Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Banff National Park - Part Three

After the drive around the hotel, we drove up to Tunnel Mountain.  This took us past the hotel where DH and I stayed on our honeymoon (Douglas Fir Resort) and also the Tunnel Mountain campground which is the one we most often stayed at when I was a kid.  The hiking trail there was open so we walked a little ways so that the kids could get a look at the hoodoos.



This is the town of Banff from the same lookout:



Next we drove down to the Cave & Basin National Historic Site.  This is where the railroad explorers first found hot springs in the Canadian Rockies (more info here), and the birthplace of the Canadian National Parks system.  There are some trails through the hot springs areas, and the building that housed the first hot springs spa in Banff has been turned into a museum.  Used to be free - but I guess that was a LONG time ago when we lived in Alberta - and we didn't want to take the time to go through the exhibits inside so we skipped that part.  Our main purpose was for the kids to see the hot springs and warm mineral pools firsthand. 







Here is the vent of that hot spring discovered by the railroad workers:



It really was difficult to get pictures that show the thermal springs, but I tried.









The view from the Cave & Basin trail:



Same mountain, seen from the Lower Cave & Basin trail:





So... the kids got to see what "thermal features" are up close.  Okay, Yellowstone would have been way better for that, but it wasn't in the vacation itenerary or budget for 2007.  Nor will it be in 2008, I expect.  Anyway, having seen hot springs, it was then time to experience the hot springs.  Not only that, but Kennady's toes were very cold and needed to be thawed.  So off to the Upper Hot Springs:





Oh it was glorious!!!!  The water was extra hot and we just wanted to stay and stay...

But it was soon time for dinner.  Since Melissa's was closed, we decided to head for the related restaurant, Bumper's Inn, which was wonderful.  But I still like Melissa's better.



To round off the evening, we went back downtown and did a little shopping before heading home. 





Don't miss the first two parts of our trip to Banff National Park - Part One and Part Two.

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This post was added to the Throwback Thursday Blog-Style link-up hosted by Tots and Me... Growing Up Together! on January 1, 2016

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5 comments:

drewsfamilytx said...

All I can say is WOW. We went to Banff a few years ago and stayed at Douglas Fir as well. It was the first time I ever saw my dad on a waterslide! :-) It was an AMAZING little town and the lakes and waterfalls and glaciers and stunning beauty were SO CLOSE.


We're planning to take the kids up there in September and will be sure to try the hot springs this time. We unfortunately missed out on that in our first visit.

Canadagirl said...

You got some BEAUTIFUL pics. [0= I have never been that far east in Canada. This makes me want to. And Alberta is ONLY one province away. Plus we are not to far from the Albertan border. [0; Thanks for sharing this. I LOVED it.


Blessings and ((hugs)) my SSiC

In Him<><

-Mary

ReviewsbyHeidi said...

It really looks like you had a wonderful time away. I've been enjoying the past few posts and all the pictures.

Heidi

CrossView said...

I LOVE the last shot of the little one with the teddy! =D


Beautiful area... I'd love to see it all up close and in real life! Won't happen =( but I could probably get back to Hot Springs, Arkansas, one day?? LOL!


And I learned about "hoodoos". LOL!

anotherblogonthefire said...

I was in Banff when I was about 12 years old.

I'd love to take our family on a trip out there.

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