Alberta fan IS bringing his wife to AB!

[Groundhogger]

Hey guys~so Mrs. Groundhogger and I are heading out to your fair province near the end of July for a visit, with some plans already set. I am looking for a few ideas though...as she and I have very different interests.

Not being the "gopher shooting" or "fly fishing" type, the plan was to mostly tour around Canmore, Banff (I've never been) but also SW into Fernie. Some shopping, easy hikes, a spa trip or two for her, etc. I'm an exceedingly easy guy to satisfy and even EASIER to satisfy out there. The surroundings are SO unlike most of Ontario I can spend an entire day walking a lake's edge with a fishing rod, flipping over rocks, looking at bugs, etc. I was giddy last spring, spending almost a full week shooting gophers...and never got my fill. My wife? Not so much. lol On the very few trips we've taken together, she likes to learn about a place's history, likes museums, interesting gift shops, that sort of thing. I know I want to take her to Frank Slide (I've been, found it fascinating) but would love to get some input from the crowd here.

Other than booking the rental car, accommodations for most of the trip, I'm content just sorting out the rest once we're there. The Mrs. is looking for a plan. lol (opposites attract I guess)

I'm hoping she'll come away from this trip with a desire to move out there, but, my focus now is to hash-out a rough plan on a few things to see/do with her interests in mind. A little tricky to sort-out from here...

I appreciate any/all input.

Thanks!

[Lefty-Canuck]

The badlands and Drumheller are always interesting.

LC

[Kurt505]

Waterton Park and head smashed in buffalo jump is in the area and interesting if you've never been there. Lake Koocanusa provincial park isn't far from Fernie and has an amphitheater in the park as well as a little lake that has a great beach, canoe and paddle boat rentals, and is loaded with bass and painted turtles.

[Okotokian]

Canmore has good shopping and restaurants, Banff too. And Banff has lots of touristy things she might like. Art galleries, museum, hotsprings, gondola ride. Get pampered at the Banff Springs hotel (a museum in itself) at their spa. Of course Lake Loiuse for the obligatory lake and glacier picture. Probably the most famous scenic picture in Canada.

Sounds like you are sticking around the mountains, but the last poster mentioned Drumheller and the badlands, which are north east of Calgary. If you do decide to go there, you have to go to the Royal Tyrell Museum, which is probably one of the worlds great dinosaur museums and research station.

[Groundhogger]

Thanks guys~keep 'em coming!

[Whipper Billy]

In celebration of Canada's 150, you can go online and order Parks Canada Discovery Passes that give you free admission to all Parks Canada places all year long.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Whipper Billy

In celebration of Canada's 150, you can go online and order Parks Canada Discovery Passes that give you free admission to all Parks Canada places all year long.

I got my pass, but I was left wondering, what happens if you just drive up and don't have a pass? They are going to let you in for free anyway, right? I assume nobody is getting ticketed in Banff for being parked without a pass, are they?

[Whipper Billy]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

I got my pass, but I was left wondering, what happens if you just drive up and don't have a pass? They are going to let you in for free anyway, right? I assume nobody is getting ticketed in Banff for being parked without a pass, are they?

I just looked & saw Global news reported: Natalie Fay, Chief of Media Relations at Parks Canada, defended the decision to still have people order a pass despite the cost even though there are no repercussions for visitors without one.

[metalwrench]

Do you like mead? Fallentimber Meadery is in Water Valley just north east of Banff and you can call/email about a tour if you're in the area. Their products are pretty good and getting a tour and tasting is always nice. Let them know you're from out of province and they might be able to hook you up with some stuff.

[Crankbait]

Originally Posted by Groundhogger

Thanks guys~keep 'em coming!

X100 on the Tyrell Museum in Drumheller,, this year they have the exhibit of the worlds most complete fossil that is supposed to be super amazing.

even if you weren't into dinosaurs, the museum would change that quickly. the campground just out of town called "Starland" is nice big quiet [great flyfishing for goldeye]. or just stay in drumheller.

[DiabeticKripple]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

The badlands and Drumheller are always interesting.

LC

especially with that new dinosaur found in Fort Mac.

Originally Posted by Kurt505

Waterton Park and head smashed in buffalo jump is in the area and interesting if you've never been there. Lake Koocanusa provincial park isn't far from Fernie and has an amphitheater in the park as well as a little lake that has a great beach, canoe and paddle boat rentals, and is loaded with bass and painted turtles.

I think you are thinking of Kikomun Creek Provincial Park? I used to go there for a week every year. Amazing campground and the small mouth bass on a fly rod is super fun.

Originally Posted by Okotokian

I got my pass, but I was left wondering, what happens if you just drive up and don't have a pass? They are going to let you in for free anyway, right? I assume nobody is getting ticketed in Banff for being parked without a pass, are they?

You can go through and not get a pass, but i heard they are quite pushy on getting one so they know how many people visited the parks.


OP, do you golf? Fernie golf and country club is probably my favourite course to golf.

[David Henry]

If you have time to travel up the road a bit from Banff the Icefields Parkway will take you up to Jasper. There are many lakes enroute for you to freeze your toes in. Also the new Skywalk up that way too, I haven't been to it yet but when the crowds thin out in the fall I might get there. An absolutely wonderful drive is east from Saskatchewan River Crossing past the Big Horn dam also known as Abraham Lake, it can get a bit windy there though. Happy trails. D.H.

[gitrdun]

If you're going to be in the pass to visit Frank Slide, you may as well take a tour of the underground coal mine. The coal mine disaster cemetery is also an interesting place. The Drumheller museum also now has the most complete dinosaur fossil recently discovered. And on your way back this way, there is also the Bar U historic ranch on Hwy 22.

[Groundhogger]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

If you're going to be in the pass to visit Frank Slide, you may as well take a tour of the underground coal mine. The coal mine disaster cemetery is also an interesting place. The Drumheller museum also now has the most complete dinosaur fossil recently discovered. And on your way back this way, there is also the Bar U historic ranch on Hwy 22.

Sounds great! Thanks for the input!

[bark4]

If youve got time , the drive from edson to sundre on the trunk road is awesome. Theres a loop around cadomin i like to do. Some history stuff at cadomin and nordegg. Depending on where you start from it can b a very long drive tho. Would recommend planning ahead for fuel too.

[Red Bullets]

Sort of out of the way out could be nice...If you end up at radium hot springs instead go south a few miles and drive up to Lussier Hot Springs. It is natural hot springs right beside the river. Not developed and only a couple minutes from the road. Here's a blog on it.

http://downthewrabbithole.blogspot.c...r-natural.html

If in Calgary visit the Glenbow museum. A good assortment of alberta's early history.

[jcrayford]

Alberta Gopher Museum in Torrington, museum to settle her needs, gophers to settle yours? http://gopherholemuseum.ca/

Quad Squad in Crowsnest Pass, escorted tours on quads throughout the mountains. Phone ahead of time and they should be able to line you up with a tour: http://quadsquad.ca/

J.

[wheelin4fun]

If you're heading out to Frank Slide, which is very cool in ti's own, I would recommend hitting up Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump. Some very cool history there.

And Tyrell is a must as well.

[Jigger]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

The badlands and Drumheller are always interesting.

LC

Great museum and scenery and good river fishin when its low too.

[YoteStopper]

If you were intending to shoot a few gophers while you were out here, better hurry I'm running out in my spots!

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by Groundhogger

Hey guys~so Mrs. Groundhogger and I are heading out to your fair province near the end of July for a visit, with some plans already set. I am looking for a few ideas though...as she and I have very different interests.

Not being the "gopher shooting" or "fly fishing" type, the plan was to mostly tour around Canmore, Banff (I've never been) but also SW into Fernie. Some shopping, easy hikes, a spa trip or two for her, etc. I'm an exceedingly easy guy to satisfy and even EASIER to satisfy out there. The surroundings are SO unlike most of Ontario I can spend an entire day walking a lake's edge with a fishing rod, flipping over rocks, looking at bugs, etc. I was giddy last spring, spending almost a full week shooting gophers...and never got my fill. My wife? Not so much. lol On the very few trips we've taken together, she likes to learn about a place's history, likes museums, interesting gift shops, that sort of thing. I know I want to take her to Frank Slide (I've been, found it fascinating) but would love to get some input from the crowd here.

Other than booking the rental car, accommodations for most of the trip, I'm content just sorting out the rest once we're there. The Mrs. is looking for a plan. lol (opposites attract I guess)

I'm hoping she'll come away from this trip with a desire to move out there, but, my focus now is to hash-out a rough plan on a few things to see/do with her interests in mind. A little tricky to sort-out from here...

I appreciate any/all input.

Thanks!

You're gonna be a long way from my stompin grounds so I can't offer much other then a warm welcome and best wishes.

It's been so long since I spend much time in the south that I really couldn't make any useful suggestions as to where one might go.

Further north and west I do, but not that far south.

So I hope you have a GREAT time and fill a couple of photo albums. And I hope your wife loves it here and refuses to go back east.

Jim

[landowner]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

Waterton Park and head smashed in buffalo jump is in the area and interesting if you've never been there. Lake Koocanusa provincial park isn't far from Fernie and has an amphitheater in the park as well as a little lake that has a great beach, canoe and paddle boat rentals, and is loaded with bass and painted turtles.

You might want to give a pass on Waterton this year, the free 150 pass and construction in a tiny park makes for a ton of congestion

[RZR]

Remington carriage house in Cardston is kind of interesting they have all kinds of old horse drawn buggies, another place is the buffalo jump just outside of Fort McLeod

[sns2]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

If you're going to be in the pass to visit Frank Slide, you may as well take a tour of the underground coal mine. The coal mine disaster cemetery is also an interesting place. The Drumheller museum also now has the most complete dinosaur fossil recently discovered. And on your way back this way, there is also the Bar U historic ranch on Hwy 22.

I took a group of students to Frank Slide, and we went to the underground coal mine right after. What a hoot it was.

A few hours of shopping at Cross Iron Mills is likely in order. Your wife will love it, and you can stop at Bass Pro. Have a milkshake as they are outstanding. What woman doesn't love a great mall???

[338 Rules]

Another vote for a must visit to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, you can spend two days there easily. Mind blowing to see the critters that used to walk around this part of the world millions of years ago.

[Groundhogger]

This has been amazing everyone~thank you all!!

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by metalwrench

Do you like mead? Fallentimber Meadery is in Water Valley just north east of Banff and you can call/email about a tour if you're in the area. Their products are pretty good and getting a tour and tasting is always nice. Let them know you're from out of province and they might be able to hook you up with some stuff.

Just North East of Banff ?


Grizz

[tundraltd]

Originally Posted by Groundhogger

This has been amazing everyone~thank you all!!

When in Canmore I suggest stopping to eat at local brewery called the Grizzly Paw, good home brew beer and soda, and the food is great.

[slough shark]

She might really like nanton which is around an hour south of Calgary, it has the war air museum (which is pretty cool) and a number of antique shops which are full of old western stuff. Also makes you close to the mountains to the west and the porcupine hills.

[Auger]

I just did a bit of a tour through southern Alberta and stopped in Drumheller on the way back north. If you stop at Drumheller a couple nice hiking areas are Horseshoe Canyon and Horsethief Canyon. And instead of Waterton I would recommend Writing-on-Stone provincial park and go climbing amongst the hoodoos. The major parks are pretty busy this year but there's lots to see. X2 on Frank slide, head smashed in and Royal tyrell museum.

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