Having talked about day trips to the south and the west of Calgary earlier in the summer, today we'll touch on some places to the west.

It goes without saying that a drive to the mountains makes for a great day trip. Banff National Park, with the townsites of Banff and beautiful Lake Louise, are only a few hours away. This coming Sunday, August 19th, Doors Open Banff offers an opportunity to look inside some heritage homes and buildings.

Of course, there are a host of good hikes in the park. Going up to the tea house at Lake Louise is a perennial favorite. One of my personal favorites is the walk up Johnston Canyon, though I have never gone as far as the Inkpots.

Banff from Sulphur Mountain

Be sure not to bypass Canmore, an interesting destination with lots to see and do any time of year. Below, several of our staff members share hikes starting near Canmore that they have enjoyed.

1. Somewhere I love going for a day trip is the Canmore Nordic Centre. They have a number of paved paths as well as some gravel and dirt paths. During the summer it is completely free (and dog friendly) and is really good for rollerblading, bike riding and walking. I am often up there training for Biathlon and it is a very popular spot for bikers. It is nice because it is only about an hour drive from NW Calgary and is beautiful! Also, you don’t have to pay the Banff park pass and you still get to be in the mountains!

Thought I would share my favorite place!

Jill

2. My vote for my favourite place to visit is a day trip to Grassi Lakes which is up behind the town of Canmore on the road leading to the Nordic Centre. The hike is doable for a wide range of ages and abilities and offers more reward:effort than just about any hike I know locally. It features scenic outlooks including a cascading waterfall, 2 very showy species of orchids (Calypso and Ladyslipper) and the most beautifully coloured ponds (2) at the top. Of further interest are some petroglyphs reportedly `1,000 years old, up above the higher of the two lakes. You can also take in Canmore which is a bit touristy but still features some good eating/coffee stops. Best of all, it’s only an hour from downtown Calgary!

Mark

Grassi Lake

Going a little further afield, Carole shares a favorite destination.

3. Marble Canyon is about 6 kms into BC, if you take the Hwy 1/93 turnoff heading towards Radium. It only takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit and is breathtaking. An easy climb for most people, including children and seniors. The trail is an interpretive one. There’s a picnic site and washrooms at the base, so it’s a lovely destination for a picnic followed by a brief excursion. One of my favourite places for visitors who are of varying ages and have limited energy.

To find more about the history along the highway between Calgary and Lake Louise, check out Kathryn Manry's West on one : the stories behind the scenery : fascinating facts, stories and pictures along the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary to Lake Louise.

Find out more about visiting and hiking in the Rockies through these great guidebooks;

Several of our staff members enjoy this less-well known park just north of Calgary.

The best thing about Big Hill Springs Provincial Park is the proximity to Calgary. (See the map and directions on their webpage.) The park is small and there are only a couple of picnic tables, so take a blanket and a cold lunch. The waterfalls all run down into a series of creeks and bridges at the entrance to the park. It's great for toddlers because the creeks are shallow and slow moving. The kids can play for hours. For older kids and adults, the walking trail is quite steep in places but is only about 2km and takes you through a variety vegetation zones.

Its a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Marg

I found a wonderful clipping about Big Hill Springs in our files. Dating from 1934, the article starts as follows: "Memories of Highland glens, of the coombes of Devon or the Derbyshire dales, are apt to rise in the minds of many former residents of the Old Land who follow the winding road that leads from Cochrane to Big Hill Springs. Even without the fairy-like glade that surrounds the springs, with its miniature waterfalls and crystal pools, as the objective, the journey through the wide valley is well worth the visit." The article ends with a letter to the editor from Mrs. C.D. Casey who enjoyed the springs as much then as we do now. "Big Hill Springs...is a veritable little paradise tucked away in a secluded valley."

Candace

If you are looking for fun Calgary Staycations, check out this book, Day Trips From Calgary (2006), by Bill Corbett. This book has a nice section on Big Hill Springs Park as well as other great places to visit. Mr. Corbett says in the 2002 edition, "I wrote this book to entice Calgary residents and visitors to consider all directions of the compass when embarking on a day trip from the city. Those who do so will be wonderfully surprised.

Camping: Our Favourite Sites in Britain

Time Out applies its expertise to the world of camping with comprehensive reviews of 100 fantastic campsites in England, Scotland and Wales. Each site is illustrated with beautiful photography and detailed information on facilities provided; attractions and activities in the area; the best eating and drinking options; amusing the kids and the general pros and cons of each site. Whether you're after forest hideaways or beachside retreats; beautiful or jolly; remote or urban; with family or just friends, Time Out Camping covers it all, whatever you're looking for.

Walking Palestine: 25 Journeys into the West Bank (Interline Walking Guides) by Stefan Szepesi

With the images of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so dominant in our minds, walking for leisure is the one activity probably least associated with the West Bank region. But Stefan Szepesi's book wanders well off the beaten track of Palestine as only a synonym for occupation and strife, exploring its inspiring natural and cultural landscape, its intriguing past and present, and the hospitality of its people. The book takes first-time walkers and experienced hikers, as well as armchair explorers, through Palestine's steep desert gorges, along its tiny herders' trails, and over its quiet dirt roads running past silver green olive groves. With side stories and anecdotes on heritage, history, culture, and daily life in the West Bank, the book ventures into the traits and character of Palestine today. Walking Palestine also offers a wealth of practical walking tips, including references to local guides, the West Bank's best leisure spots and countryside restaurants, and charming places to spend the night.

Only Pack What You Can Carry: My Path to Inner Strength, Confidence, and True Self-Knowledge by Janice Holly Booth

Magnetically written by former CEO of a North Carolina Girl Scout Council and award winning CEO for the Western New York chapter of a national arts-in-education organization, this uniquely engaging travel journal describes four keys to unlocking personal and spiritual fulfillment: solitude, introspection, courage, and commitment. Through a series of compelling travel essays and deeply thoughtful memoirs, Janice Booth draws readers into each adventure-ranging from a solo hike through Northern California to galloping across the fields of Ireland to a short stint with the Circus Arts learning the flying trapeze-and shares her secrets to a fuller life through traveling alone. Step by step, she demonstrates why leaving everything - and everyone - behind for a few days (or more!) is the best path to inner strength, confidence, and true self-knowledge.

Also, available in an electronic version.

A Sense of Direction: Pilgimage for the Restless and the Hopeful by Gideon Lewis-Kraus

Irreverent, moving, and thought-provoking, Lewis-Kraus riffs on the perpetual war between discipline and desire, and its attendant casualties. Across three pilgrimages and many hundreds of miles, he completes an idiosyncratic odyssey to the heart of a family mystery.

Southern Alberta for City Folks has just arrived on library shelves.

Caroline Steman, a city folk herself, shares some of her favorite hikes, drives and places to go in Calgary and Southern Alberta. Her choices require no special experience or equipment. This is a slim volume of 41 pages packed with beautiful colour photographs and lots of historical tidbits.

Another, slightly older, book which follows the road less travelled is Country Roads of Alberta (2007).

"This travel guide to the country roads of Alberta emphasizes locations that are "off the beaten track," offering plenty of color photography that should entice travelers to be more adventurous in their next Canadian sojourn. Bryan, a noted journalist and former co-founder of Western Living magazine, seasons this travelogue with historical facts and geological information while pointing out notable landmarks and wildlife. Detailed maps and driving directions enhance the stunning images, making this book a welcome traveling companion." (Book News Inc)

Other books that will help you explore Southern Alberta are:

West on one : the stories behind the scenery : fascinating facts, stories and pictures along the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary to Lake Louise by Kathryn Manry (2010)

In plain sight : exploring the natural wonders of southern Alberta by Neil L. Jennings (2010)

And a couple of older titles that are still full of great information:

Alberta history along the highway [1996] : a traveler's guide to the fascinating facts, intriguing incidents and lively legends in Alberta's past by Ted Stone

Backroads of Southern Alberta by Joyce Donaldson Yarmey (1992)

Have fun exploring!!

We have recently started canoeing with our seven year old daughter. Here are a couple of the places that we have discovered and love to visit.

Forget-me-not pond is west of Bragg Creek in Kananaskis Country on Highway 66. This beautiful site has picnic tables and fire pits. It is a great place to canoe and also has an easy walk around the pond.

Wedge Pond is approximately 70 kilometres west of Calgary on Highway 40.There is fishing as well as canoeing. There are picnic tables here as well and, again, it is an easy walk around the pond.

For more ideas on where to go and what to see close to Calgary, check out Day Trips from Calgary by Bill Corbett. And why not take along a copy of the Alberta Nature Guide if you're strolling in the country.

Patti