I guess I should start by admitting that this was actually our second time in Banff, but seeing as how I am not writing about all my adventures in chronological order anyway, I figured it would probably be okay ツ.
In January 2022, Justin and I, and some of our friends, drove to Whistler looking for an ODR (outdoor rink). Unfortunately, there was so much snow on all the lakes in the area that we could not skate on any of them, and had to settle for the small ODR in the village. While it was still a fun time (it snowed the entire time we were there – a true winter wonderland), it was not exactly the experience we were looking for. At this point, we started talking about how cool it would be to go skating on iconic Lake Louise in Banff, Alberta, and within a couple of days, the trip was booked!
Lake Louise
As soon as we arrived in Lake Louise, we checked into our hotel, grabbed our skates, and were on our way to the ODR!
I feel that the first few minutes I step on the ice – no matter how long it has been since I last skated – I am literally Bambi on ice. It takes me a few seconds to get into the rhythm, and convince myself that I am not going to fall and take everyone down with me. But, the hardest part about the entire experience was getting from the benches, where you put your skates on, to the ice. The snow was very packed (basically ice) and your skates would sink into it as you tried to walk. We went skating three times while we were in Lake Louise, and it never got easier! But, I should also note that by the third day, it had gotten so busy in Lake Louise that the ice quality had suffered and there were many holes – I had a couple close calls!
Overall, skating on Lake Louise was definitely a special moment. I felt like I was in a photograph with the surrounding scenery, especially the picturesque mountains. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise even does hockey stick and puck rentals, which gave Justin a chance to show off his stick-handling skills ツ.
Another fun activity we did in Lake Louise was hike to Fairview Lookout, which provides a stunning view of the Lake, the mountains and the Hotel. There are several different trails that you can take in the area, and for some reason, we had a really hard time figuring out which way to take to get to Fairview Lookout. We started off on the right path, but somehow ended up on a cross-country trail that ran parallel to the trail we should have taken. Instead of going back the way we started (the smart thing to do), we decided to cut through the trees, and let me tell you, this was a bad idea. This “short cut” was not a marked trail, the snow was not packed, and we did not have snow shoes – we both sunk about three feet into the snow a couple of times! We eventually made it to the right trail, but not without getting wet, and letting out a couple screams (well, the screaming was just me). Despite this minor setback, the end result was definitely worth it!
In terms of wining and dining, our favourite experience was eating at the The Station Restaurant. As the name suggests, this restaurant was previously an old train station, and at certain times during the year, you can even eat dinner on the actual parked train itself! The restaurant was very dimly lit for dinner, and the wood-burning fire places made for a very cozy environment.
We also had high tea at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise – it was my treat to Justin as we were on this trip during his birthday. I am so happy that the Fairmont offers a plant-based option, allowing everyone to enjoy this experience. The tea, sandwiches, and pastries were all delicious!
The Fairmont even has an ice bar outside where you can enjoy a hot drink while sitting on a ice-sculpted bench and enjoying the scenery! Another fitting activity for Justin’s birthday ♥.
The final two activities we did while in Lake Louise included snow shoeing around Lake Louise Ski Resort, and also going back into BC to check our Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park (it was only a 30-minute drive from Lake Louise)! While Lake Louise was fairly “warm” while we were there – about 2°C, it was a lot colder at Emerald Lake. When we arrived at Emerald Lake, it was -16°C plus wind chill! We decided to walk part way around the Lake, take in the amazing views and grab some photographs, before we both turned into icicles and turned around; Justin’s facial hair actually froze!
Feeling satisfied with our time in Lake Louise, our next stop was the town of Banff, which I will cover in another post!
Always grateful,
Michelle
PS – One other thing I was grateful for during this trip was the beautiful, (mostly) sunny weather! The week before we arrived, it was under -20°C! Safe to say the trip would not have been possible if the incredibly cold weather had remained!
PPS – I always give Justin a hard time when he writes PS in an email because PS (post-script) was traditionally used when writing letters by hand using paper and pen… in other words, when you did not have the option to backspace like you do on a keyboard! But for some reason, PS seems fitting in a blog, what do you think ツ?
Exploring With Gratitude 