Rocky Mountain road trip: Travel Alberta's gorgeous Bow Valley
The Bow Valley, Alberta (Photo by Iconica/Getty Images).
Travel Alberta
It's not just the stunning views of the Rockies or the pristine turquoise lakes that will take your breath away on the winding mountain roads of the Bow Valley. This rugged, gorgeous area just west of Calgary is also home to charming small towns, award-winning dining, breweries for all tastes and adventures to thrill even the most daring. But if having a facial is as active as you get on vacation, there are plenty of spas, yoga studios and cafés to nestle in, too.
As for getting to this high-altitude nirvana, it's simple: Jump on Highway 1 from Calgary and head west. If you're here for the Stampede's centennial celebrations, this is the perfect road trip to let the fresh air whistle away any cobwebs left over from the hoedown and take in Alberta's striking scenery. You'll know you've arrived when the mountains—which seem like a distant painting at first—suddenly rise up to greet you.
Day 1: Canmore
This low-key town in the midst of the Rockies is almost an hour west of
Calgary and a great place to escape for a hike, if you're feeling
energetic, or some delicious food and people-watching, if you feel like
relaxing.
Eat: Canmore has a "cosmopolitan, small-town vibe," says chef Jan Hrabec, as doses her chic restaurant, Crazyweed Kitchen.
Try Jan's award-winning steamed Alaskan sablefish and chili-lemon-grass
fried pork belly. Worked up a serious appetite? Go for the lamb burger.
1600 Railway Ave., Canmore, 403-609-2530.
For a dinner with a mind-blowing view, snag a spot on one of two patios as The Iron Goat Pub & Grill.
The restaurant is perched high above the town's centre and offers wild
mountain vistas, not to mention gluten-free fare. The Alberta-game meat
loaf is pretty awesome. 703 Benchlands Trail, 403-609-0222.
Shop: Stop in at the Rocky Mountain Soap Company
to pick up its coveted handmade moisturizers, lip butters, soaps and
more. Karina Birch and Cam Baty, the Canmore couple who started the
company, believe in creating 100-percent-natural, good-for-you products.
820 Main St., Canmore.
Peruse the artwork at The Avens Gallery,
which carries paintings, photography, sculptures and more from local
and regional artists. Room in your trunk? Furniture maker Jeff Greenup's
Bolivian-rosewood Tulip Table is exquisite. 104 - 709 Main St.
Drink: For an authentic taste of the Rockies, grab a beer on the patio at The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company.
Its three flagship beers—Powder Hound Pilsner, Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat
and Rutting Elk Red—are famous round these parts. If beer's not really
your thing, ease into it with a fruity glass of Beaver Tail Raspberry
Ale. 622 Main St., 403-678-9983.
Sleep: Set up camp at Paintbox Lodge,
a lovely boutique hotel owned by Sara Renner, an Olympic medallist in
cross-country skiing, and Thomas Grandi, a World Cup champion in alpine
skiing. The downtown haven prides itself on featuring all things local,
from the coffee and mugs to photographs by Canmore visionary Craig
Richards. Hop on one of the hotel's bikes to cruise around town, stop in
for a free yoga class at a nearby studio, or sign up for a cooking
class with the hotel's principle chef. Speaking of food, the homemade
granola—served as part of the complimentary breakfast—is divine. 629
10th St., 403-609-0482.
Day 2: Banff
Drive through Banff National Park's gates and enter a mountain paradise.
With its many restaurants and adventurous activities, there's something
for everyone in this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Taste: Start the day at Wild Flour,
where locals pop in for freshly baked breads, frittata sandwiches and
coffee. Watch the bakers do their thing while you sip your java and read
the paper. 101 - 211 Bear St., Bison Courtyard, 403-760-5074.
After dinner—or at any time of day, really—get your sweet fix at The Fudgery,
which offers oodles of homemade fudge, truffles and treats. The milk
chocolate bearpaws are legendary. 215 Banff Ave., 403-762-3003.
Play: Go up, up and away as you ride the Banff Gondola,
a stunning eight-minute journey that delivers you to a peak some 7,500
feet high. Grab a seat in the restaurant at the top or wander the
kilometre-long boardwalk trail; either way, you'll never forget the
experience. Located at the base of Sulphur Mountain, at the end of
Mountain Avenue, 403-762-2523.
When you come back down, meander across the parking lot to the Banff Upper Hot Springs,
an outdoor pool filled with warm, natural mineral water. It's the
perfect place to relax after a stressful day of, um, eating and
drinking. Squeeze in a massage at the springs' spa while you're at it.
403-762-1515.
Sleep: Stay in the heart of Banff's action at The Fox Hotel & Suites,
an affordable spot that's within walking distance of the best
restaurants and pubs. The rooms are cozy—the animal-inspired wallpaper
is fantastic—and there's a cave-like hot tub in the hotel. 461 Banff
Ave., 403-760-8500.
Known as the "castle of the Rockies," The Fairmont Banff Springs
is a luxe hotel with a killer spa, golf course and majestic ballrooms.
Have a drink at one of the hotel's lounges and soak in the magnificence,
or take a raft tour and float lazily down the Bow River, where you're
more than likely to spot one of the Rockies' big five: deer, elk, moose,
wolf and bear. 405 Spray Ave.
Day 3: Lake Louise
A quiet hamlet west of Banff, Lake Louise is small and serene. And
the lake won't disappoint—it's as picture-perfect as the postcards.
Do: A must-see when visiting Lake Louise is, of course, the turquoise lake
itself: Its otherworldly blue comes from the limestone silt deposited by
the glaciers. You can opt for any activity here, from snapping photos
to working up a sweat on one of the many trails. A hike worth lacing
your boots for: the trail up to the family-run Lake Agnes Tea House, where you can dine on soup, sandwiches and tea before heading back down.
Equally stunning is Moraine Lake. Rent a canoe and paddle the crystal-clear waters, walk the lakeside trail in less than an hour, or tackle a steeper hike.
Sleep: Rest your head and body at the Post Hotel & Spa,
the ultimate in upscale pampering. With a cellar that boasts more than
2,200 unique wines, a spa to relieve weary legs and rooms filled with
Aveda products, you won't want for a thing. 200 Pipestone Rd.
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