Family vacation in the Canadian Rockies

It all started with the words ‘elf crossing’. The giggles started just two hours after we landed in Calgary, Alberta and  lasted for ten magical days in the Canadian Rockies.

An important part of our DuVine mission is to provide well crafted adventure travel ideas that exceed the expectations of all members of a family.

My goal was to develop a unique and personalized family adventure in North America.  With many successful seasons of European Family Adventures to drive the interest, it was time to develop a trip for our North American guests…without the jet lag and without the Euro.

After reviewing years worth of guest feedback, we decided that a multi sport tour in the Canadian Rockies was the best match for DuVine guests.

Now, back to the ‘elf crossing’.  In actuality I said “Elk Crossing”… but my daughters, aged 5 and 7, were not yet familiar with signs for wildlife roaming free along the TransCanada Highway.   This was a great start to a 10 day conversation about wildlife, including deer, elk, bears and Dollie Varden Trout.

Canoeing on Lake Louise

First stop on this DuVine Family Adventure, Lake Louise. A very small town in the Banff National Park is home to the most iconic vista Canada has to offer, the crystal glacier water of Lake Louise.  We enjoyed our first night in the Banff National Park at The Post Hotel, a Relais & Chateaux rated as one of the top food and wine hotels in Canada.  Our family suite, completely enjoyable with a deck overlooking the river, offered us two floors of comfort… children’s bedroom with two beds on the second floor, a master suite for us and a comfortable sitting area with a fireplace.  Togetherness yet delightfully separated.  After a rejuvenating stay at The Post Hotel, we also enjoyed a stay at The Fairmont Lake Louise. With the benefit of long days during the summer, you can enjoy outdoor activities until 10:30 PM and beyond in the peak days of the season. We hiked right from the hotel, rode horses at the Brewster Stables on property and canoed on Lake Louise.

The beach on the lake

Nearby Moraine Lake, famous for its one time presence on the Canadian $20 bill, is home to the comfy and classic Moraine Lake Lodge, a Kiwi Collection Property.  This Lodge is rustic from the outside and impeccably and traditionally decorated on the inside.   It’s location on the shore of Moraine Lake is unbelievable.  After the National Park closes for the day guests of the Lodge can enjoy the Lake and hiking trails privately.  This is a new level of DuVine Exclusivity.

After a peaceful night at the Moraine Lake Lodge, complete with firewood delivered to your room, enjoy an epic ride on the Bow Valley Parkway to Banff.   Enjoy a free night in Banff…shopping downtown, visit the Hot Springs or just relax in the club level of the Castle in the Sky, The Banff Springs Hotel.  Check out the Fairmont Kids Club if you want to enjoy the premier golf course in Western Canada.

Before we even had the chance to think about our next activity, we had all of the ingredients for a once in a lifetime family adventure.  My children were now old enough and resilient enough to enjoy long days and hours of physical activity.  There was enough Canadian Culture (loonies, Mounties, Bears, Elk grazing on the side of the road, Natural Hot Springs and Mountains) to keep every moment educational and interesting, but also enough comforts (language, time zone and chicken fingers) to keep the kids confident and comfortable.

Heli hiking

The DuVine Rockies Family Adventure will also feature the unique and spectacular, ‘over the top’ (of the Mountains that is) Heli-Hiking.  Yes, that’s right…our newest support vehicle is a 14 passenger helicopter.  To quote Ella, my 7 year old, “This Rocks”.

On Day Three of the DuVine Adventure we will enjoy a scenic drive along the Kootenay Highway Banff-Windermere Parkway to the helipad in British Columbia.  A coffee stop enroute will be the last time you are at the foot of the Canadian Rockies.

This rocks!

Prepare to be transported to another world and the DuVine Style of Alpine Bliss. The helicopter will deliver you to your home for the next three nights..a lodge in the sky.   Impeccable service, roof top hot tub, highly experienced mountaineers, pond for swimming and an impressive wine list (featuring local cult Okanagan Valley wines and premier Bordeaux’s) are awaiting your arrival.

After a brief equipment fitting (boots, pack, waterproof gear and water bottle are all provided), an unbelievable lunch buffet is ready…think smoked trout and Alberta beef.  Now, it’s time to head for the hills.  Small groups are formed by the guides, based on activity level requests, and group by group the helicopter delivers us into alpine meadows.   Before I had arrived I thought the helicopter would simply transport us in and out of the lodge, I had not fully comprehended that we would enjoy the pure exhilaration of the helicopter each day.

Group hike

Our first day in the Bugaboo’s (far from the Bugaboo Creek Theme restaurant we had previously associated the name with) we hiked as a family with two other families, five children aged 5 to 11, a professional mountaineer and Sue.

Let me tell you about Sue.  “Hi, my name is Sue and it rhymes with poo.”  Perplexed, I thought it was cute to give the kids a way to remember her name.  Hours later I realized Sue was a scientist and was tracking the wildlife dietary patterns by following their ‘scat’ along the trail.  A professional from the University of Calgary, she was here to help our children interpret nature.

On this family adventure, in which we partner exclusively with Canadian Mountain Holidays, several guides are dedicated to educating and entertaining the youngest of guests.  Families can choose each day to hike together or apart.  Despite my best attempts to interest the girls to hike with us, I had no chance!  Sue had won their hearts.

Thanks to Sue, Lyle, Christine and many others, the kids made ice cream from snow, caught fish with their bare hands, drank from alpine streams, learned about wildflowers and scat, went “bum” sliding on the snow not yet melted…and hiked at the top of The Canadian Rockies for four days.  By now the girls were asking to be re-hydrated rather than for a drink.

Re-hydrate me...

The non-hiking children’s activities were centered around the Kids Zone, where they were always welcome. They could use the Climbing Wall in the Hotel and had a costume party and water balloon fight.  Make your own pizza, burger, cupcake and sundae nights were also a big hit.  They made friends with children from all across the US and Canada.

My husband and many others selected to be even more adventurous and climb on the Via Ferrata.  A via ferrata (Italian for “iron road”. Plural vie ferrate. In German, Klettersteig) is a mountain route which is equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges. The use of these allows otherwise isolated routes to be joined to create longer routes which are accessible to people with a wide range of climbing abilities. Walkers and climbers can follow vie ferrate without needing to use their own ropes and belays, and without the risks associated with unprotected scrambling and climbing.

Many days later, despite many other moments of magic we experienced, we were still looking for the elves.

Via Ferrata

I am ready to tell everyone about the details of this adventure.  From the true luxury of being “off the grid” with no cell phone service in most places (but free wifi in the rooms), to a great microbrew in Banff, I am ready to help you plan your next DuVine Family Adventure. This trip is suitable for all ages, just ask the family with 21 members on my trip…ages 11 months to 91 years old…and all were awe struck.   See you on a bike (and helicopter) soon!

Even a 91 year old can do it!

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