OH CANADA!
Traveling to the western providence of Alberta, Canada was the most wonderful experience. It began by flying into Alberta's largest city of Calgary. Calgary had so much to offer from great food, scenery, events and more. Below are some of the spots that are totally worth checking out:
Ranchmanns: http://www.ranchmans.com/
Located at 9615 Macleod Trail South is Ranchman's Cookhouse & Dancehall, the country western bar which was featured in the movie Cool Runnings.
The Craft: http://craftbeermarket.ca/calgary
Located at 345 10 AVE SW, CALGARY, AB
With over 100 beers on tap, this original location is a fixture in the city, a place that brings Calgarians and out of towners together to share in their love of craft beer and great food.
National: http://www.ntnl.ca/
Located at 341 10 AVE SW, CALGARY, AB
National is a restautant and entertainment venue with many craft beers on tap and bowling lanes for your enjoyment.
Calgary Flames Game at Scotia Bank Saddle Dome
Built in 1983 this arena is located on Stampede grounds in south east downtown. Known for its saddle like shape it was an awesome spot to catch a game with rich history and great fans!
Morgan's Pub: http://morganspubcalgary.com/
Located at 1324 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
Morgan's is a great spot to hit after a Calgary Flames game. With live music 7 days a week, we caught the amazing hair band; Broken Toyz. Its a place you can feel comfortable and just be yourself!
BANFF AND LAKE LOUISE
Taking a one night trip up to Banff and Lake Louise on an early Monday was a great move. No traffic, not a lot of tourists, and great hotel. On the way up check out spots for hiking trails, the frozen waterfalls and scenery were beautiful. In Banff we stayed at Banff Aspen Lodge located at 401 Banff Ave. Great Location and excellent value: http://www.banffaspenlodge.com/
Restaurants:
Coyote's Southwestern Grill (2nd picture above): 206 Caribou St, Banff, Banff National Park
Great!! Squash soup and salmon sandwich in the middle of town.
Banff Grizzly House: http://banffgrizzlyhouse.com/
Banff's amazing fondue restaurant (3rd picture above)! The Grizzly House is a local staple for visitors and locals in Banff National Park. For dinner we indulged in the unique atmosphere for what proved to be a memorable dining experience!
Banff Ave Brewery: banffavebrewingco.ca
Large two story brew pub where you can grab a pint or food with some great atmosphere. Really enjoyed the Saskatoon Berry Blonde Ale, and so much I got a bottle to go!
Banff Upper Hot Springs: http://www.hotsprings.ca/banff-upper-hot-springs
A fun experience and I would put the Banff Upper Hot Springs at the top of your list of things to do when traveling here. Soak in the steamy hot mineral water and enjoy the relaxing view of the mountains.
Pricing: $7.30 per adult, towel $1.90 (you can bring your own) and locker rental $1.00
Lake Louise was about 30 minutes away from Banff, but worth every second. The views were breathtaking and there are so many outdoor and indoor activities to do while you are there. We decided to stay in Banff because the Fairmont Hotel was a bit pricey. You could stay in that area doing the countless activities for weeks. The weather was lovely so we decided to do the outdoor skating. The skate rentals were reasonable at $13.00 for 2 hours, but you can also bring your own.
http://www.skilouise.com/
