Calgary, Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise

[Tyre Tread]

Me and the other half are due to attend a wedding in Calgary in August.

Been to Calgary before when we did the Rockies trip by train from Vancouver about 10 years ago but we missed out Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise.

We intend to spend about a week after the wedding driving around the area so will be grateful for any PH wisdom on places that are 'must see' and those to avoid please.

[Vytalis]

Depends what you are looking for:

Skiing / mountain activity and busy mountain town - Banff
Quiet tourist spot - lake Louise (how the fairmont got planning permission i'll never know)
Nice tranquil town away from the tourist trail (less than Banff anyway) - jasper

Check for the dates of Calgary stampede - worth a day trip
The cable cars in Banff and jasper are both good for views and coffee
Plenty of options for outdoor sports - motorised or otherwise
Wildlife more likely near jasper
Hot springs north of jasper is a gentle diversion
Glacier tour is a bit too touristy
Nice range of decent waterfalls

Take a telephoto lens to the lakes near jasper and keep an eye out.

[Tyre Tread]

Good info thanks.

Also heard that the longest zipline in N. America is around there somewhere.

We won't be skiing though and not there for the stampede.

[parakitaMol.]

Having stayed in both I would favour Banff rather than Lake Louise - the Fairmont is spectacular if your budget stretches to it. I didn't like the Farimont at Lake Louise - too much like a Disneyland princess castle. The scenery is stunning and Banff is a great little town (whereas there is bugger all in Lake Louise apart from the Hotel restaurants and a tiny little precinct at the bottom of the hill). The Fairmont in Banff has a fantastic sushi restaurant and the town has lots of bars, shops and restaurants.

[davethebunny]

I've done a fortnight stay in the fairmont in Banff. Skiing.

I was going to suggest nhl calgary flames but dunno about seasons

[Astonandy]

Unfortunately it's likely to be mid to late September before the Flames would start playing pre season exhibition games. League games from early October

[johnnyreggae]

There was a brilliant thread about this area maybe six months ago - try a search (if its working again) on 'Banff'

[havoc]

parakitaMol. said:

Having stayed in both I would favour Banff rather than Lake Louise - the Fairmont is spectacular if your budget stretches to it. I didn't like the Farimont at Lake Louise - too much like a Disneyland princess castle. The scenery is stunning and Banff is a great little town (whereas there is bugger all in Lake Louise apart from the Hotel restaurants and a tiny little precinct at the bottom of the hill). The Fairmont in Banff has a fantastic sushi restaurant and the town has lots of bars, shops and restaurants.

We stayed in Jasper and Banff, and visited L. Louise. And I'd agree with the above - the Fairmont seems a typical corporate 4* "shove an ugly hotel in front of a beauty spot and charge a fortune".

L.Louise isn't even the prettiest of the lakes up there - IMHO that's Emerald Lake (which has a little lodge in the middle of it...might be able to do a night or two there if you're lucky, although check ASAP as given the location I'd expect it to be booked a year in advance), followed by Moraine Lake.


Jasper is a lovely little town - feels very friendly and you can find your way around straight away. Banff is bigger, there's more to do (but both have a decent spread of rest'ts), and is a lot easier to get to from Calgary. But if you've a week I'd do a few nights in both, as stuff in the middle of the Icefields parkway (e.g. Athabasca Glacier, or pretty much anywhere north of L. Louise) is too far to easily do in a day-trip from Banff...and there's a lot up there well-worth seeing.

We probably JUST preferred the Jasper area to the Banff area, mainly because it felt more 'wild', felt easier to get away from civilisation without spending hours to do so.

Have a look here for some ideas...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48052912@N05/sets/721...




PS - you're unlikely to have time, but if you can, try and get over to Victoria (on Vancouver Island) - the Orca and Seal/Sea Lion photos are from a half-day boat trip out of there - one of the highlights of our holiday!!!

PPS - also consider time of day when visiting places, as the rockies go N-S and the sun goes E-W, so the sight you want to see may have the sun in the wrong place when you're there. We had this problem at Lake Louise (go in the morning) and Mt Edith Cavell / Angel Glacier (again, go in the morning). Conversely Moraine Lake is probably more photogenic mid-afternoon, after the fierce daylight sun and before it goes behind the mountains.

[Tyre Tread]

Great info guys, thanks.

WE spent this evening looking at hotel location and prices so your info is great. Still haven't decided yet so any more info is appreciated.

[ghibbett]

What havoc said (especially Emerald Lake).

[Simon Brooks]

stayed here for a couple nights, clean tidy and close to town

http://www.beckerschalets.com/index.htm

[Vytalis]

http://www.alpinevillagejasper.com/

We stayed there for a week and it was fantastic. Highly recommended.

[downthepub]

Staying at the Emerald Lake hotel in about ten days time, can't wait - going back to the area for a couple weeks; visiting friends we made when out there on secondment for a year. Not that you are skiing, but in August there will be no snow anyway. Banff is quite expensive for accommodation as it's in the National Park, the StoneRidge in Canmore (which is just out of the park) is pretty decent. IMHO, Deer Lodge at Lake Louise is a better and cheaper option than the Fairmont.

The Columbia Icefields are worth a visit, on the road between Lake Louise and Jasper. If you do fancy that and the Banff Gondola (great views from the top of the mountain), Brewsters (www.explorerockies.com) do discounts if you visit both attractions.

If you stop in any of the National Parks, you'll need a park pass, which I think is CAN$20 per day or from the kiosk $140 for a year. So if you are spending more than a week in the parks, probably better getting a year's worth.