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 155756 times)

Offline dovy2

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #220 on: May 08, 2015, 08:13:48 AM »
Is there any minyan around in August?  Or the closest minyan is Vancouver?
Calgary is closer.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #221 on: May 08, 2015, 10:09:01 AM »
My lord, KMR is expensive. Just asked if I could pay for a single meal
There response:
Quote from: kmrtours@aol.com
Im sorry, they do not do meals separate, it is a package deal of room and meals.
First of all who is "they" I thought I emailed KMR. Secondly, who still uses AOL?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #222 on: May 08, 2015, 12:53:40 PM »
I stayed in both the Fairmont in Banff and Lake Louise we did not like the Fairmont in Banff they have many many different types of rooms and we were extremely unhappy with the one we got and the place is huge too busy for my taste.   I am sure that some of the better rooms are way nicer and we would have been happy but they were not available to us On the other hand we loved the Fairmont Lake Louise I don't remember what the views were like from each of the rooms but you can't go wrong with the view outside at Lake Louise it is spectacular.  I actually got up at sunrise which was quite early to go canoeing when the water is absolutely still and the reflections are best It is also closer to a lot of trips that you would do when in the area

 Hope this is helpful.  If I remember correctly they also provided us with a microwave upon request

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #223 on: May 08, 2015, 02:07:35 PM »
There response:First of all who is "they" I thought I emailed KMR. Secondly, who still uses AOL?
LOL sounds like chasid at the helm.

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #224 on: May 10, 2015, 04:51:47 PM »

sounds like chasid at the helm.
sounds like you're a jerk.

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #225 on: May 10, 2015, 05:56:44 PM »
sounds like you're a jerk.
אמן -וכן למר.

Offline yitrap

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #226 on: May 10, 2015, 06:03:06 PM »
sounds like you're a jerk.
well hello there!

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #227 on: May 10, 2015, 06:16:42 PM »
well hello there!
Hello to you too  ;).

Offline travellove

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #228 on: May 11, 2015, 01:40:26 PM »
That's the way to go. Curious what did they say?

They said that as far as views go CLL is better. For restaurants Banff is better. Since I don't care about the  restaurants I will be going to CLL

Offline SrulyP

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #229 on: May 22, 2015, 01:33:18 PM »
Hey I am trying to figure out the best way of getting to Banff from JFK, any ideas???

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #230 on: May 25, 2015, 09:37:05 AM »
Hey I am trying to figure out the best way of getting to Banff from JFK, any ideas???

By plane, probably.

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #231 on: May 25, 2015, 10:14:24 PM »
By plane, probably.
I prefer helicopter actually. Scenery viewing is easier.

Offline elya

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #232 on: May 27, 2015, 12:44:13 AM »
Hey I am trying to figure out the best way of getting to Banff from JFK, any ideas???
You would fly into Calgary, it's an hour drive from there. (gorgeous drive if I may add.) there are direct flights from NYC.

Offline JunkYardUnz

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #233 on: June 03, 2015, 07:01:11 AM »

You would fly into Calgary, it's an hour drive from there. (gorgeous drive if I may add.) there are direct flights from NYC.

When I was looking last summer the only direct flight from Newark was Air Canada and they only had 1 or 2 flights a day. United makes you stop in Chicago, but that's probably your best option. Long story but I actually flew direct out of Windsor Ontario  (39/45 min from Detroit).

Online etech0

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #234 on: June 04, 2015, 07:22:09 PM »
Is it a problem to bring food into canada?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline Ergel

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Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Online etech0

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #237 on: June 05, 2015, 12:14:04 PM »
Yes
I've declared (when I was within the limit) and they didn't even look or ask about it
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Online etech0

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #238 on: June 05, 2015, 12:29:32 PM »
Yes
I've declared (when I was within the limit) and they didn't even look or ask about it
thanks
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline BKYW

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #239 on: June 15, 2015, 10:04:08 PM »
This is my first post so please forgive me for any mistakes.

The Columbia glacier / walk offers 10% off to AAA / CAA members which comes out a little cheaper than the combo package. However they offer 25% off after 3 PM. There is more than enough time to enjoy both after 3 as the glacier trip takes 1 hour 20 minutes round trip. Actually the glacier trips get emptier after around 3:30 since people want some time to drive back as they are 90 minutes away from both lake Louise or jasper.

I also very much enjoyed the Parker ridge hike up on the icefields pkwy. Views I didn't see anyplace else.

Flights to Calgary from NYC are either 8 am air Canada or 6 pm westjet. AA & delta sell space on westjet & prices can differ between the 3 on the same flight. Edmonton has no direct flights from NYC.

Your choice if you want long days, I went last week (June) & it got dark after 10pm. If you want you can push in 3 activities in a day.
Jasper zman is around 15-20 min later than Banff. Rabeinu tam zman in jasper was around 11:30 pm & you can still the sun from under the mountains later (שקיעה הנראת ).

I stayed most of the days in Jasper (flew thru Edmonton). It's a smaller town than Banff with less shops & not so touristy. banfff is also a little more developed with Johnson canyon paved trails etc.