Golf Courses around Banff and the Canadian Rockies

Banff National Park, Alberta

It goes without saying that the Canadian Rockies provide one of the greatest backgrounds for a golf course in the world. Babbling brooks, towering mountain peaks, pristine greens and wildlife grazing on the fairways are just a few of the unique things that make golfing the Rockies so superb. From your hotel or accommodation, you can organize rentals of clubs if you haven’t brought your own. The thing is even if you play the worst game of your life, you just can’t get into Happy Gilmore angry mode because it is just too beautiful. Silvertip Golf Course and Resort is the perfect example. Located only minutes from Canmore and the boundaries of Banff National Park, it is nothing short of heaven.

The Silvertip Golf resort is one of the best in the world for any level of golfer.

Professional golfers such as Stephen Ames have declared the Silvertip to be the most spectacular he has ever played and once you arrive it is easy to see why. Master golf course designer Les Furber is the mastermind behind Silvertip. He designed a par-72 course which has over 600 feet of elevation change and some really testing (and rewarding) championship tees. Despite its somewhat testing sections, Silvertip is still suited for the recreational player as much as the professional.

Aside from the actual course which is already world renowned in the golfing world, Silvertip also has some superb dining options such as Stoney’s Bar and Grill. Even if you aren’t going to be playing a round, the food here is amongst the best around and the views, especially in the outdoor patio area make for a tranquil, enjoyable meal. It is also perfectly suited for corporate team building functions and gorgeous summer weddings as well. As a location in the Canadian Rockies, it really has everything on offer. Silvertip golf course really is one of the best golf courses and resorts in Canada.

Phone: (403) 678-1600

Toll Free: 1-877-877-5444

Facsmile: (403) 678-1609

Email: info@silvertipresort.com

Guest Ranch Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. Banff, Alberta

Banff National Park, Alberta

The Canadian Rockies and its surrounds provide the perfect backdrop for a ranch, resort or lodge. Often when walking around towns like Banff and Canmore, you feel like you are walking around in a beautiful water colour painting. Calgary can get a bit stressful at times with parking meters, traffic lights and high rise buildings taking over the skyline. Even Banff can, at times feel a little commercial. This is why a ranch like Rafter Six Ranch is so remarkable. Only 30 minutes from Banff or 45 minutes from Calgary, it is like crossing into a whole new world. Once you cross the grill, you enter a serene world where lazy dogs lie in the sun and horses run free around the grounds.

Horseback riding in the Canadian Rockies is an unforgettable experience.

The Rafter Six Ranch is a place full of stories of the past but packed full of adventures for the present. Whether you are looking to just relax for a few days close to the city but feeling like you are in the wild or something more – they have it all. There are guided horseback trail rides, overnight pack trips through the picturesque Bow Valley Provincial Park, a thrilling White Water Raft Trip down the Kananaskis River, a unique and challenging Adventure High Ropes Course in the tree tops ending with a zipline and also some great hiking and biking trails.

This is one Guest Ranch resort of the Canadian Rockies that simply needs to be seen to be believed. It really is surprising that after a very short drive from the city or Banff, you are all of a sudden thrown into this ranch wonderland. Dominant snow-capped mountains frame every gorgeous scene around this lodge. Aside from its aesthetics, Rafter Six has the perfect facilities for a wedding, corporate meeting or even a family reunion. It even has its own wedding chapel so everything can take place within the idyllic grounds. With the summer fast approaching, there has never been a better time to get back in the saddle!

1-888-26-RANCH (1-888-267-2624)

vacations@raftersix.com

Airplane Tours in the Canadian Rockies – Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park, Alberta

There are a thousand ways of seeing the Canadian Rockies. Backpacking, hiking, organized trips and sightseeing adventures are all great options but surely the most unique way must be by air. Located in Hinton, just outside Jasper National Park, Air Jasper offers superb airplane tours over nature’s wonders such as the Columbia Icefields and Maligne Lake. Custom flights are also available if you are looking for something a bit different for a corporate trip or a wedding celebration.

The best sights of the Rockies such as Mt. Christie are best seen from the sky.

The Columbia Icefields is a remarkable natural phenomenon. During the warmer months of the year, you can get up close and personal and see the largest of the chain of icefields along the Great Divide separating BC from Alberta. It is also home to some of the most stunning peaks in Alberta such as North Twin, Mt. Kitchener, Snow Dome and the Athabasca Glacier. As impressive as these peaks are from the ground, it is something special from above. The real magnificence of the geography can really be appreciated.

Another great flight to make is the over Maligne Lake. Taking a boat tour on Maligne Lake is a great experience. It is the longest and deepest lake in the Rockies and is known around the world for its deep emerald colour and surrounding snow-capped mountains. From the air, it is simply stunning. You half expect to see the Lough Ness monster sunbathing on its shores. To find out more about these tours around Jasper and the Canadian Rockies and many more, give Marty at Air Jasper a call or email.

phone: (780) 865-3616

airjaspr@telusplanet.net

Guest Ranch Vacations, BC, Rockies

Banff National Park, Alberta

Whether you are looking for a romantic week of horse riding with your new bride / groom or a good old fashioned wholesome family vacation – you can not do wrong in the surrounds of some of the most stunning scenery in the world. The Canadian Rockies is the perfect backdrop for a dude or guest ranch holiday and Three Bars Ranch in BC is the perfect lodge to choose. Don’t be misled that if you don’t ride horses, this is not the right trip for you. Other than the four legged beast, you can choose from hiking, river rafting, mountain bikes, fly fishing, tennis, heated pool, hot tub, and fitness facility. It is the most fun-filled and activity driven yet relaxed vacation you could have.

BC has some of the most stunning sights in the world.

British Columbia has always been something of a utopia to visit. Sometimes it feels like you are reading a Hans Christian Andersen book with gushing streams, fervent green surrounds, snow-capped mountains sheltering the whole scene – it really is gorgeous. The horses are as happy to be out in this wild as the visitors are. Three Bars is a family run affair with Jeff, April, Tyler, Jenna and Jesse all offering the usual BC hospitality.

Despite the feeling that you are in the middle of nowhere, Three Bars is based out of Cranbrook which actually has its own airport so can get from office to saddle as soon as possible! The feeling of release and relaxation that you experience when you get to the gates of Three Bars has to be experienced to be believed. For a great family vacation or simply an excuse to get back to nature amidst the Rockies, this is a great mountain resort to choose from. The photos and memories you take back with you will be priceless. Booking has opened for summer 2010’.

(250) 426-5230        info@threebarsranch.com

White Water Rafting in Banff, Canadian Rockies

Banff National Park, Alberta

Fresh mountain air, cobalt blue skies, green trees lining a river bank, elk grazing and sipping water and adrenalin flowing though your body as you race down the river on a white water raft – welcome to the Rockies! White Water rafting is always fun regardless where you do it but when you are blessed with the surroundings of Banff, it is even better. There are several companies that do trips in the Banff area. One that has been going a long time and has a great reputation is Kootenay River Runners.

Enjoy the adrenalin of white water rafting while in the stunning surrounds of the Rockies.

Kootenay have a selection of runs to choose from which are suitable for beginners or experts alike. The Kicking Horse River Tour is one thrilling option. First you acclimatize in the Upper Kicking Horse before crashing through the Class 3 and 4 rapids of the Upper Canyon. This may not be the best option for beginners. The names of the runs such as Double Trouble, Watchman’s Rapid and Rip Tide hint at this!

For something a bit more peaceful and family orientated, you could try the Kootenay River Tour. On this trip, you raft your way into the remote heart of the Canadian Rockies and tackle nothing worse than class 2 and 3 whitewater. Aside from the stunning scenery you will see, this is also a great opportunity to see some wildlife up close and personal without interfering in their natural habitat. Half and Full day trips are available. There is a host of other trip options to choose from. Rafting season starts soon so give Kootenay a call and ask about how best to get you on the river!

Kootenay River Runners

403.762.5385

info@raftingtherockies.com

Hiking Adventures in the Canadian Rockies – Elk Highline and Highwood Circuit

Banff National Park, Alberta

There is no better place in the world to experience the great outdoors than the Canadian Rockies. When summer comes around and the snow melts, there are so many hikes and trips to choose from that you won’t even know where to begin. Wildlife, stunning nature and colors in abundance await you at every turn. Of course, you can just grab a map and head off on a camping and hiking adventure in your own time but if you want something a bit different, then the professionals are here to help. One example of a unique, though challenging trip is the Elk Highline and Highwood Circuit with Yamnuska.

Backpacking the Canadian Rockies is one of the most memorable trips you will ever take.

To do this trip, you will want to be quite experienced and fit or at least have an adventurous spirit that can overcome tired legs when things get tricky. With the help of the guides, you will be making your own trails rather than following a set trail which makes things easier. However, you will be rewarded for your hard work with some of the most stunning views, beautiful lakeside camps, superb fishing and an extremely peaceful wild atmosphere.

The five day trip takes in hikes to Carnavon Lake, Mount Muir, Lake of the Horns, Loomis Lake and much more along the Continental Divide. The trip starts in early August so with a bit of luck, the weather gods will be smiling down on you and your hiking vacation. It has to be reitaerated that often people go on these hiking trips and part of the fun is taken away because they are not fit enough. The better hiking shape you are in for Elk Highline and Highwood Circuit, the more you are going to enjoy the walk and the sights. The Rockies deserve to be enjoyed without struggling breath!

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

200 – 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore, Alberta

Email: info@yamnuska.com

Skiing and Snowboarding Lake Louise

Lake Louise, Alberta

Every time I go skiing or snowboarding in Lake Louise, I find myself getting lost…in a good way. It is the kind of ski resort where you can go day after day and week after week and still never get bored. It was a Sunday, the sky was as blue as possible and the temperatures peaked at a miraculous 10 degrees, which must be a record for Lake Louise in February. Though there hasn’t been much snow lately, the slopes were practically perfect. If there was ice anywhere on the slopes, I didn’t find it. Driving from Banff, Lake Louise is only a 25 minute drive further than Sunshine and the extra time in the car is well spent when you reach the far superior ski resort.

The views from Lake Louise ski resort are nothing short of stunning.

The slopes of Lake Louise are so open than even the most out of control skier or snowboarder can make it look like they are in full control. Some of the slopes out the back of the resort feel like you are in the back of beyond. Plan your day so you do the back of the resort first thus catching as much sun as possible. There are three major ski hills around the Banff / Lake Louise area. Norquay and Sunshine Village are the other two. The big difference with Lake Louise to Sunshine for example is that the slopes seem to go on forever. When skiing Sunshine, sometimes you get the feeling that you are spending most of your time waiting for or on a chairlift to get back up the hill.

I can honestly say there is no where in the world I wanted to be more than at Lake Louise sipping a hot chocolate in the sun on the deck of the mid slope canteen chalet. If you are going to be making it to the Lake Louise ski resort, make sure to visit the Fairmont Lake Louise Chateau before dusk to see the beautiful ice sculptures and maybe have an ice skate if you have the energy. Despite its unique beauty, both Lake Louise and the Lake Louise ski resort do not get the recognition they deserve. Use this to your benefit and enjoy the stunning nature in relative peace!

Check out the conditions at the new Lake Louise Ski Web Cams

Snow Phone: 1-403-244-6665 (CHI-NOOK)

Ski For Free Package at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Jasper National Park, Alberta

Jasper has a lot of great things about it. However, two of the very best are the luxurious Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and the absolutely superb Marmot Basin Ski area. These two institutes of Jasper have teamed up this winter to offer what has already been an absolute success for visitors for a ski and stay package. The reason for this partnership is to celebrate Marmot Basin who this year installed a new high speed quad chair which has been getting visitors up on the hill even quicker.

The ski and stay package in Jasper is a fantastic offer.

The Fairmont has a reputation around the Rockies for luxury and comfort and the Jasper Park Lodge is no exception. Every single time I have visited whether it is for a weekend or just a walk and a cup of tea, I have found myself within arm’s reach of grazing elk – though it was slightly less fun during rutting season when the males might (rightly) judge me as competition. Though only a short drive from town or a gorgeous 45 minute walk, it feels like it is right in the middle of nature.

Marmot is well renowned as one of the best ski hills in North America. Like Jasper National Park, it is so big that it never seems busy or crowded. There are few things you will enjoy more on your vacation than coming home to the beautiful Fairmont Hotel after a long day of skiing or boarding. If you book a room in the Fairmont, you will receive 2 adult lift tickets. If you stay three nights, you will get 4 adult lift tickets. You’ve only got until Mid April to get this deal before Marmot closes for the season so make sure to book your trip to Jasper and the Fairmont soon!

Call for more details: TEL (780) 852-3301

Winter Activities in Banff

Banff National Park, Alberta

Sometimes visiting Banff is like watching a fashion show. Everything is beautiful but you have to budget your time to see as much as you possibly can. Once you have your flights and accommodations booked, the next thing to do is try and figure out how many activities you can do and how best to see the park. This is where the wonder of Banff Travel comes in. Whether it is dog sledding, snow shoeing or something with a bit more adrenalin involved, they have everything covered when it comes to seeing this great National Park in different ways.

You are likely to see some great nightlife while snow mobiling in the Rockies - whether you want to or not!

Snow Mobiling is one if the best and beautifully lazy ways to see the natural surrounds and maybe some wildlife. There is an assortment of trips to choose from. One of the most unique in my unquestionable opinion is the Paradise Basin Full Day tour which brings you to the remnants of the early 1900’s Silver mining town located 8000ft above sea level. Not only is it better than working in the mines, you will also see plenty of wildlife, an ice fall, open powder bowl and a hearty lunch in the cozy cabin. The driver pays $249 and the passenger less than half of that. Considering the memories and experiences you will be taking away with you, these prices are actually quite fair.

There are other tours that cater for the more experienced sledder or those who run heavily on adrenalin. One good example is the Powder X Tours where riders can handle the machines in deep mountain powder. As well as just having fun, you will also receive guidance so you can one day go out on your own and tackle the more treacherous terrain. The flights are booked, the accommodations are chosen; why not see the Canadian Rockies with the help of powerful snow mobiles?!

Adventures in the Rocky Mountains

Canmore, Alberta

Yamnuska have been providing tourists from all over Canada and the world with great activities and adventures in the Canadian Rockies for over 30 years. Friendly and professional guides know the mountains like the back of their hand regardless of season and there are few companies better equipped to show you the magic of these mountains than Yamnuska. One of the most popular packages they have put together is the Wapta Traverse. What is the Wapta Traverse I hear you say? It is one of the best and most unique ways to see the Rockies. It is a ‘hut to hut’ ski tour on the Wapta Icefields which spread for many miles along the continental divides all the way from the Lake Louise area.

Traversing the Wapka is a unique way of seeing the Rockies.

There are different options to choose from. The four day basic traverse is one that anybody can do regardless of experience. Starting bright and early at 8am in Canmore – you will go through all the essentials such as equipment check, trip review and an introduction to your guides and fellow travelers. Once all of this is done, the fun starts with a climb to Bow Hut 7700 feet towards the clouds. It can take anywhere between 3 and 5 hours before crossing the frozen and beautiful Bow Lake. From here, you will ski up the canyon; tackle one more steep section before reaching the warmth and relaxation of the spacious and comfortable cabins. If you are tired just reading this paragraph, imagine the feeling of achievement as you lay your head down with the knowledge that you still have three more days of the most stunning scenery to look forward to.

Each day is planned to the finest details by the experts in Yamnuska to make sure that every corner, every climb and every rest break brings with it a new ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ echoing around the mountains of the Rockies! Glaciers, mountains, challenging walks and fantastic skiing all comes as part of the package. The price of $850 is extremely fair for such a trip and includes guiding, hut fees, evening meals, transport to trailhead if necessary and the National Park ‘Wilderness Fee’. For adventures in the mountains around Banff and the Rockies – Yamnuska is a great option.

200 – 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore, Alberta

Phone: 403.678.4164