Canada; the Rockies and Calgary Stampede!
My most recent visit saw me flying in to Vancouver at the end of June and the sun was shining! A very laidback city with lots of open space, park areas, access to Vancouver Island, and of course a gateway for embarking on an Alaskan cruise. Time permitting meant only a short stay in Vancouver for a couple of nights before hiring a car and driving several hours inland. I decided to stay in Kelowna which forms part of the Okanagan Valley, known for its wineries and fruit orchards. At this time of year, the lakes are starting to warm up and there are plenty of spots to stop at a lakeside beach and take a dip.
Going on from here involved a 7-hour drive through the Canadian Rockies. The journey winds through the mountain range and is relaxed and easy to navigate, however there is also an iconic rail journey on board the Rocky Mountaineer for those wanting to completely switch off, it goes a little more off the beaten track where cars are not permitted.
No visit to this part of Canada would be complete without at least stopping by one of its most iconic landmarks, Lake Louise. A stunning, turquoise, glacier-fed lake surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks, with an impressive chateau overlooking it. Whilst absolutely beautiful it is also now very developed and a tourist hotspot so we also stopped at Lake Moraine, which is equally as impressive, but without the crowds.
Our last stop in the Canadian Rockies was Banff, which is a lovely small-town set in the centre of the picturesque Banff National Park, surrounded by mountains and parkland, cohabited by wildlife such as Elk and Bear. It is a hub for outdoor activities, with a good choice of local restaurants, boutique shops and chateau style lodgings. As if that wasn’t enough I was fortunate that my trip coincided with Canada Day on the 1st July; Canadians are very patriotic and almost anywhere you are on this day there will be some event to become involved in. In Banff during Canada Day, the main road is closed off and a parade takes centre stage along the main high street for locals and tourists alike. The whole day was spent mixing with new friends, enjoying the weather, taking in the stunning surroundings, whilst enjoying good food and a glass or two of wine. The day was capped off with an impressive firework display, amazing against the complete darkness of the night, far away from the city lights.
Having enjoyed the festivities, it was time to head on to Calgary. Typically, I wouldn’t usually wish to stay here as it is a very business orientated city however, for 10 days every July, Calgary is host to the Calgary Stampede, the world’s richest Tournament style rodeo! A must for anyone visiting Canada at this time of year, and a real insight in to this North American culture. No matter what your age or interests, the Stampede has something for everyone. The whole city is transformed, restaurants are set up rodeo style complete with costumed staff and bales of hay providing additional seating and ambience, bars all have some form of live entertainment going on.
Police on horseback are out on parade, the shops are full of rodeo attire, such as cowboy boots and hats, while everyone is taking part in the spirit of the festival. All of this before you have even made it to the Stampede itself! The Calgary Stampede is set up at a massive showground, the main tournaments are shown at the arena and millions of dollars’ worth of prize money is up for grabs for those competing in a variety of shows such as ladies barrel race, steer racing and bull riding so as you can imagine the standard is high. It is worth watching at least one of the main stage events (the chuck wagon racing was a big hit), but if that isn’t your thing there are plenty of live music venues, pop up bars, fairground rides, and food stalls to peruse. An absolute highlight of the trip and a fantastic way to the end this magical holiday.