Travel

Dining Outside the Home: Wild Bill’s Legendary Saloon in Banff, Canada 

Dining Outside the Home: Wild Bill’s Legendary Saloon in Banff, Canada! Climb the stairs to the second level for a wide-open Wild West experience complete with smokehouse menu, grizzly bear wi-fi, and mechanical bull. The windows are flung open wide to the alpine view beyond. If you’re lucky, you may snag a couple bar stools on the private balcony perched for people-watching on Main Street below. The chuck wagon sandwiches include fresh elk burgers and lean bison burgers. When you want to gather with friends, dance the night away, sing like you’re a country music star, Wild Bill’s Legendary Saloon offers night life that never sleeps. 

Blue Waters Outline Wolf Head

Blue Waters Outline Wolf Head! A bird’s eye view from Bow Summit affords the most incredible vantage point of a shockingly turquoise lake in the form of a wolf’s head. This is Peyto Lake in Alberta, Canada. From the parking area, a short walk along a paved trail builds suspense for what lies ahead. The platformed lookout, suspended over the edge of the mountain, sits high above the dense valley below. Everyone can appreciate the snow-capped glacier peaks and incredible color of the icy blue water. Imagine the awe of historical trapper Bill Peyto when he made this discovery in the late 1800s. 

Romantic Hideaway or Artist’ Retreat 

Romantic Hideaway or Artist’ Retreat? Deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, nestled along the cerulean banks of Bow Lake, sits a rustic log cabin and stone lodge where cell phones have ceased functioning and television sets have gone missing. Travelers and tourists seek refuge at the red-roofed Num-ti-jah Lodge when the urge arises to “get away from it all”. (The staff has access to internet and phones in case of an emergency.) Step outside the front door to a glacier backdrop that captivates the inner poet and the novice photographer as well as the unbridled passions of writers, artists, or sculptors. But don’t stop there. Fishermen wile away the hours from dawn to dusk before returning to a warm fire. Hikers explore foot trails across the lake for a vantage point that spots the red roof as a way back home at the end of the day. Enliven the senses and embrace Alberta, Canada. 

Fly Through the Holidays Without These Items

Fly Through the Holidays Without These Items! If you are traveling by air during the holidays, take heed. As super-cute and fashionable as rhinestone studded jeans appear, airport security checkpoints hate them. There’s just too much metallic sparkle and embellishment that play havoc with the scanners. With four metal prongs on each bead, you can certainly understand what I mean. Then there’s the knee-high boots that are worn with the butter-soft leggings or flattering skinny jeans. Most boots have decorative buckled straps to dress it up. These too, alert security which can slow things down a bit. But probably the most surprising red flag of all, is the body lotion. Especially if you slather it on your hands before walking out the door on the way to the airport. I did that two hours before arriving at the terminal. As I passed through security, the guard pulled me aside. He instructed me to open my hands, with palms up. The TSA screener proceeded to run an alcohol swab over them. The meter reading went absolutely crazy! At this point the agent sternly accompanied me to another station as he put in a request for a female security officer. When she arrived, she gave me a light pat-down. My purse and carry-on bag were swabbed inside and out while the search for EXPLOSIVES continued. Apparently glycerin, an active ingredient in beauty products, is an explosive agent used to build bombs. It triggers a false positive which will cause delays at security checkpoints until it is cleared. Long story short, leave the moisturizer at home….at least on the day you are flying the friendly skies.  

Saskatchewan Crossing is Oasis in the Wilderness 

Saskatchewan Crossing is Oasis in the Wilderness! At the end of the day when the gas tank is getting low, and you need to stretch your legs, “The Crossing” is a welcome sight. That’s what fur traders and weary travelers must’ve thought, too. The Saskatchewan River is a “swift flowing river” that divides wide-open prairie and majestic mountains. Imagine horse drawn wagons loaded down with rich animal furs. Unsteady crossing points where the river was narrow enough for makeshift rafts hindered safety. Horses were forced to swim in icy cold waters and wagons were guided against strong downstream currents. But survival demanded it. The trading post could make or break a man. This was life in western Canada where dreams were born. 

Dining Outside the Home: Glacier Saloon in the Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise, Canada 

Dining Outside the Home: Glacier Saloon in the Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise, Canada! On the lower level of the exquisite Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, you can relax over dinner with a majestic view of the Canadian Rocky Mountains at your doorstep. Unwinding over cocktails, brings reflections of the day’s wondrous adventure whether it be strenuous hiking, scenic canoeing, exploration of glaciers, or wildlife sightings. The pub and sports bar atmosphere serves up a hearty meal complete with Yorkshire pudding. Talk about comfort food at its best. Well done!

Fairmont Chateau on Lake Louise is Canadian Wonderland 

Fairmont Chateau on Lake Louise is Canadian Wonderland! Deep into the Canadian Rockies, up a narrow winding road, is a prestigious hotel known as the Fairmont Chateau. This world-class mountain resort, in Alberta, Canada, is nestled along the banks of the emerald green waters of Lake Louise. Not only is it a romantic backdrop for a destination wedding, but the view from a sloping back Adirondack chair, planted among the manicured gardens, is unrivaled. Imagine walking trails, canoe paddling, downhill skiing, or horseback riding on a carefree vacation for rest and relaxation. Don’t forget to pack your camera. 

Walk on Glass at the Glacier Skywalk in Jasper National Park

Walk on glass at the Glacier Skywalk in Jasper National Park. Defy gravity when you take a stroll on a curved glass platform 900 feet above the Sunwapta Valley in Alberta, Canada. The stunning panoramic view of the rugged terrain that sweeps from glacier valley to mountainous peaks is enough to make your stomach turn flip flops like a seasoned gymnast. But don’t let that stop you. This is an unforgettable experience in the Canadian Rockies. 

Dining Outside the Home: Bighorn Lounge in Kananaskis Village, Canada

Dining Outside the Home: Bighorn Lounge in Kananaskis Village, Canada! After an exhilarating day of exploration, this cozy pub offered a relaxing social atmosphere for classic cocktails and hearty favorites. The over-the-top grilled burger, on a nicely charred brioche bun, and crispy pomme frites, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, had a rich buttery flavor that was nonstop. Outside the wall-to-wall windows, the untouched wilderness cast long shadows illuminated by yellow moonlight and twinkling stars.