Jennifer

Where Visited:

Vancouver, Victoria, Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, Calgary, Sun Peaks, Waterton Lakes national Park, Toronto and Niagara Falls.

Favourite Places:

Banff and Jasper National Parks, being able to explore the incredible lakes and mountains in the National Parks on day hikes is a tremendous way fill any trip.  Canada has so much to offer but if you enjoy the outdoors it is one of the worlds best destinations to visit.

Favourite Hotel:

Cathedral Mountain Lodge is the perfect option to get a true Rocky Mountain cabin escape.  Located in the Kicking Horse River Valley you can explore for the day from your own private cabins, take a long hike, take out a canoe, then come back and sit on the porch of your own rustic cabin, relax and enjoy the excitement of any potential wildlife in the area!

Attractions visited:

Full day Niagara falls and Niagara on The Lake tour exceeds all expectations.  Hop on Hop off buses in Toronto and Vancouver are both brilliantly entertaining.  The BC Ferries over to Victoria are just a delightful way to get out onto the water, cross the strait and potentially see some marine life.  Ice Trekking or taking the Ice Explorer on to the Athabasca Glacier are both fantastic ways to get up close to such a magnificent, yet accessible Glacier.  Banff Gondola is not as scary as BBC’s Race across the World would have you believe, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy Sulphur Mountain from the top with all the brilliant views over Banff National Park.  Jasper Harley Davidson Motorcycle tours are just fantastic, getting out of Jasper on the back of a Harley for an hour with a brilliant guide is certainly a very exciting way to see the area!  Wildlife tours with a local guide have been the best way I have experienced wildlife in Canada, they are so passionate and well informed about where potential hot spots are.  Bears and Moose are so synonymous with Canada it is such a highlight to see them in the wild.

Favourite restaurants:

Terra – Forage & Feast at The Crimson Hotel, Downtown Jasper.  Absolutely tremendous restaurant, a lovely atmosphere with exceptionally passionate staff.  The food is locally farmed and foraged seasonal produce, we had a family style tasting menu where they brought us out a selection of highlights from the menu, incredible ribeye steak, homemade game sausage, heritage potatoes, rainbow carrots all rounded of with a selection of very Moorish deserts.

Other brilliant restaurants and food to try: Park Distillery, Banff.  Wildflour Bakery, Banff.  Yaletown Brewing Company, Vancouver. Rail Town Café, Vancouver.  Any vendors down at Granville Island Markets, especially Lee’s Donut’s!

Top Tip:

Visit Canada, anywhere you can at any time!  It is a magnificent destination with something to offer for everyone!  When you are there, get into the visitor’s centers, speak to the local Rangers.  They are a wealth of knowledge and will make brilliant suggestions that could enhance any trip, whether it be driving out to watch an early sunrise, the best place to hire some bikes, a different road to take and more importantly which trail not to take due to recent bear activity!

Things to look out for:

Lesser-known lakes to visit and trails to hike, again speak to the rangers in town before you head off.  Getting off the beaten track will often add so much to your day and over all holiday.  Some of my favourite moments have just been immersed in the incredible scenery!

Greatest Memory:

Taking a canoe out on Maligne Lake with friends, early in the season when it felt like we had it all to ourselves.