Laura's Canadian Rockies Winter Wonderland

I stayed at the beautifully renovated Fairmont MacDonald in Edmonton, the staff were lovely and welcoming, and the hotel is was in a great location within downtown. Traversing to Jasper I visited the picturesque Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge where I have a fabulous meal before stargazing at the onsite Planetarium, the staff are extremely helpful and informative about Jasper Dark Sky Preserve. I did the Maligne Valley & Pleckaitis Canyon Icewalk tour and it was incredible, the tour guide was excellent and the Ice Walk was highlight enjoyable, we also got to see some bald eagles nesting next to frozen Medicine Lake. Jasper is one of my favourite areas in Canada, the locals and the scenery here are not to be missed.

We then had the scenic drive from Jasper via the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise where we stopped at the world famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, having visited this hotel in the summer when you see the eye catching turquoise and aqua colours of the lake to it being frozen and surrounded by snow. I have to say this winter wonderland experience was equally if not more impressive. The Fairmont have a small Ice Bar situated outside where you can enjoy a cocktail or hot drink whilst taking in the ice sculptures and frozen lake before venturing on to the frozen lake for a walk and some cracking photos. Moving inside to the bar we had a lovely hot chocolate to heat us up whilst over looking the magnificent views of the lake we had just been out on. Treat yourself to a memorable stay at this iconic hotel!

Travelling on to Banff I did the Johnston Canyon Icewalk, completely different to the one which we did in Jasper but just as amazing both offer completely different views so well worth doing both. Again our tour guide was knowledgeable and half way provided us with hot chocolate and maple cookies to heat us up and give us a sugar kick before the last part of the walk. Banff is again just as stunning in the winter as it is in summer. 

My second last stop was in Canmore, my first time visiting and it won't be the last, a firm favourite of mine. Again similar to Jasper where you feel like you are within touching distance of the nearby mountains, quirky little town. Highly recommend staying at the Malcolm Hotel and having a meal and/or drink at the Grizzly Paw Brewery, we had a brilliant walking tour of the town and walked all the riverbank to Engine Bridge before taking in some of the awesome murals painted on buildings in the town.

Final stop was Calgary, great city which I feel can be overlooked outwith the Stampede. I was surprised and just how much there was to see and do, I took a trip up the Calgary tower, took in the cities newest attraction which is not to be missed - the Sam Centre, based around the Calgary Stampede, interactive and fun for all the family before taking in Heritage Park Historical Village, which is a living history museum with a steam train, paddlewheeler, dinosaur digs and so much more.