Banff, the drive itself gives a hint of what’s to come. Situated in the Kananaskis Valley among flourishing forests and a breath taking backdrop, the golf course is perfectly maintained. Even in winter, everything shines with the sun. The clubhouse itself is a lovely little building with big windows to take advantage of the sunlight. Playing a round here is more than just playing a round. It is a real experience. Getting a hole in one would only be the icing on the cake.
Online individual Tee Time reservations will begin at 12pm MST on Monday Feb 22nd. It is a measure of this course that there is a steady flow of people all through the year enquiring about rates and tee times. If you are organising a corporate tour, a stag do or simple a family vacation – Kananaskis Golf Course is a great choice. It has the feel of being in the middle of no-where but it is still a relatively short drive to either Calgary or Banff. The only thing you will have to worry about is your game!
So, like most Canadians, every once in a great while the Mountain Man crosses the border and heads south for a little winter retreat to Whitefish, Montana. Here you’ll find excellent lodging, among attractions such as Whitefish Mountain Resort, Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.
Winter in Whitefish, Montana.
Whitefish restaurants are well known in the region, as is the night life in this spectacular town, and the great Whitefish hotels and lodges available. It’s a good place for relaxing, or, as I’ve seen a couple Canadians do, going completely wild on the main downtown strip. It happens to the best of us. After all, there’s a brewery right down town, and several interesting places to sample their beers.
Of course, there’s also terrific activities. During the winter, the skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly Big Mountain) is probably one of the most popular things to do in this area. This is probably one of the most popular Montana ski resorts, and for good reason. It’s got excellent terrain for skiing and snowboarding, and gets lots of great powder. Whitefish Mountain Resort also has a great terrain park for the more daring riders.
If skiing and snowboarding aren’t your thing, you may be interested in snowshoeing, cross country skiing, hiking up Going-to-the-sun Road, which is accessible at the Lake McDonald lodge during the winter, and offers easily accessible, and awesome winter terrain.
If you’re feeling too snowed-in right now to make it, come back during the summer. There’s two spectacular Montana lakes in Whitefish, including Whitefish Lake, which is only a 10 minute walk from downtown, and Flathead Lake, only about 15 minutes drive. The fishing in both of these lakes is great, as is the boating. And of course, if you’re back during the summer you’ll want to visit Glacier National Park’s fantastic trails.
Anyway folks, I’m off to Whitefish.
Ever since I was a little mountian boy, I’ve dreamed of being a cowboy. I ended up being a mountain man, of course, which ain’t half bad, but still, the cowboy dream has always been there. Now just recently, the guys in the newsroom here have been talking about dude ranch vacations.
The cowboy dream is finally possible for Mountain Man.
Particularly, they’ve been going crazy about Three Bars Ranch over in Canmore, British Columbia. The place sounds really amazing to me in general. They do rafting, hunting, fishing trips and all types of other activities with their guests. But the horses are what really interested me.
The Three Bars Ranch has been around for a long time, run as a dude ranch by three consecutive generations now, and two members of the family are professional horse trainers, so you know that they’re up to speed on horses.
What especially got me was their specialty week ranch vacations, particularly the one where you get to help them out on a real cattle round up. That’s what did it for me. I can finally realize my life long dream of being a cowboy this year with a dude ranch vacation. Yee haw!
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