Canada Parks: Waterton, Banff, Jasper, Whistler

Crossing the Line

At the border:
“Any alcohol, tobacco, firearms, fireworks, or firewood?”
“No, sir!”
Just like that—we were waved through and cruising into Canada.

Waterton Peace Park Vibes

Waterton Peace Park lived up to its name; serene, scenic, and surprisingly free this summer. We took the dramatic Chief Mountain International Highway in Alberta, winding our way to the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel—a regal, Swiss-style lodge perched high above Upper Waterton Lake. Built by the Great Northern Railway to lure in American tourists during Prohibition (clever, right?), the place still exudes vintage charm.

Inside the Royal Stewart Dining Room, genteel travelers lounged with cocktails, tea, and pastries, framed by floor-to-ceiling glass windows that showcase that ridiculous view. We snapped a ton of pics. Kodi, our adventure pup, was thrilled to hop out of the van and sniff the pastries...briefly. We had places to be.

Cowboy Trail: Real Country

Next up, The Cowboy Trail, where the Chinook winds howled across the grasslands and nearly blew Bessie the Van off the road. This is true rancher-miner territory; wide open ranges, fat and happy cows, and natural gas plants dotting the horizon. We even passed a real-life Dutton Ranch.

Kodi was less impressed. The road’s rumble strips had her on edge—she was ready to protect us from the invisible threat under the tires. Fun fact: parts of Brokeback Mountain and The Unforgiven were filmed out here. “Rugged” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Banff Beauty and Tight Squeezes

We hit Banff National Park just as the sun dipped below the peaks. The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel was glowing, wrapped in flowers and overlooking the postcard-perfect Bow River. It was jaw-droppingly beautiful. Unfortunately, everyone else thought so too. The town was booked solid. After a few U-turns, we found a cozy spot in Canmore for the night.

Lake Louise: A Five-Minute Fairy Tale

The next morning we aimed for the Sulphur Mountain Gondola, but by 10 a.m. there were already a hundred people in line. (Pro tip: Reserve tickets in advance.) We pivoted and headed to Lake Louise—again, packed. Thankfully, they let Alan drop me for a five-minute photo op. And wow—it was worth the chaos. That glacier-fed turquoise water doesn’t even look real.

Bonus: I caught a quick chat with performers preparing for a cultural show about the Na Dook people, sharing the deep Indigenous roots of the area. Magic moment.

Icefields Parkway: Canada’s Crown Jewel

Alan’s buddies at Mizner Bark weren’t kidding: if you're in Banff, you have to drive the Icefields Parkway. It’s a nonstop highlight reel: Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon, Athabasca Falls. Glacial ice still clings to the peaks, feeding rivers that run right beside the road.

Rain followed us most of the way, but it only made the Canadian Rockies more dramatic. We were driving through the clouds. By 5:30 p.m., we rolled into Jasper with zero reservations. After a few calls, we scored a room at the welcoming Forest Park Hotel. Dinner at The Hearthstone Lounge hit the spot—cozy, delicious, and full of friendly faces. We stayed an extra night.

Jasper: Lakes, Dogs, and a Deep Breath

With most ski areas closed due to last year's fires, we explored Patricia Lake and Pyramid Lake instead. Ten-plus lakes in this area, and each one is a gem. Dogs are allowed on the trails—so Kodi was in heaven, going off-leash for a chilly splash and a short hike.

Back in town, we grabbed a tasty lunch at Mad Grizzly Bear (get the burger), then chilled at the hotel and even knocked out some laundry. Finally, a breather.

On the Road Again – Week 3 Begins

Week three of our Rugged Pacific Northwest Adventure kicked off with a “wrong turn” that turned out very right. Instead of Clearwater, we rolled through Cache Creek, Kamloops, and Lillooet, discovering local favorites like Horsteins Market—hello, maple syrup, honey, fresh cookies, and coffee strong enough to raise the dead.

Whistler: Wild Rides & Fine Dining

The Sea-to-Sky Highway (Route 99) was an adrenaline rush—think steep 15% grades, gravel roads, winding cliffside turns. At one point I joked that if we got lost, someone would need to call “Tracker” to come find us.

By nightfall, we made it to Whistler Blackcomb, one of the most iconic ski resorts in the world. Camping was out (fully booked), but we scored a room at Blackcomb Lodge—right in Whistler Village and surprisingly affordable.

Whistler in summer is alive with mountain bikers, hikers, and outdoor vibes. After dodging loud crowds and rowdy burger joints, we landed at Araxi, a quiet, upscale spot connected to our hotel. We devoured tuna tataki, salmon crudo, prawn risotto, and filet mignon—one of the best meals of the trip.

Next Stop: Vancouver

Feeling full, happy, and a little tired, we wrapped up the day, ready to reconnect with old friends in Vancouver. But first… some rest. #Canadaparks #WatertonPeacePark #BanffNationalPark #Lakelouise #JasperNationalPark #MadGrizzlyBear #BessieTheVan #HorsteinsMarket #BlackcombLodge #Whistler #PacificNorthwestAdventure #Canadianwilderness #Araxirestaurantandbar