Podcast Episode 6: Calgary & the Canadian Rockies with Kids
Emilie is a French Canadian, born and raised in Quebec City, married to a guy from California. They have two little boys (aged 2 and 4) and have lived in Canada, the US and France. They have also traveled a lot through Europe and North America. In 2020, they sold all of their belongings and started on a full time travel adventure, and are documenting it all on their blog and Instagram Love Life Abroad. They are now spending the winter in the Canadian Rockies.
LINKS
Where to find Emilie
Instagram:
Blog:
Helpful Blog posts:
I would recommend flying into Calgary. Spending a few days there. Then spending a few days in Banff National Park. Then driving along the Icefield Parkways. Spend a few days in Jasper National Park. Depending on your flights, either drive back to Calgary, or drive to Edmonton and fly back from Edmonton.
CALGARY:
Calgary Zoo
Heritage Historical Park
Bowness Park (pool… playground.. By the river)
Calgary Tower
Walk around downtown. ** Metro is free in downtown
DRUMHELLER:
is about 1.5 hours away from Calgary.
You really have to do a day trip (or more) to Drumheller. It’s in the heart of the badlands, where dinosaurs once lived. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is worth a visit. You can also do some archaeological search and find fossil or bones. Then, there isthe hoodoos, you can walk on them. It’s amazing.
Cowboy and Ranch experience:
Stampede in Calgary or other ranches.
Bar U Ranch (historical site)
Ranch (Boundary Ranch… horses in the summer. dog/horse sled in the winter)
After Calgary, heading in the Rockies. Just before Banff National Park, is the Kananaski Country. It’s where the town of Canmore is.
WHAT TO DO….
Downtown Banff:
Central Park - nice natural playground, Bow River
Main Street: Christmas store, candy store
See the Fairmont Hotel.
Garden: walk around.
Cave & Basin: search for the snails.
Hot Springs
Lake Louise / Lake Morraine….. Arrive SUPER early… or late afternoon…
Take the bus
Icefields Parkway *** Take your time… Weather can change. Snow in the summer is possible. *** No gas station in between Lake Louise and Jasper (230 km) *** No cellphone services
Tangle Falls
Columbia Glacier
Athabasca Falls
Jasper:
Walk around downtown
Maligne Canyon
Agnes Lake
Admire the elks… they are everywhere
Kootenay National Park for Marble Canyon and Pot Inks Hikes. It’s beautiful.
Yoho National Park: Emerald Lake (good alternative to Lake Louise), the Takakkaw falls
Parks Canada XPlorer Program for kids.
Our Top 5 favorite kids-friendly hikes in the Rockies:
We are doing the 52 Hike Challenge, so we pretty much do one hike per week and post about it weekly on our Instagram account. Even in the winter, but here are our Top 5.
Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park: 2.4 km round-trip to the Lower Falls (add 2.6 km round-trip to get to the Upper Fall)
Grassi Lakes in Kananaski Country: 4.3 kom round-trip to green lakes.
Lake Louise Lakefront in Banff National Park: 4.7 km round-trip along the lake.
Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park: 3.4 km loop
Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park: 1.8 km round-trip to the top of the canyon.