Alberta & Saskatchewan

Adding two Canadian provinces to the list and filling in more of the Canadian map. 

Monday, June 19th, 2023

 

Quick stop in Calgary before hitting the road.

Would it be a surprise that first stop was for ice cream? Village Ice Cream's Salted Caramel is justifiably famous.

 

Heading north on the 2.

Checking out quaint Red Deer.

And hitting two Canadian staples with Beef Donair Poutine. Made it on my favorites list.

 

Back on the 2.

West Edmonton Mall is the 2nd largest in North America.

It has all the shops and a few attractions, but it is showing its age (1981) and Mall of America is better.

  

Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 

 After checking out Edmonton, taking a loop through Saskatchewan.

 

Crossing the North Edmonton River into the province's capitol.

 

Jasper Avenue is the main drag of Edmonton.

 

Taking a look at Sir Winston Churhill Square, since he is on my list of the top 3 people of the 20th century.

   

 After an omelet at Hathaway's Diner....

   

...had Pistachio Pineapple pie. At the whole thing. Why there was no lunch or dinner that day.

   

Seeing what the Alberta countryside is about.

   

   

The red poles in Lloydminster denote the boundary of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

   

Starting to see what the Saskatchewan countryside is about.

   

   

   

Back in Alberta after 9 hours of driving Saskatchewan.

   

Oyen. All of it.

   

Wednesday, June 21st, 2023

Breakfast in a western Calgary neighborhood at Dairy Lane Café, opened in 1950.

   

Then time to explore downtown.

   

Starting with local favorite Jelly Modern Doughnuts.

   

Stephen Walk Avenue is a pedestrian street lined with restaurants and shops.

   

What I liked the most were the wonderful old buildings. Just imagine the history.

   

Olympic Plaza was created for medals ceremonies for the 1988 Games.

   

At another location of Village Ice Cream for Honeyberry.

   

When Calgary Tower was built in 1968, it dominated the skyline.

   

Now the skyline dwarfs it.

   

   

Just outside of Calgary is where the 1988 Olympic ski jump, luge and bobsledding was held.

   

Love me a market.

   

Time to get into Banff National Park.

   

Hoodoos in the lower left are famous.

   

Yeah, right, stunning.

   

Fairmont Banff opened in 1888.

   

It has been rebuild and expanded since then, retaining that old world charm.

   

Its backside.

   

Town of Banff.

   

Charming, strollable, inviting.

   

Dinner at farm & fire.

   

Scotch Egg 

Pork and Elk Sausage, Soft Poached Egg, Braised Cabbage Salad, Garlic Aioli, Pickled Mustard Seed 

Wild Mushroom Loaf 

Cream Sauce, Marinated Wild Mushrooms, Parmigiano Reggiano, Truffle Oil, House Micro Greens

   

   

   

Cowconut Cream Pie at familiar Canadian chain COWS.

   

It's not the Fairmont, but it's not Motel 6.

   

Thursday, June 22nd, 2023

Fairmont Lake Louise is not as attractive as its sibling in Banff.

   

Lake Louise

   

   

Starting to hike the Lake Agnes Trail.

   

It is 3.4km (2.1 miles) each way and rises 1,200 feet.

   

Mirror Lake

   

Almost to the top.

   

Forest opening up for views.

 

And the occasional waterfall.

   

Made it to Lake Agnes at 7,000 feet.

   

And the Lake Agnes Teahouse. With a history going back to 1901, this building dates to 1981. All supplies are hiked up by the staff with a annual helicopter drop of non-perishables.

   

Vegetable and Lentil Soup, Hot Apple Cider, Tuna Salad on Homemade Oatmeal Brown Bread.

Taking a different, more technical route down.

   

For new views.

   

   

   

The Fairmont again.

   

 

And Lake Louise in the afternoon.

   

Moraine Lake

   

Oh, just some more nature.

   

To Canmore.

   

For dinner at Crazyweed Kitchen. They nailed it. 

Pan Seared Coho Salmon 

Thai green curry, baby bok choy, grilled eggplant, roasted sweet potato & thai basil 

Grilled Broccoli 

Blue cheese dressing, maple sambal, brown butter almond crunch 

Labneh 

Honey roasted eggplant, golden raisins, walnuts, dill, mint, zaatar & lemon

   

And then over to the Old School Bus Ice Cream.

   

Friday, June 23rd, 2023

Northwest to Jasper National Park

   

But first, stopping in Banff for breakfast.

   

Taking the morning chill off.

   

Goodbye Banff.

   

Crowfoot Glacier

   

Bow Lake

   

Peyto Lake

   

Having driven a few hundred miles around the world, Icefield Parkway is indeed a top beautiful drive.

   

 

Athabasca Glacier

   

Into Jasper town after hours of driving for lunch. 

Poutine 

Seared Halloumi Bowl 

Marinated halloumi, sumac roasted sweet potatoes, tomatoes, roasted peppers, chickpeas, Kalamata olives, toasted almonds, mixed greens, tahini vinaigrette

   

Grandma's Place has homemade ice cream with clever names. (It was quite good.)

   

   

Maligne Canyon is NE of town showcasing the fury of Mother Nature.

    

Doubling back on the Icefields Parkway. Athabasca Falls

   

Just astounding scenery the entire day.

   

   

Columbia Icefields

   

   

Glacier Skywalk

   

Built in 2014, the 1,475 foot arch hangs over the valley.

   

Loved it.

   

 

Straight down through the glass floor.

  

Saturday, June 24th, 2023 

Time for breakfast before flying home.

   

Goodbye Calgary.