Jesse, Maxine and I have just returned from a 4 day trip to Lake Louise in Banff National Park (in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta).
I won this trip in a fundraiser- the WWF CN Tower Climb (which, by the way, was so much fun). It was an all expenses paid trip- flights, rental car, a luxury hotel (the historic Chateau Lake Louise) with gourmet meals, spa credit, and activities (guided hike, canoeing, gondola ride).
Not the kind of traveling we usually do... (see Road Trip 2008!)
BUT! it was really fantastic- neither of us had ever been anywhere in Canada in between Vancouver and Toronto. The mountains were amazing. It was so great to not have to think about laundry, meals, etc and to have only one little baby to take care of for a few days! Jesse and I enjoyed lots of uninterrupted conversations and glasses of wine. The boys stayed with good friends and grandparents- and got totally spoiled I think. They were really happy the whole time and say they only missed Maxine. Maxine LOVED the trip- she soaked up all the attention from hotel staff, waitresses, and fellow tourists, charming everyone she met.
The first day we were there, it snowed! A lot! In July! The next few days, however, were gorgeous blue sky sunny days. It took me 2 days to get ready to go, and likely it will be another few before we're settled in here again, but man it was nice.
Some highlights:
The view from our room (!!) of Lake Louise
The hotel from the far end of the lake:
On our 14 k hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers:
The Teahouse at the end of the trail:
One of my favourite meals - cheese, then meat, then chocolate fondue. (who else had 3 course fondue dinners growing up in the 1970s? Yum Yum!) Here's the cheese:
A grizzly mama and her cubs and a grizzly bear den:
Nearby Moraine Lake (that's the actual colour!):
