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 155733 times)

Offline travellove

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #260 on: July 05, 2015, 05:47:07 PM »
i was just in banff this week, a few small pointers. we went moutain biking in canmore at the nordic centre. it is an olympic faciltiy with many different trails, we had an amazing time there.

do not bother with the gondola in banff it is a waste of money, unless you are planning on hiking from there up to the summit.

we stayed in the glacier view inn at the columbia ice fields, they did not have air conditioning. i need not say anymore. but i will, it was very overpriced, and it was incredibly hot, you probably wont be able to see the glacier from your window anyway. its not worth it, your better off staying in lake louise or banff or canmore.

Fairmont Lake Louise my room (suite) also didn't have air condition

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #261 on: July 13, 2015, 11:20:23 PM »
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline HP58

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #262 on: July 29, 2015, 11:00:46 AM »
Being in Edmonton for Shabbos. Does anybody know which (if any)of the hotels are close to a shul?

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #263 on: October 24, 2015, 11:21:14 PM »
Has anybody been to Banff thanksgiving time? I know its off season, just wondering how many things will be open and if its worth going at that time.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #264 on: October 25, 2015, 10:41:20 PM »
Being in Edmonton for Shabbos. Does anybody know which (if any)of the hotels are close to a shul?
Once looked into it, I don't think there was anything closer than a few mile walk. If you find please report back.

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #265 on: October 25, 2015, 11:25:32 PM »
Once looked into it, I don't think there was anything closer than a few mile walk. If you find please report back.
The good news is he probably has an answer for you already, being that he went 3 months ago.

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #266 on: October 25, 2015, 11:44:40 PM »
I live in Calgary, an hour and a half drive from Banff. The community loves to host people for Shabbos, but we sometimes have so many offers we don't know what to do with everyone. Check the shul's website (HOJMI) for who is in charge of hospitality. It is a warm community and we all like to help. I have a destination guide written by a member of the community. Ask me for it in shul :)

Offline lunatic

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #267 on: October 26, 2015, 12:01:59 AM »
I live in Calgary, an hour and a half drive from Banff. The community loves to host people for Shabbos, but we sometimes have so many offers we don't know what to do with everyone. Check the shul's website (HOJMI) for who is in charge of hospitality. It is a warm community and we all like to help. I have a destination guide written by a member of the community. Ask me for it in shul :)
Can you post a copy

Offline yakrot

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #268 on: October 26, 2015, 12:11:28 AM »
I live in Calgary, an hour and a half drive from Banff. The community loves to host people for Shabbos, but we sometimes have so many offers we don't know what to do with everyone. Check the shul's website (HOJMI) for who is in charge of hospitality. It is a warm community and we all like to help. I have a destination guide written by a member of the community. Ask me for it in shul :)
Welcome to the forums

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #269 on: October 26, 2015, 12:28:08 AM »
I live in Calgary, an hour and a half drive from Banff. The community loves to host people for Shabbos, but we sometimes have so many offers we don't know what to do with everyone. Check the shul's website (HOJMI) for who is in charge of hospitality. It is a warm community and we all like to help. I have a destination guide written by a member of the community. Ask me for it in shul :)
Welcome! Thanks for posting. I would love to see the destination guide as well.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #270 on: October 26, 2015, 03:32:53 PM »
Maybe you can post a link in the Wiki?

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #271 on: October 26, 2015, 03:51:37 PM »
Maybe you can post a link in the Wiki?
What wiki?  :P

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #272 on: October 26, 2015, 04:01:28 PM »
What wiki?  :P
The wiki that will be added with the guide.

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #273 on: October 26, 2015, 10:54:29 PM »
http://hojmi.org/visiting_calgary.php

I just want to get permission from the author of the destination list before I put it on the internet.

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Kosher in Calgary
« Reply #274 on: October 26, 2015, 11:03:01 PM »
We have a kosher cafe in the JCC on 90th ave SW. It is not cholov yisroel or bishul yisroel, but is certified by the ABK, an offshoot of the BCK. You can buy many Kosher products from Sobeys in Bridlewood:

1607 90 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2V 4V7

They carry Heimishe products, cholov yisroel, meats, etc. and ave a pretty decent selection. It is a 15 minute drive from the Jewish community.

Superstore just off McLoed Trail also carries some meat, depending on whether or not they are in stock.

The Carriage House bakery carries the same Kosher certification as Karen's.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #275 on: October 26, 2015, 11:08:01 PM »
What is bigger. The Calgary Jewish community or Edmonton's?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #276 on: October 27, 2015, 02:23:30 PM »
Edmonton

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #277 on: October 27, 2015, 02:35:07 PM »
Calgary has a small frum community, maybe 100 families at best. We have one shul and one Chabad, each with a healthy (10-15 person) minyan during the week. During the winter, Mincha is early enough that we only offer Maariv. Edmonton has a different character because they have a decent sized kollel and a number of Jewish entities are sponsored by a generous donor. There is a Kosher pizza shop in the West Edmonton Mall, and there is a Kosher supermarket. Edmonton also hosts the Bliss Bakery, all parve (and they make great donuts :)).

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #278 on: November 01, 2015, 01:12:44 AM »
I forgot to mention, it starts to get really cold this time of year, and by the end of November, Lake Louise is probably frozen. temperatures go down to as low as -20, but it can really be unpredictable. On a typical day, temperatures can go from -20 to 50 in a few hours, depending on a whether phenomenon known as a Chinook.  Sometimes a full week can be warm in the winter, but I don't know how it is in the mountains. Consider revising your list of attractions in case of snow or frozen conditions.

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #279 on: November 01, 2015, 01:07:04 AM »
I forgot to mention, it starts to get really cold this time of year, and by the end of November, Lake Louise is probably frozen. temperatures go down to as low as -20, but it can really be unpredictable. On a typical day, temperatures can go from -20 to 50 in a few hours, depending on a whether phenomenon known as a Chinook.  Sometimes a full week can be warm in the winter, but I don't know how it is in the mountains. Consider revising your list of attractions in case of snow or frozen conditions.
Are all of the winter attractions (ie - skiing, ice skating etc) usually open by that time (late November/early December)?