Day 1 (Saturday, June 28th)– Arrive Vancouver
Welcome to Vancouver, the starting point for our vacation through British Columbia and into Alberta. In the heart of the city, close to shops, museums and restaurants and most of all, the water. We loved exploring and walking along the harbor into the sunset, which set around 11:00 PM! We enjoyed eating, eating and then eating some more. Most of our meals were shared and there for allowed us to try more fun cool spots! What else allowed us to enjoy Vancouver more was our amazing hotel staff, I have never met such kind and friendly people as the Canadians!

Overnight – Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Dinner – multiple pubs by the harbor

Day 2 (Sunday, June 29th)– VIA Rail Vancouver to Jasper
A full day to enjoy the city! We opted to take the city sightseeing tour because it allows you to get on and off at all the major attractions throughout Vancouver.We stopped off in Chinatown, Stanly Park and many more spots, mainly to get a taste of the food! The train departed at 8:30pm this evening. Nothing could have showed us Canada like a trip on the train. VIA Rail’s gives you a sitting room by day converting to bunk beds at night (and yes, for a 6 month prego lady this was a tight squeeze!). We got to eat our meals on the train and use any of the lounges and including access to the Skyline dome car for spectacular viewing.

Overnight – VIA Rail
Breakfast – Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Lunch – Dim Sum and later the Tearoom in Stanley Park
Dinner – Sushi

Day 3 (Monday, June 30th)– Enroute to Jasper
We awakened to mountain views, as we were traveling through the Canadian Rockies. I loved eating onboard, mainly because it made me feel like I was living out one of my favorite movies ever, White Christmas! The Jasper Park Lodge is an amazing and secluded resort unto itself in the wilderness where Marilyn Monroe shot her movie River of No Return. This place reminded me of Dirty Dancing with cabins set all over the property and many fun activities for guests!

Overnight – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Breakfast – Dinning Car
Lunch – Dinning Car
Dinner – The Moose’s Nook Northern Grill

Day 4 CANADA DAY(Tuesday, July 1st) – Jasper and Lake Maligne

We woke early for a morning breakfast on the quite and very cool veranda. Our day included a tour of the Jasper Park area and many naturally beautiful spots. Places we stopped include Lake Maligne where the famous Spirit Island is located and is completely glacier fed. We were told the lake which is 14 miles long can be frozen up to 4 ft. thick for up to 9 months our of the year. We also visited Maligne Canyon and other beautiful lakes!

Later this evening we got word that for Canada Day they would be shooting off fireworks after the town celebrated with a parade and other festivities. Sadly we had to stay up waaaay past our bedtime to see the fireworks and it wasn’t even completely dark by 11:30 PM when they went off.

Overnight – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Breakfast – Cavell’s Restaurant and Terrace
Lunch- Lake Maligne
Dinner – Jasper Brewing Co. Dessert – Ice Cream Shop

Day 5 (Wednesday, July 2nd) – Jasper to Lake Louise
We sadly left Jasper and headed toward the Columbia Icefield’s with a ride on the Ice Explorer. This thing was a beast! We learned loads of facts about glaciers and yes, we sipped some of the clear cool water straight from the melt off. We also ventured out onto the Glacier Skywalk, a platform that sticks out over a canyon with a glass floor, this proved much more terrifying than I had anticipated! The drive to Lake Louise is beautiful. We also found our self at Athabasca Falls, Bow Lake and many other phenomenal sites! Our arrival at the Chateau gave us time to view the lake and enjoy the grounds by hiking a few miles around the lake before dinner. The beauty of Lake Louise and the Chateau is unique. Only when you see the view can you understand why people say, “you must see it to believe it.”

Overnight – Fairmont Château Lake Louise
Breakfast – Cavell’s Restaurant and Terrace
Lunch – Columbia Icefield’s Cafe
Dinner – Poppy Brasserie

Day 6 (Thursday, July 3rd) – Lake Louise to Banff
After the beauty of Lake Louise, we decided to view it from a different angle. Our morning hike to the peak of a near by mountain proved to be quite challenging. After a few wild animal sightings and over 1200 ft. accent we made it to a tearoom on top. Although we forgot our credit card so we couldn’t indulge in hot Apple Pie we were able to have a spectacular view of the Rockies as well as use the outhouse! Yeawhoo! We then made our way to Banff which was the town that inspired our whole Canada Vacation trip. This active alpine village is just about the best place to be in summer. Towering mountains and the sweeping Bow Valley offer stunning contrasts. Elk roam about totally unconcerned with the flow of visitors passingby. We took a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain instead of braving the hike.The Fairmont Banff Springs isa castle amongst the mountains and forests built in the 1800s we truly enjoyed the history of this hotel and not to mention, had jaw dropping views form our room in a top spire. We also witnessed a rainstorm being blown in at dinner.

Overnight – Fairmount Banff Springs
Breakfast – on the trail
Lunch – Columbia Icefields Cafe
Dinner- Three Ravens Restaurant and Wine Bar

Day 7 (Friday, July 4th)– Banff
The town of Banff is nestled amongst the mountains of Tunnel, Cascade, Rundle, and Norquay. Some of the important and historical sites we visited were:
Wind-shaped hoodoos, Surprise Corner, Bow Falls, Buffalo Mountain and more. A highlight was definitly the eight minute Sulphur Mountain gondola ride where you will be whisked to the top for a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of Bow Valley. We enjoyed a dip in the warmed pool and laying out, finally our vacation began!

Overnight – Fairmount Banff Springs
Breakfast – Castle Pantry
Lunch – Maple Leaf Grill
Dinner – Castello Ristorante
Dessert and Drinks – Rundle Lounge

Many of these photographs were taken with my back up Nikon D800 and I was only allowed one lens so I took my Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 as well as a point-and-shoot Lumix Panasonic.

We can’t wait to return one day soon, with family. Justin made me promise that next vacation we must spend it in one place relaxing. I think we already know where we’ll be next summer, and with a 9 month old baby boy! Stay tuned if you want to find out! ????

Much of this was planned and some of the wording for the itinerary was by Cartan Tours. Thanks for a wonderful time in the Rockies!