Banff National Park – A Mecca for Activities
Here’s Travel Alberta’s take on Banff National Park: “Banff National Park is a vast untamed territory that begs to be explored. Wild animals roam the valleys, eagles soar over the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and pure water streams into rivers from 1,000 glaciers. Hundreds of years ago aboriginal natives first discovered its beauty, quickly followed by explorers, map makers, and mountain climbers. Even the odd celebrity or royal types have popped by. And now you climb those same mountains, paddle the rivers, and inhale the air. That’s pure alpine. The sheer number of adventures is as hard to count as the peaks stretching into the distance. Ski, shop or spa, indoors and out, or wander down a hiking trail or two. In Banff the possibilities are limitless.” - Travel Alberta
From Radium to Banff National Park
On the last day of the FreeBird trip, on our way to Banff National Park, we pass through the natural hot spring at Radium, British Columbia, where we get to walk through Sinclair Canyon and see the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep graze and pose for photos. Some of these bighorn rams are impressive! We will also stop at an eclectic wood carving shop that will have you wondering exactly what kind of mind altering drugs were available to the wood carver and his goat! A picnic lunch follows a walk to the Paint Pots, where we learn about the history of the area and how the first nations people of Canada used the colourful “pots of mud” in their traditional lifestyle as well as how those who followed in their footsteps made use of this orange coloured mud.
Banff National Park – A Top Ten Travel Destination
We finish our drive with one of the top ten travel destinations in Canada. Nestled in the Bow Valley, Banff National Park is surrounded by the towering peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Cascade Mountain and Mount Rundle as well as the infamous Tunnel Mountain are covered by forests of pine and spruce trees. The mountain scenery here is a photographers dream. A must see destination that has to be experienced by all who travel the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. This place really does offer it all - as you really can do anything; shopping, adventure activities, outdoor recreation, museums and galleries, even cold water scuba diving out at Lake Minnewanka. Most of our clients though, just spend the day sightseeing near Banff Springs Hotel, perhaps join the ever popular tradition of High Tea and do some last minute shopping.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Banff Gondola
Boat Tour of Lake Minnewanka
Horseback Riding
High Tea at the Banff Springs
Golfing at the Banff Springs Hotel
Mountain Biking
Visit Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
See the Bow River Falls
Window shopping at all the high end fashion stores
Relax at riverside parks along the Bow River
Hiking in the Rockies
Our trip is not over yet. As we leave this paradise and head back through the foothills and into the lovely hamlet of Water Valley, we arrive back at FreeBird Base Camp. One more delicious campfire meal where we say our goodbyes and reminisce about all the places we have been, the stories we have made, and memories we will have for a lifetime.
