Alberta, Canada

It felt as if we were destined to travel through flat landscapes when we suddenly found ourselves amid the Canadian Rockies! It was as if we rounded a curve, and before our eyes, we were left in awe of the majestic beauty of the Rockies. The towering peaks, the crisp mountain air, and the untouched wilderness all around us was a sight to behold. To call these mountains majestic is an understatement. 

With the change in the landscape came a notable shift in the weather. The high was twenty-nine degrees, the low was nineteen, and it was snowing. The sudden chill in the air and snowflakes falling gently from the sky excited me. I couldn’t wait to get my winter clothes out and embrace the winter wonderland.

Our stay in Banff was a true delight. The off-season allowed us to quickly find a charming lodge with a cozy fireplace in our suite. The thought of settling in and feeling the warmth of the fire after a cold day exploring was a comforting and inviting prospect.

Banff, a resort town and a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offers many winter and summer activities. There’s something for everyone, from skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking and wildlife spotting in the summer. We were particularly excited about the beautiful hikes that awaited us.

In the late 1800s, the Canadian Pacific Railway stumbled upon a natural wonder: the hot springs in this area. Recognizing its potential, the railway swiftly erected a high end hotel that would later be known as the Fairmont Banff. This grand railway hotel, a testament to the railway’s vision and ingenuity, was created to bring luxurious rail travel through Canada. There are sixteen grand hotels in Canada, and I would love to visit them all! They are rich in history and will undoubtedly be gorgeous. We had lunch here one day, and it was wonderful and felt like we were sitting in the middle of the rockies only nice and warm. We will spend a few days here before heading south towards home. We will stop in Washington to visit with Crystal and then on to Oregon to visit with more family.

Loving this unencumbered vagabond life.

Missing you.