Ok, I know the typical honeymoon involves laying on a gorgeous beach sipping fruity drinks and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I find myself becoming bored on beach vacations and the sun really isn’t friendly to someone who is as pale as I am, so I want to offer an alternative honeymoon spot that my husband and I found to be simply amazing… the Canadian Rockies. A couple quick points and details about our trip before I mention my favorite places:

1. We got married at the end of June- I know this is off season (and typically cheaper than the winter months) in the Caribbean and Mexico but if you are looking to get away from 80% humidity and temperatures above the 90’s, head north. We had beautiful weather the whole week we were in the Canadian Rockies. It was sunny nearly every day and the temperature was about 75-80 degrees during the day.
2. We were extremely fortunate to have a 2 1/2 week honeymoon that included a cruise tour to Alaska. Be on the lookout for my post about the second half of our trip.
3. The first half of our trip was a road trip from Calgary, Alberta to Vancouver, British Columbia with stops in Banff, Lake Louise and Revelstoke National Park.
4. Road tripping is great for a honeymoon- nothing like getting to spend a whole week in the car with your new spouse 🙂
5. Cruising is also great for a honeymoon- you have built in down time when the ship is at sea and you get amazing food every day included in the price.
6. The scenery we witnessed was stunning. Sometimes you just need the grandeur of nature to put life in perspective.

A few of my favorite places in the world that I have seen so far exist in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. This is by no means a complete list of the all the sights worth seeing in the area, but simply a few that have stuck in my memory:

1. Lake Louise– by now most people have seen pictures of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, but seeing it in person is every bit as spectacular as you would think. We received a night in a lake view room here as a wedding gift, and we still talk about waking up early that morning to witness the lake’s beauty. I do recommend setting an alarm clock to go to the lake shore and experience its calmness before the crowds of people arrive. We were lucky enough to snap these photos by 7 am because by 8 am, it was overtaken by hundreds of people. There are some great hikes around Lake Louise, but the lake shore hike is easy and well worth it.

2. Moraine Lake– Another stunning lake that is nearly as well known as Lake Louise, it can be reached from Moraine Lake Road which is off of Lake Louise Road. The road is closed from October to late May and the parking area can get very busy in the summer. Again, planning to arrive early might be your best bet. The lake is set in the Valley of the Ten Peaks and I bet you can guess why from the pictures below.

3. Town of Banff- Although it can get a little busy during the summer, Banff is still worth visiting. There are some great restaurants, a visitor center that provides maps and info on Banff National Park and one of the most beautiful hotels in the world (Fairmont Banff Springs). We also found several great hikes in the area, our favorite being Tunnel Mountain, which gives you the views seen in the pictures below.

4. Johnston Canyon– This hike has several options and we chose to go all the way to the upper falls which is about 1.7 miles one way. The path includes catwalks hanging on the cliffs and some stairs but the views are beautiful and different than most of the other hikes we did. Johnston Canyon is on the Bow Valley Parkway, about 11 miles west of where it intersects with the Trans-Canada Highway.

5. The Icefields Parkway– This is consistently named one of the most scenic drives in the world and for a good reason. It stretches 144 miles from Banff to Jasper and provides amazing views of mountains, lakes, waterfalls and glaciers all along the way. Fill up with gas and pick up a map of the highway before starting the trek. The map points out stops along the way and gives you mile markers that come in handy.

6. Peyto Lake– I don’t think I need to explain why this is one of my favorite places. The spectrum of blue that can be seen from this area is simply breathtaking. It can be reached off of the Icefields Parkway (one of the first stops) and requires about a 20-30 minute hike uphill to reach the viewpoint.

7. Athabasca Glacier– This glacier is part of the Columbia Icefield and is visible from the Icefields Parkway. Brewster (a popular tour company in the Rockies) offers trips onto the glacier where you can walk around a specified region. Unfortunately, the glacier is receding at a fairly rapid rate.

8. Bow Lake– Another one of the first stops on the Icefields Parkway, Bow Lake has beautiful blue waters and a glacier in the background. There is a hike that leads to the glacier/waterfall but we didn’t have time to tackle those 5.6 miles to the waterfall.

9. Takakkaw Falls– Usually overshadowed by both Banff and Jasper national Parks, Yoho National Park is not to be missed. Takakkaw Falls is located in the latter and can be reached by taking Yoho Valley Rd (closed October-June) north from the Trans-Canada Highway. It is the second highest waterfall at Canada at a height of 1246 feet and is only a short walk from the parking lot. Note- the road leading to the parking area has several steep switchbacks so don’t try this one in a large RV.

10. Emerald Lake– I know there are numerous lakes on this list, but I’m not sure I could ever get tired of their beauty. Emerald Lake, also located in Yoho National Park, can be reached via Emerald Lake Road which intersects with the Trans-Canada Highway. There is a lodge located on the edge of the lake and a trail that leads you around the shoreline. On your way to or from the lake, don’t miss a quick stop at the Natural Bridge on the Kicking Horse River.

11. Stanley Park, Vancouver– We rented bikes to explore the largest urban park in Vancouver. There is a hiking/biking trail that circumnavigates the park and provides awesome views of Vancouver harbor. There are numerous trails through the interior of the park and several points of interest, including an aquarium, totem poles, and a beach.

 

Whether you stay at a romantic hotel, pack a picnic lunch during a hike, or simply enjoy the spectacular views, the Canadian Rockies are easily accessible from the United States and offer a fun destination for a honeymoon (or anniversary, or family trip, or anytime really :)). My husband and I loved the area so much, we are returning this September with my parents. Blog post to follow…