Banff and Waterton National Parks trip

[cbo111]

Just completed an awesome trip to Canada, visiting Calgary, Banff, and Waterton National parks. If you enjoy mountain scenery, this is the place. We flew in to Calgary and spent a couple days in both parks. The views and wildlife were just amazing. We saw bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, foxes, wolves, deer, bald eagles, and buffalo. I used to think Yosemite and Zion were the most beautiful parks. But the northern Rockies were much more spectacular. Spent 7 days total but wished we had another couple days.


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[Danmar]

Just completed an awesome trip to Canada, visiting Calgary, Banff, and Waterton National parks. If you enjoy mountain scenery, this is the place. We flew in to Calgary and spent a couple days in both parks. The views and wildlife were just amazing. We saw bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, foxes, wolves, deer, bald eagles, and buffalo. I used to think Yosemite and Zion were the most beautiful parks. But the northern Rockies were much more spectacular. Spent 7 days total but wished we had another couple days.


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Glad to hear you liked it so much. We first visited the Canadian Rockies in June,2007 just after we retired. Liked it so much we bought a house in Canmore and moved there. It is truly one of the most spectacularly beautiful places we have seen. Great place to live. We bike, ski, some hiking. Winters got a little long so we ended up getting a place in Arizona as well.

 

[Alan]

Just completed an awesome trip to Canada, visiting Calgary, Banff, and Waterton National parks. If you enjoy mountain scenery, this is the place. We flew in to Calgary and spent a couple days in both parks. The views and wildlife were just amazing. We saw bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, foxes, wolves, deer, bald eagles, and buffalo. I used to think Yosemite and Zion were the most beautiful parks. But the northern Rockies were much more spectacular. Spent 7 days total but wished we had another couple days.


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Good to hear such a good report. On Saturday we are driving up to Whistler for a couple of weeks (we are on Vancouver Island at present) then we have a month booked at a place in Canmore.

 

[Free To Canoe]

... We saw bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, foxes, wolves, deer, bald eagles, and buffalo. ...

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Didn't see any Wapiti? If you liked Banff, you will love Jasper and Yoho NPs. Someday I will see Waterton.

 

[kcowan]

I have always thought that Canmore is a perfect place to own. Private ownership but surrounded by parks and mountains. Short drive to Calgary for shopping. Lowest taxes in Canada.

Enjoy your stay Alan and make sure to quiz Danmar on places that are must see. There is a skyride in Squamish that you must do so take the extra time before or after Whistler. Also the peak-to-peak ride in Whistler.

 

[chilkoot]

I've visited most of the national parks in the western U.S. (a few years ago I bought an annual pass and went on a parks bender). I've often thought Glacier (on the Canadian border, next to Waterton) was the most beautiful place I've ever been.

 

[Alan]

I have always thought that Canmore is a perfect place to own. Private ownership but surrounded by parks and mountains. Short drive to Calgary for shopping. Lowest taxes in Canada.

Enjoy your stay Alan and make sure to quiz Danmar on places that are must see. There is a skyride in Squamish that you must do so take the extra time before or after Whistler. Also the peak-to-peak ride in Whistler.

Thanks Keith, we are certainly looking forward to it. While we are there we will have 2 sets of visitors, a cousin and her DH who we get on really well wth are flying in from Winniepeg for a few days, then our son from Texas is flying in a little later for a 10 day stay.

I see that Danmar has already chimed in on this thread so hopefully he will add some useful tips on what to do while we are staying there.

I've visited most of the national parks in the western U.S. (a few years ago I bought an annual pass and went on a parks bender). I've often thought Glacier (on the Canadian border, next to Waterton) was the most beautiful place I've ever been.

After Canmore we are staying in Glacier NP for a few days. Last time we were close to Glacier, in 2012, we were too early in the year and the roads were still closed, so this will be our first visit.

 

[Sunset]

I just want to point out to folks the Canadian dollar is down to 77 cents American. This means the US $$$ goes a LOT farther, you will probably get $1.20 for each US dollar.

I have to mention this, as I'm amazed at the number of Americans I meet who have never been to Canada, even back around 1999-2000 when a US dollar was worth about $1.65 Canadian.

Talk about an opportunity to travel !!