Day 5: Whyte's Museum, Cave and Basin, Cascade Gardens

Well, the crack-of-noon club made a surprising 11:00 am exit from the campground. So early!

I chose to drive into town as the boys were not excited about biking the 1.5 km up hill on the way back if we had cycled into town.  Dominic was Johnny on the Spot this morning alerting me to convenient road side parking that had no time limit.  We are off to a great start today.

We ambled a few blocks into town and located the Visitor's Centre. Since we had googled everything we were in and out in a jiffy but did stop to take a picture of a map of downtown. Dominic decided he wanted his skateboard so he scurried back to the truck.  Once reunited we traveled south down Banff Avenue toward the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. Turns out that admission is free with a yearly park pass.  Ours was in the truck; however, I still had the receipt in my wallet which was good enough for free admission.

Our next stop was the Cascade Gardens found on the grounds of the Parks Canada Administration office built in 1935.  This was a perfect place to stop for lunch overlooking Banff Avenue.

We crossed the bridge back into town and spent some time at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.  This is part gallery and part museum.  It took me a while but I finally clued in that all those paintings by Peter Whyte may just be the reason this was called Whyte Museum.  Definitely in holiday mode. . .

On our stroll back down main street we did our one tacky tourist shop to get a magnet for the fridge and then collected some milkshakes at McDonald's.  I know, McDonald's in a National Park seems so wrong; however, when the line for the 'good' ice cream shop is 30 minutes long - this was a win.

Now we are relaxing back at the trailer in the late afternoon thankful for the shade trees lining our site.

Tomorrow:  The Calgary Zoo.

Our 1.5 km stroll to the Cave and Basin included a nice section of trail running parallel to the road. 

From Parks Canada:  " The Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada commemorates the birthplace of Canada's National Park system, which began here in 1885. Naturally occurring, warm mineral springs can be found inside the cave, and outside in an emerald coloured basin."

Visitors can walk through the tunnel (at the right above) and walk a short distance through the cave to the mineral pool.  There was a very heavy sulphur smell so Dominic exited rather quickly.

Difficult to see in this picture, there is a pool at the bottom and a dome-like cave structure with an opening high up above. 

Above the tunnel were indoor and outdoor displays highlighting early exploration in the area and how the National Parks came to be. 

I would not have made a very good explorer. . . 

We caught the last day of a temporary exhibit from Parks Canada highlighting some of the National Parks in northern Canada. Here they had a selection of pelts from various wildlife that are found in those northern regions. 

Parks Canada Administration building c. 1935. The Cascade Gardens are on the ground of this building. We paused for our sandwich lunch on the front steps of the main entrance. It was shady and provided a really stunning view of the town of Banff.  Best patio ever. 

The Cascade Gardens make a delightful stop.  They are free and lightly visited. You have to go around behind the administration building. Easily accessible from town by foot. Just head over the Bow River bridge and you are there. 

Looking west over the Bow River bridge as we walk to the Whyte Museum.

Alex enjoyed the newspaper editorial cartoon collection on Parks Canada topics over the years. 

This one was particularly memorable as we just came from the Cave and Basin and wondered the same thing!

You never know when your skateboard will come in handy in a museum, eh?!

Day 4: Banff, AB

Vermilion Lakes with Rundle Mt.
Banff, AB. 

Today we departed Lake Louise and headed east to Banff, AB.  This was a deliciously short 40 minute drive.  The Gypsy Wagon was rejected at the Bow Valley Parkway resulting in the negotiation of a very tight U-Turn.  I was not aware that the Grand Fondo bike event was in town blocking up roads. 

No worries, back onto the Trans Canada Highway it is. We are soon set up in the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court. 

Later we head out to the Visitor's Centre; however, this tourist town is PACKED. Parking is simply not to be had so we just headed south in the general direction of the Bow River falls.  

We have an SUV limo squeeze by us as it exited a hotel - three-point turn style for a simple left hand turn.  Not to worry, although the limo got very close, this driver has certainly done this move before. 

On our pick-your-own-adventure through Banff we spotted newlyweds on one side of the road with their photographer on the other side of the road.  Did I mention the couple was up on a cliff - I bet that bride was pleased. I am not sure how they got up or down. I let go a cheerful honk - Alex was embarrassed. 

We stumbled upon Surprise Corner Viewpoint.  Turns out this was a fabulous little stop that met our 'teenager RV trip' requirements:  less than 15 minutes of walking and cool stuff to look at. Mind you I think their capacity for rivers, lakes and mountain vistas is waning. 

It ended up that we were on the opposite side of the river than intended in order to view the Bow River Falls.  Surprise Corner Viewpoint to the rescue.  Not only do we see the Bow River Falls but we have a fabulous view of the Banff Spring Hotel, c.1888. 

We continued up Tunnel Mountain driving through the Banff Centre, a seemingly fancy-pants arts centre with great vistas and multiple buildings. Rather university like on a small scale.  Alex said, "That's not my kind of place." I said, "But, it has parking!!!"  No, the boys were not getting out. So, on we went back up Tunnel Mountain Road. 

We found a pull out with lots of vehicles on the side of the road. We slipped into a recently vacated road-side spot near a sign and some stairs. Oh, this seems to be the mid-way point on the Tunnel Mountain hike!  We got out, took a picture of the sign on the uphill side of the road and crossed to the downhill side of the road to take a quick picture of the town.  Many very hot people streamed by us going both up and down.  We all looked at each other and hopped back in the truck by mutual consent. No hot hiking on a dusty trail for this gang. 

Consequently, the road we are on pops out right near our campground so we headed back for some reading and an early supper. 

After dinner we drove through town to the Vermilion Lakes.  Despite not seeing any sign of wildlife we did take some memorable photos which is always a win.  I had thought we might bike this road but no, another truck tour.  

Dominic is not feeling all that well this month so our lazy ways are suiting us fine. 

We are in for the night watching a movie in the Gypsy Wagon. Full services in a glamper has its niceties. 

Tomorrow - Bow Valley Parkway and Johnson's Canyon. 

You know you are in Banff when the GPS routes you up Otter Street, past Moose and Wolf streets to hang a right on Muskrat to Caribou. 

The Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court Campground is an odd campground in that the sites are little crescent-shaped pull-outs along paved roads. With shade and full service hook-ups we are not complaining. 

Traffic is moving oh so slow. This SUV-limo needed a three-point turn to make a left turn out of the hotel.  Very entertaining. 

Our meandering through Banff landed us unintentionally at Surprise Corner Viewpoint.
It was better than our intended destination. Bonus. 

Oh, I wonder how that bridge navigated this little cliff?
I do admire their pluck though. Anything for a picture. 

Tunnel Mountain Trail - not for us. 

A quick snap of the view across the road looking west over the town of Banff. 

Vermilion Lakes, Banff. 

Dominic, 13 1/2 years old. 

Alexandre, 3 weeks to 15 years old. 

This reminds me of my late Uncle Jack who lived in Calgary and spent much time in these mountain parks with his camera. 

Vermilion Lakes, Banff, AB.

Day 3: Field, BC Low Effort, High Reward Tourist Stops

Field, BC.  Looking east towards Mt. Stephen. 

Being true to my word we only stopped at places that can be viewed in less than a 15 minute walk from the truck. Many were under 5 minutes.

Spiral Tunnels off Highway 1.
Takakkawa Falls
Kicking Horse River and Yoho River Confluence
Spiral Tunnels off Yoho Valley Road.
Natural Bridge
Emerald Lake
Field Visitor Centre

Tomorrow we move to Banff so today I let the boys sleep in.  Usually I would get my work done online while the boys sleep in but because the system is offline for our yearly break all I could do was enjoy my coffee and read.  I must admit, after 2 hours of that I was getting antsy.

Just a bit chilly this morning.  Feeling sorry for the tenters. 

Teenagers!

As I read and savour my coffee there is a steady exodus of rental motorhomes as they go out for a day of exploring. 

Travelling west from Lake Louise towards Field we quickly see the Spiral Tunnels pull out. 

The Spiral Tunnels - an engineering marvel. 

At Field, we head north on Yoho Lake Road on a well-paved but curvy 14 km road to the trailhead for Takakkaw Falls.  Hmm, this is an interesting sign.  There are many warnings that vehicles over 24 feet are not recommended and warnings that you may not tow anything up this road.  They were not kidding. There is a short, three-legged switchback where the only option for the tour busses is to drive up one section backwards. 

Beautiful vistas on our way up. 

Takakkaw Falls is about 900 feet high.  The access path is fully paved and very easy.  The website says it is a 15 minute walk but we were there in about 5 minutes. Feel the mist, hear the roar.  The pictures are nothing compared to reality. 

We even saw some very brave climbers waaaaaaaay up there. 

This is a small pull-out on the Yoho Lake road.  We stopped on our way back from the falls. 

This was as good a shot as I could get. Lots of trees obstructing the view and no main pathway down - just some sketchy, steep goat trails.  We took a pass.

200m down the road there is another pull-out with a view of the Spiral Tunnels.  This is on Yoho Lake road, not the main Highway.  Good luck - we see a train approaching.  If you squint just right you can see what appears to be two trains at different levels.  They are traveling in opposite directions but are, in fact, one single train. Cool. 

A quick ride west along the #1 Highway scoots us just passed Field.  We turn north and drive a few minutes to see the Natural Bridge. This is a slit worn through the rock.  Interesting!  You can walk over a very unnatural bridge to view the natural bridge. 5 minutes here and everyone is happy. Moving along. 

5 minutes drive further along this road will bring you to the end of the road and Emerald Lake.  Another chance for people to pay $45/hour for a rental canoe, eat at a restaurant or purchase gifts.  Again, 5 minutes and a few pictures later we were all done :).  "It's another lake, Mama."

Back down the little road, a few kilometres east along Highway #1 and we are in the booming metropolis of Field, BC. They have a lovely rest area with lots of parking, large visitor's centre and a small lake/pond for swimming. They even have some cool fossil displays as this is the gateway to the Burgess Shale. 

There was a very long CP train waiting its turn to go east through the Spiral Tunnels.  A perfect picture opportunity.

After dinner we all cycled into the Lake Louise Village to get our magnet for the RV fridge to commemorate our time here and to sample their ice cream.  How delightful to enjoy our dessert as the train passed. It was interesting to see the railcar 'art'.