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Welcome to the Canadian Rockies! My name is Marcel and I have created this website to share my love and knowledge of the Canadian Rockies.
Having been a tour guide here in the Mountains for many years, I felt the experience of every visitor could be enriched by two key factors:
knowledge and planning.
Maybe you are a do-it-yourself tourist, a backpacker, or an experienced tour-bus passenger. Perhaps you are a senior, a big family or even honeymooners! Do you love spas, golf, BIG nature, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, caving or photography?
Allow me to be your Rocky Mountain Tour Guide and help you out with some invaluable information and a little inspiration as you plan a spectacular and fun-filled trip to the Canadian Rockies!
Now for a little Canadian Rockies 101:
In this area known to the world as the Canadian Rockies, there are four national parks: Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Yoho National Park and Kootenay National Park. These spectacular four were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. These parks are home to the famous highlights of the Canadian Rockies that are known around the world: Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Jasper, Spirit Island, Maligne Lake, and Emerald Lake - along with hundreds of other little gems less well-known but just as stunning!
Many of Canada's most famous glaciers are also found here in Alberta and British Columbia. Just west of Lake Louise, at the junction of the Trans Canada and Highway 93, is the Icefields Parkway.
Considered one of the world's most beautiful scenic drives, this 230 km (142 mi) stretch of highway offers you stunning vistas, vast valleys, towering mountain ranges and over 100 glaciers - all visible from your vehicle.
The crowning jewel of the Icefields Parkway is the Columbia Icefield which is one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle. The Columbia Icefield feeds five glaciers: Athabasca Glacier, Saskatchewan Glacier, Dome Glacier, Columbia Glacier and Stutfield Glacier.
The Athabasca Glacier is directly accessible from the Icefields Parkway and your glacial experience doesn't have to end there. If you turn into the Columbia Icefield Centre (6676 ft - 2035 m) you can not only learn about the life of a glacier but you can also experience Athabasca Glacier first-hand on an Ice Explorer - a large all-terrain vehicle ideal for snow and ice conditions. (Where else are they using this terra bus? In the Antarctic for transporting scientific personnel!) Don't miss this chance to experience what the last ice-age was like on an Ice Explorer!
Only a few hours away is a natural phenonmenon often overlooked by visitors to the Rockies: Waterton Lakes National Park. Here you'll discover the raw and stark beauty of the most-southern Canadian Rockies.
Together Glacier National Park (USA) and Waterton Lakes National Park (CAN) form another UNESCO World Heritage Site by the name of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Located in southern Alberta along the US border and northern Montana along the Canadian border, this friendship park is a hiker's paradise and a highlight not to be missed!
Having been a Rocky Mountain Tour Guide here in the Canadian Rockies for many years, I've been told that my love of the Rockies is evident the moment I begin to talk about the mountains I call home.
I hope you find this to be true when finding your way through my information website on these ancient towering figures we call the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
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| Welcome to Marcel's Rocky Blog Marcel's Rocky Blog is the place to go to find out about changes and additions to Rocky Mountain Tour Guide - with great topics such as planning your trip, wildlife, cool activities and great sights. |
| Cool Souvenirs Cool Souvenirs |
| Skiing at Sunshine Village Sunshine Village |
| Canadian Rockies Bucket List Looking for a bucket list of the Canadian Rockies? Here's mine! Get busy making yours! |
| Welcome to our American Visitors Welcome to our American Visitors! |
| Getting Here Getting here is getting easier as more and more flights are being offered into the Calgary International Airport. |
| Banff Public Transit - Roam Banff public transit ROAM bus system is environmentally friendly and Canada's first all-hybrid bio-diesel/electric bus fleet! |
| Accommodations in the Rocky Mountains Accommodations in the Rocky Mountains? There are a vast array of possibilities - from back country lodges to luxurious hotels - you choose what will make your stay unforgetable. |
| Vacation Homes Sit back and relax in one of many beautiful vacation homes nestled in the Canadian Rockies. |
| Places to Visit So, you've decided on the Canadian Rockies, but you're not sure what places to visit. There are hundreds of possibilities you should know of, and then you can choose which ones are best for you! |
| Things to Do There are things to do, places to see, and friends to make! Well, depending on your reasons for visiting the Canadian Rockies and where your interests lie, we have quite a list to spark your fire! |
| How to Plan a Rocky Mountain Holiday How to Plan a Rocky Mountain Holiday |
| General Information Guide Information is the key to planning a safe and enjoyable holiday! Here is a helpful General Information Guide to help you get informed. |
| Travel Checklist There are a number of things you will want to have on your holiday. A Travel Checklist is a great thing to have. |
| Banff Banff is famous all around the world, but what is this little mountain get-away really like? |
| Canmore The beautiful mountain town of Canmore is situated on the Bow River between Calgary and Banff on the eastern edge of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. |
| Jasper Jasper, the cozy little mountain town located within Jasper National Park is a little treasure with easy access to plenty of things to see and do. |
| The Icefields Parkway The Icefields Parkway |
| Banff Mountains Banff Mountains: Familiarize Yourself with Banff's Pretty Peaks |
| Whistler BC Located just two hours from Vancouver, the mountain village of Whistler BC is a great place to begin or end your mountain experience! |
| Rocky Mountains Find out more about the Rocky Mountains! |
| Animals What kinds of animals live here in the Rocky Mountains? Come take a look! |
| Artists of the Rockies Artists of the Rockies reveal their treasures inspired by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. |
| Spas If its relaxation you are looking for on your vacation, then you've come to the right place! After a day of skiing or shopping, choose from a nice variety of spas to melt away your aches and pains! |
| Ski the Rockies Come Ski the Rockies! |
| Family Fun Have some great family fun at the Canmore Children's Festival in May. From crafts to activities, there is something for everyone! |
| Wildlife While visiting the Canadian Rockies, chances are that you will have the opportunity to either catch a glimpse of wildlife or maybe even observe them in their natural habitat. |
| Scenic Drives Scenic Drives in and around the National Parks in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. |
| Heli-Skiing Heli-Skiing is the ultimate ski vacation. Read about my first time! |
| Explore the Icefields Parkway Go on a motorcoach tour or rent a car or motorhome and explore the Icefields Parkway. Read up on what you can expect on this incredible journey up a beautiful highway. |
| Columbia Icefield Tour Enjoy one of the most scenic highways in the world - the Icefield Parkway and experience the Columbia Icefield firsthand! |
| Canadian Rockies Hot Springs Enjoy the Canadian Rockies Hot Springs of Banff, Radium & Miette. Day spas are are also available. |
| Ice Walk Interested in getting upclose to a glacier? An ice walk with a professional guide is a great way to see and experience these amazing bodies of ice. |
| Destination Golf Looking for great Destination Golf? The Canadian Rockies have some breathtaking settings and challenging courses! Banff Springs, Jasper Park Lodge, Silver Tip, Stewart Creek, Kananaskis, Panorama, BC |
| Train Travel Train Travel is a great option |
| Learn English Want to leave your busy life behind for a couple weeks or even months and learn English? Come and learn English in the inspiring landscape of the Canadian Rockies. |
| Johnston Canyon Walk (Lower Falls) and Meal Hike to the falls at Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park |
| Aboriginal Tourism Aboriginal Tourism has become very popular over the last few years. Alberta has a lot to offer if you are interested in learning more about the first nation's facinating history. |
| Olympic Torch Relay Follow the Olympic Torch Relay through Southern Alberta's rich heritage. |
| Canmore Olympic Torch Relay Come and celebrate at the Canmore Olympic Torch Relay |
| Olympic Skiing Come and experience some Olympic Skiing venues! |
| Paint the Town Red Paint the Town Red! Take part in celebrating the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada by wearing red - painting yourself red - Be creative and support our athletes! |
| Entering Canada Entering Canada or any other country nowadays can have many unexpected requirements. Do your part to find out what you need well in advance of your trip. |
| Canada Here is a quick study session on what I believe Canada to be. |
| Canadian Money Get to know Canadian money before you come. I can help! |
| Southern Alberta Southern Alberta has so much to offer and is easily accessible from the Rockies. |
| Alberta Canada Trivia Would you like to know more about Alberta Canada? Here are some fun facts about our province. |
| Frequently Asked Questions Here are some frequently asked questions with answers that may help you in the planning of your trip! |
| Campgrounds Camping is the best way to experience the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains. Whether inside or outside a mountain park, do your research and find the right campgrounds for you. |
| Rent a Motorhome Go sightseeing your own way and rent a motorhome to make your way through the Rocky Mountains. |
| Booking with CanaDream Booking with CanaDream can make that RV holiday a reality! |
| RV or Hotel RV or hotel? Well, travel throughout Western Canada, with its great distances, remote heritage sites, and picturesque scenery, tends to accommodate recreational vehicles. Could this be for you? |
| deutsch Willkommen in den Rocky Mountains - auf deutsch! |
| Kanada Reise-Service Unser Kanada Reise-Service hift Ihnen beim Plannen, um eine unvergeßliche und gutdurchdachte Reise festzulegen. Fangen wir an! |
| Banff und Canmore Besuchen In Banff und Canmore gibt es viel für Sie zu entdecken! |
| Ski Packages in the Rockies Ski Packages in the Rockies are here! Experience Banff, Lake Louise, Whistler and more! There are deals to be had! |
| Rocky Mountain Self Drive Looking for a Rocky Mountain Self Drive? Here is a great selection - and each drive is customizable too! |
| Rockies to the Pacific Go from the Rockies to the Pacific or vice-versa on this self-drive tour package. |
| Rocky Mountain Travel Do you have a Rocky Mountain Travel Story you'd like to share? |
| Rocky Mountain Moment Rocky Mountain Moment |
| Share your Rocky Mountain Ski Story Share your favourite Rocky Mountain ski story with us! |
| Visiting & Living the Canadian Rockies I first travelled through the Canadian Rockies in the summer of 1979, and my world was never the same. Read about my first experiences here in the mountains I now call home. |
| Contact Us Would you like to contact us? We'd love to hear from you! |
| Search & Site Map Looking for something in particular on our site? This Search & Site Map can help. |
| Yup-with-SBI Wondering about how we made this site? Could you make a site about your passion? Yup-with-SBI!! |
| Submit your Link We are looking at linking with travel/activity related websites that would like to link with us! Submit your link |
| Travel Destinations Check out other travel destinations and see what they have to offer! |
| Book Store Books on the Canadian Rockies |
| Ski Stories Read some fun accounts of the ski-adventures that await you here in the Canadian Rockies in Ski Sories! |
| Branding Cattle I was invited to see something very characteristic for Southern Alberta - Branding Cattle with cowboys and horses! |
| Park Radio Tune into Banff Park Radio 101.1 while visiting Banff National Park to find out about wildlife and nature in the park. |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| One-Week Trip: Calgary - Vancouver Go with Dominik on a One-Week Trip that takes you from Calgary to Vancouver. He'll fill you in on things to see and give his personal insights on this intriguing trip! |
| Search Results Put in your keywords and get some great search results with Google. |
| Crowsnest Pass Come to the Crowsnest Pass and experience some history in Alberta's beautiful southwest corner. |
| Golf and Spa World-class golf and spa all within walking distance! No, it is NOT just a dream!! Alberta has a lot to offer in the areas of Golf and Spa. |
| Ranch Culture Alberta has a long history of "Ranch Culture". Come and read about some ways to discover this part of Alberta. |
| Ticks Look out for ticks especially in the spring when outdoors in the Rockies. |
| Inuit Art Drawing on a rich and varied life experience, Angus Cockney works with stone and other media to create beautiful pieces of Inuit art. |
| Rocky Mountaineer Rockies Rocky Mountaineer Rockies Road & Rail Itinerary |
| Lake Louise Galleries In Banff National Park you will find the Village of Lake Louise with all its little treasures. Don't miss its galleries! |
| Ski Big 3 Get a tri-area ski pass and Ski Big 3!! |
| Bow Falls Visit the famous Bow Falls and think of Marilyn Monroe! |
| Okotoks Erratic Come and see a treasure from the past - The Okotoks Erratic is the largest known glacial erratic in the world!! |
| Four Week Circle Trip Part Two Read about this Four Week Circle Trip - Southern Alberta - Yellowstone - Seattle - Victoria - Vancouver Island - Vancouver - Likely - Waterton - Canmore |
| Spas in Banff There are many spas in Banff to choose from to make your holiday even more relaxing. |
| Insider Tip Saskatchewan Glacier Insider Tip Saskatchewan Glacier: Discover the source of the North Saskatchewan River! The Saskatchewan Glacier is just one of many glaciers that comes from the Columbia Icefield. |
| Green Skiing Green Skiing is coooool! |
| VIA Rockies Road and Rail Itinerary The ever-popular VIA Rockies Road and Rail itinerary. |
| Galleries When you come to the Canadian Rockies a visit to our many galleries is a must. The spectacular scenery inspires artists and artisans to create beautiful works of art. |
| Jasper Transportation: Buses & Taxis Transportation to and from Jasper that fits your schedule can be hard to find. Here are some tips on Jasper transportation to help you plan your trip to beautiful Jasper National Park. |
| North West Mounted Police Barracks North West Mounted Police Barracks: Witness a piece of this coal-mining town's past by visiting this log structure built in 1892. |
| Radium Hot Springs Relax at Radium Hot Springs and have their "Pleiades Massage & Spa" soothe your mind & body with such treatments as aromatherapy, facials, massage, Shiatsu, reflexology, hot stone & Reiki. |
| Stanley Thompson Designed in 1928 by Canada's most revered golf course architect, Stanley Thompson, this incredibly scenic golf course was the first golf course to cost $1-million. |
| Spas in Canmore Spas in Canmore will not disappoint! Each offer their own series of treatments to make you never want to go home! |
| Travel Services Here are some travel services to help you with your travel needs. |
| Trail Conditions Information on Trail conditions in Banff National Park, the Bow Valley and Kananaskis |
| Frank Slide Frank Slide is a natural disaster of unbeleiveable proportions. Visit the original location of the town of Frank and see the massive rock avalanche that was left by Turtle Mountain. |
| Spa Vacations Discover the exotic past of spas! Experience how these age-old traditions are continuing on, offering you healing treatments in the Canadian Rockies. Spa Vacations are in! |
| Travel Destinations - Central and South America Central and South America have some spectacular spots for you to discover! |
| Temple Mountain Spa A beautiful spa in an inspiring location: Temple Mountain Spa |
| The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course consists of the Stanley Thompson 18 and Tunnel 9, both situated beneath the famous Banff Springs Hotel next to the beautiful Bow River. |
| Vehicle Rental Calgary Vehicle Rental Calgary: Here is a modest list of vehicle rental companies serving the Calgary area. |
| Travelers Choice Awards Five of TripAdvisor's 2008 Travelers Choice Awards go to... |
| Spas in Lake Louise The beatiful surroundings of Lake Louise create a calming and rejuvenating atmosphere - perfect for a visit to spas in Lake Louise |
| Enjoy Marmot Basin Enjoy a day of relaxed skiing at Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park! |
| The Columbia Icefield Drive up the Icefields Parkway and expereince Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield |
| Black Bear The black bear is common to most of Canada and a fascinating animal. |
| Vehicle Rental A comprehensive list of vehicle rental companies in the Canadian Rockies to get you on your way! |
| Ski and Snowboard Conditions Ski and Snowboard Conditions, Canadian Rocky Mountains, Lake Louise, Norquay, Sunshine Village, Canmore Nordic Centre, Nakiska, Marmot Basin, Panorama, Kicking Horse |
| Transportation Getting around without your own vehicle can be difficult. Transportation in the Rockies is all in the planning! |
| Four Week Circle Trip Read about this Four Week Circle Trip - Southern Alberta - Yellowstone - Seattle - Victoria - Vancouver Island - Vancouver - Canmore |
| Amazing British Columbia Amazing British Columbia: A Natural History From A to Z. |
| Hell's Gate Airtram Located in the beautiful Fraser Canyon, Hell's Gate Airtram whisks you across the narrowest point of the gorge and up 150 metres! Learn first hand the life-cycle of the salmon Canada is famous for! |
| An Introduction to Vancouver Vancouver |
| Granville Island Granville Island has a reputation of intrigue and fun that has drawn visitors from all over the world! |
| Vancouver Art Gallery The Vancouver Art Gallery visitors will enjoy thousands of individual pieces of artwork, making the gallery a day trip in and of itself. |
| Museum of Anthropology The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia has long been a staple of architectural awesomeness combined with relevant exhibitions enjoyed year round by both locals and tourists. |
| Grapes Wine Bar Grapes Wine Bar is a very intimate restaurant where you can truly relax and enjoy the ambience of this superb dining venue. Located where else but the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff. |
| Bow Valley Grill Located in the Banff Springs Hotel, the Bow Valley Grill offers a wide range of delectable dishes and imaginative desserts. |