canadian rockies and cowboys

During the year I was working on the Canadian sponsorships at BMO, I traveled for some of the events. Probably the most memorable was the Calgary Stampede. But before I went full into rodeo work mode, I planned a side solo trip to Banff, an adorable resort town just about an hour and half from Calgary, Alberta. The trip was short and sweet, but breathtaking all the same. The Canadian side of the Rockies is stunning, and even a little rain didn't detract from the beauty of this magical place. Nothing like being alone in the mountains to make you feel like a very small piece of a much greater thing. 

My goal for the weekend was to invest in some quality views and me time, and with that agenda I didn't end up planning much in advance which is pretty off-brand for me. The afternoon I arrived I treated myself to a Caesar (a Canadian version of a bloody mary made with clamato juice instead of tomato) for surviving the drive (read: not getting lost) and then checked into the lodge and built a fire. I'll admit I was extremely proud I survived this as well even though I had to Facetime Jeff for backup. That night I took myself on a date for dinner and drinks at the distillery (where I drunk shopped and loaded up on goodies including a full bottle of chili-infused vodka - hello checked bag!) Then, against my better judgment, stumbled my tipsy-self home up a big hill.

The next morning I hit up Whitebark coffee for some pre-hike caffeine and sustenance and headed to Tunnel Mountain  I spent the 3.5ish hours of the hike catching up on old This American Life episodes and chatting with my mom on the phone, and before I knew it I was at the top. I grabbed a bag of potato chips (this is what ppl eat when they hike right?) at the store at the top of the mountain, took a selfie (#basic) and and then gondola'ed down (yep, that's a verb) down with a group of older ladies from Switzerland who were really living their best life. That was really the only time on the trip that I felt sad to be alone. Watching these ladies having a blast made me really wish that Tracey was there sharing the view (and the laughs) with me.

After the hike, I got in my car and went right on to Lake Louise which is less than an hour drive. It had been on my bucket list due to the photos alone. It’s a stunning tourist trap!

After I had enough of the #views, I stopped for a late lunch at a nearby inn and hit the road back to Calgary for the stampede. 

If you've ever wondered what the Calgary Stampede was about, picture a state fair with a rodeo theme, then layer on a nightly country music festival with a "what happens in Vegas" mentality. I would add it to your bucket list, cross it off and never look back. 

recos

Buffalo Mountain Lodge
This place was everything I wanted for a cozy mountain weekend: a log cabin lodge with a fireplace, porch and a solid tub situation (pro tip: I usually travel with Lush bath bombs for max relaxation opps, plus you don't have to mess around with TSA)

Tooloulous
This cute little Cajun place just off the main drag in town was the perfect stop for some post driving comfort food. 

Park Distillery
I'm always down for a place that produces their own booze onsite, and this one also had a legit dinner menu (where I could sit at the bar to eat - a solo traveler's ideal sitch.) The bartenders were friendly, the drinks and food were great, and I only got hit on at the at bar once! Bonus points for cool branding too. 

Whitebark Coffee
I found this place on my hunt for a cute coffeeshop to pre-game my hike. This one nailed the coffee, had lots of little house-made bites to choose from, and, most importantly, offered mountain views to go with your order. 

Tunnel Mountain
I've mentioned (more than) once that I'm not a huge fan of hiking. But in the spirit of "when in Rome" I sought out a hike that met my personal criteria: close to the lodge, could be done in less than 4 hours, did not require hiking boots. This mountain was especially appealing because there is a gondola that goes up/down, so I was able to strike a bargain with myself that if I hiked up I could treat myself to the gondola down.

Lake Louise
Don't ask questions, just go here.