Banff National Park

Canada’s inaugural and flagship national park is impressive with more than 6,000 square kilometres of mountain wilderness and is part of the larger Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Banff National Park is home to magnificent 3000-metre peaks, meadows in the clouds rich with colourful wildflowers, brilliant turquoise glacier-fed lakes and the picture perfect town of Banff and village of Lake Louise.

Banff, Alberta, Canada

By Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States - Banff, Alberta, Canada, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39882973

The park offers exceptional hiking, camping, skiing and scenic driving. Navigate the world-renowned Icefields Parkway, a drive that parallels the Continental Divide, where wildlife like bighorn sheep, mountain goats and bears roam.

Banff National Park
By Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States - Banff, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39883728

Throughout the park, visitors can choose from thousands of campsites at 13 campgrounds surrounded by some of the worlds most breath taking mountain scenery, ski at three ski resorts and stay at a range of accommodations, from hotels to lodges.

What are 150 of our favourite Canadian things? Read about it here

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Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park, Alberta
By Talhamujahid at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11369898

The first time I had ever laid eyes on Jasper National Park, it was 2:30am and I was riding middle row of a Greyhound bus, we passed the Jasper sign and saw a small heard of elk, they were grazing and hanging out on the front lawn of a motel, like it was no big deal. 

By Shaun Syvertsen - Shaun Syvertsen, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1507632

On the way back through Jasper, the sun was up and I found myself in a much different Jasper than the time berfore. Jasper is a small alpine town in Nortern Alberta that is surrounded by snow-capped Canadian Rockies, forests, glacier fed lakes and rivers. I spent my entire time taking in the stunning beauty of the mountains and breathing that fresh mountain air. One day I hope to return to Jasper, the views alone are one of my most vivid memories and that makes it a shoe in for one of our 150 favourite Canadian things.

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The Prairies

Primarily located in southern Saskatchewan but sprinkled into lower Alberta and Manitoba are the Canadian Prairies. The Canadian Prairies are the northernmost section of the Great Plains of North America. Once a thriving wild grassland the Canadian Prairies have since been converted into almost exclusive farmland. The growth patterns of certain plants are predictable here and yield excellent crops. Some notable crops are wheat, canola, flax, oats and barley.

Spectacular view of a farmers field in the prairies.

Photo credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photographer/swillems-56408

When you mention the prairies to a Canadian they most certainly think of the flat golden wheat fields contrasted to a rich blue sky that you can see for miles and miles. However the land is more diverse and includes, plains, valleys, hills and more. There is plenty to do and see including camping with Parks Canada, learning how to farm and visiting local landmarks. A famous Canadian television series Corner Gas, was also filmed and set in the prairies. We love Canada's diverse landscape and the prairies do not always get the attention they deserve. If you find yourself out there, a wheat field sunset will knock your socks off!

What are 150 of our favourite Canadian things? Read about it here

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Lake Louise

POST BY MIKE CIUFFINI

Through the mist of an inclined roadway in Banff National Park is the magical glacial-fed Lake Louise and the impressive Fairmont Chateau that overlooks it.

Incredibly scenic walking paths and hiking trails surround the emerald-coloured lake. I recommend the Plain of Six Glaciers trail. It is a 10.5 km return trail that offers views of Mount Lefroy, Mount Victoria and the Victoria Glacier. At the cusp of the incline I was lucky enough to witness a mini-avalanche off the mountain peaks in the distance.

Rooms in Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise were warm and super-comfy.  After a full day of hiking the surrounding trails, a nice warm bath and a rest on a bed made for a king was just what I needed.

In the spring and summer months, visitors can rent a Canadian-red canoe to explore the lake. In the winter, part of the lake becomes a skating pad. The lake is a jewel in the expanse of the rugged Canadian Rockies, a real beauty.

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The Canadian Rocky Mountains

That's right kids, the Rocky Mountains are known for more than just that place you can buy chocolates at the mall!

Last summer I had to good fortune to hike into an Alberta Provincial Park and spend a night surrounded by the Rockies. There's simply nothing else like it. You will start with a view of them from hours away and might be inclined to reference Dumb & Dumber ("That John Denver is full of shit man"). As you weave your way through the mountain roads every corner leaves you in aw, staring up the rock faces of your surroundings, while cautiously looking for big horn sheep that may have decided to pull a Gandalf and insist that "You shall not pass!" There's just something about surrounding yourself with giant mountains that makes your day-to-day problems seem, well, small. Plus the mountains provide a great buffer from our hipster cousins in British Columbia. That's no slight to the province. I mean literally Chris and I have cousins there that are total hipsters.

What is 150 of our favourite Canadian things? Read about it here

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