Topic Wiki

List of TR's:

Kosher Food/ Restaurants:
The local supermarkets (e.g. Nesters or IGA in Banff) have many kosher shelf products.

There's frozen chicken and some meat products here, also a kosher aisle of dry foods: Safeway Glenmore Landing - 1600 90 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2V 5A8, Canada

Synagogue:
None, though check GoDaven for temporary minyanim

Things to Do:

Download the GuideAlong app (formerly known as GyPSy Guide) and purchase the package for the Canadian Rockies Tours for $24.99. This self-paced guided audio tour covers Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park and more. It's an incredibly useful and informative app.

Banff
Johnston Canyon hike, Upper Falls recommended, 2 hr round trip.
Banff Gondola, take boardwalk (15 min, spread out stairs) to peak for amazing views
Mountain Biking - e.g. Tunnel Bench Loop (moderate, lots of fun with great views)
Bow Falls and Bow River
Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake loop drive - boat cruise tour and speedboat rentals available

Lake Louise (45 min drive from Banff)
Shoreline trail walk
Canoe rentals
Lake Agnes teahouse hike (moderate, 2.5 hrs round-trip, can continue to Little Beehive or Big Beehive)
Plain of 6 Glaciers hike (moderate, 5-6 hrs round trip, Tea House along the way)
Lake Louise gondola


Moraine Lake (30 min drive south from LL)
2023 Update: Access by personal vehicle to Morraine Lake is no longer allowed. The only options to get to Morraine Lake are by Canada Parks Shuttle, private Lake Morraine bussing companies, and maybe a private tour bus. Local Banff bus service (Roam) may also have a shuttle to Morraine in addition to their service to Lake Louise. Reservations for busses get booked up early, so plan at least 3-4 days ahead. [Parking is extremely limited, arrive very early or later in the day, road is closed when parking is full.]
Walk along lake
Canoe rentals sometimes available
Rockpile climb to great viewpoint

Athabasca Glacier Adventure (90 min drive from Lake Louise or Jasper)
Early arrival recommended (first tour is at 10:30am, book online in advance)
2 hour duration, bring bottle to drink glacier water
Wear layers, temperature is unpredictable
Skywalk is a tourist trap, you can skip it and stay on bus to return to parking lot

Icefields Parkway drive from Athabasca Glacier to Banff with scenic stops:
Parker Ridge trail 2-hour round-trip hike (medium difficulty, uphill climb)
Peyto Lake viewed from Bow Summit (cars must park in lower lot and walk 10 min, but later in the day the upper lot can be used)
Mistaya Canyon (beautiful pull-off hike along Icefields Pkwy. Hike is about 10 minutes down to a powerful river rushing through a canyon with waterfalls)
Bow Lake (quick pullout stop)

Jasper

Yoho National Park
Takakkaw Falls
Emerald Lake
Natural Bridge


Hotels:

Getting Around:
A car is basically a must, though there are shuttles from Banff to the major attractions.
The nearest commercial airport is Calgary (YYC), a 90 min drive from Banff.

Notes:


Author Topic: Banff and Jasper Master Thread  (Read 157540 times)

Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #420 on: March 10, 2017, 01:50:00 PM »
Whitewater in Squamish is better than kicking horse river in the Rockies?

I will see if we can fly out of Edmonton. But in the big scheme of things I don't think driving both ways on the ice land Parkway is a big deal.  There are enough places to stop each way.

 Is the consensus that it is worth doing the two days in Whistler ?

Offline Ysturmwind

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #421 on: March 10, 2017, 02:04:41 PM »
We did a similar trip last year but backwards and much shorter. (I've been meaning to post my TR since July!  :-[ ).

In Vancouver we did the Capilino, we planned to whale watching but it was cancelled due to weather, checked out Granville market, went to one of the out of the way beaches, explored Stanley park. The city is great to just walk around in and get a feel for things. I'm a coffee fanatic so I planned a lot around good coffee shops. Gastown is a fun area to walk around. Do not walk from Gastown to China town, you go through some very sketchy parts.

Unfortunately, our trip to Banff was a little delayed due to our flights out of NY. We planned white water rating but did not get to do that. We did the Johnson Canyon walk/hike, that was a great hike which was not very strenuous at all. We did the drive from Banff to the Icefields and back, we stopped at a number of lookouts along the way. The drive was 3 hours each way. We stopped at Lake Louis, Lake Morraine, and anything else that looked interesting. Lake Morraine is further off of of the main road but was really nice.

The Icefields are great because you actually go up on to the glacier, walk around, and can drink the water up there (bring a bottle!).

The photo ops all along the parkway are amazing. We just kept pulling over to take pictures and admire the scenery.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #422 on: March 10, 2017, 02:07:02 PM »
And DO NOT do the stupid Glacier Skywalk. Biggest tourist trap ever
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Offline Ysturmwind

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #423 on: March 10, 2017, 02:10:56 PM »
And DO NOT do the stupid Glacier Skywalk. Biggest tourist trap ever

Definitely agree!

Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #424 on: March 10, 2017, 02:29:10 PM »
Can you go up on the Glazer without doing the tourist trap

Offline Ysturmwind

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #425 on: March 10, 2017, 02:57:21 PM »
Can you go up on the Glazer without doing the tourist trap

The buses go first to the glacier then to the skywalk (tourist trap), at the Skywalk you can just grab a bus straight back to the main building and not bother going out onto it.
 

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #426 on: March 10, 2017, 03:06:03 PM »
The buses go first to the glacier then to the skywalk (tourist trap), at the Skywalk you can just grab a bus straight back to the main building and not bother going out onto it.
This. And you don't have to pay for it either
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Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #427 on: March 12, 2017, 01:15:57 PM »
from the website it appears that they combined the admission and you cannot do the glacier without paying for the skywalk.  please correct me if I am wrong.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #428 on: March 12, 2017, 03:18:35 PM »
So it would appear. I guess word got out that the skywalk is stupid
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Offline Ysturmwind

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #429 on: March 12, 2017, 08:09:15 PM »
When we went you had to get the combo ticket.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #430 on: March 13, 2017, 01:33:44 PM »
I still wouldn't go, even if I needed to pay for it
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Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #431 on: March 13, 2017, 03:36:01 PM »
lol. question is if it is worth going to the icefields at all for the combo price.  i believe there are other hikes that are free and give you a good up close view of other glaciers.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #432 on: March 14, 2017, 12:14:06 AM »
lol. question is if it is worth going to the icefields at all for the combo price.  i believe there are other hikes that are free and give you a good up close view of other glaciers.
The bus ride is a big part of it.

Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #433 on: March 14, 2017, 09:37:59 AM »
not sure if I should be starting a new thread for my question, mods, please move to a new thread if appropriate.

I am looking for advice on my summer itinerary, taking in Vancouver, whistler, Banff and Jasper over two weeks.  We are a family with teenage kids. Here is what I have so far...  I am trying to keep things interesting while also leaving some down time to relax.  I expect to add in some nice hikes in each area as we solidify  the itinerary.  I am looking for advice on whether this itinerary should work (not looking for advice on flights, rental cars, hotels).  Thanks in advance.

Wednesday7PM flight Newark-Vancouver
Thursday   capilano bridge, cliff walk etc… Maple grill for supper
Friday   bike stanley park, dragon boating on the bay
Saturday   Shabbos in community
Sunday   Drive to Whistler - Sea to Sky highway - stop at squammish for Gondola, two nights in westin whistler
Monday   whistler, peak to peak gondola,
Tuesday   back to vancouver for  flight to calgary
Wednesday Shopping, hike in canmore
Thursday   lake louise, teahouse hike, canoes, morainne lake valley of ten peaks
Friday   banff, gondola, horse back riding, scenic spots
Saturday   Shabbos in Canmore
Sunday   white water rafting
Monday   iceland parkway - peyto lake, photo stops, Jasper, maligne lake cruise
Tuesday   Jasper and return to banff - overnight in banff
Wednesday   330 PM flight Calgary-Newark



 Thinking of changing this a bit.  Staying in whistler just one night and flying Monday night from Vancouver to Edmonton.  Sleep overnight in Edmonton and drive tues morning to jasper. Tuesday night in jasper and drive icelands parkway on Wednesday to lake Louise.  Wednesday night in lake Louise area and Thursday evening  to Canmore where we will get settled for shabbos.  White water rafting on Sunday and banff on Monday.  Tuesday tbd.

Much less backtracking and some of the logistics may be better for us. 

I think both itineraries are good and will decide between the two.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #434 on: March 14, 2017, 10:13:23 AM »
Just thinking - if you calculate how long getting from Whistler to Jasper will take you - maybe you are better off driving?

Drive Whistler -> airport - 2 hours
Airport + flight time + get bags + rent new car - 4.5 hours
Drive Edmonton -> Jasper - 4 hours

Drive Whistler -> Jasper 9 hours   and there's probably stuff to do along the way

Something to think about
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Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #435 on: March 14, 2017, 10:19:56 AM »
Thanks.  Definitely weighing all options. Minyan also is a factor which I am working on.

Offline yaakovb

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #436 on: March 15, 2017, 08:47:37 PM »
Thinking of changing this a bit.  Staying in whistler just one night and flying Monday night from Vancouver to Edmonton.  Sleep overnight in Edmonton and drive tues morning to jasper. Tuesday night in jasper and drive icelands parkway on Wednesday to lake Louise.  Wednesday night in lake Louise area and Thursday evening  to Canmore where we will get settled for shabbos.  White water rafting on Sunday and banff on Monday.  Tuesday tbd.

Much less backtracking and some of the logistics may be better for us. 

I think both itineraries are good and will decide between the two.

Is there any reason you would rather stay shabbos in Canmore and not in Banff?

Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #437 on: March 15, 2017, 11:48:07 PM »
There are more condos with full kitchens available in Canmore.  We are hoping it will be easier to put together a minyan in canmore.

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #438 on: March 19, 2017, 04:41:54 PM »
There is currently a promotion at the Walmart portrait studio offering a 30 min photo session anywhere in Canada for 50 CAD. It normally goes for 188, and once it is purchased, it doesn't expire. If you are past 50 km from a Walmart (there is one in Canmore), it adds 25 to the cost. They give you four prints of the same one pose of your choice, and after that you are at the mercy of the studio to get the rest of your pictures.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #439 on: March 19, 2017, 06:39:56 PM »
Link?
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