Cross-Country Ski Getaway to Jasper National Park

As a child growing up in Northern Alberta, Jasper National Park was my family's closest mountain destination for ski weekends and summer vacations. These days, my family has to wait for a long weekend to make the trek north from Calgary, but we still love visiting Jasper in both summer and winter.

This year we chose to visit Jasper for the Family Day Long weekend and we spent three days skiing, hiking, and ice skating around the Town of Jasper from our cozy wilderness base camp.

Cross-country ski getaway in Jasper (Whirlpool Valley Trail)

Geography and Access to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway

The town of Jasper is located 412 km north west of Calgary or 364 km straight west from Edmonton.  In summer, it's pretty easy to access via the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise but in winter this road is often snow covered, closed for avalanche control, or just plain treacherous.  We still make the trek once every winter or two but snow tires are a must and you want to check the road report before you go.

The route from Calgary to Jasper can be seen here on Google Maps and more information on driving the Icefields Parkway can be found here on the Parks Canada Icefields Parkway Travel Guide.  There's a great map and winter brochure that can be downloaded from the Parks Canada site too.

I recommend leaving in the morning if possible so that you can stop along the Icefields Parkway at a few of the viewpoints.

There's nothing like a bluebird day on the Icefields Parkway

Panther Falls: One of the short hikes you can take along the Icefields Parkway in winter

Winter Exploring in Jasper: Cross-country Skiing 

Parks Canada maintains groomed cross-country ski trails in the following areas:

• Whirlpool cross-country ski hub
• Marmot Meadows cross-country ski hub
• Pyramid Lake
• Wabasso Campground

Visit the Parks Canada website for full information on each area. 

2024-25 Disclaimer: Many areas, trails, restaurants, and resorts remain closed around the Town of Jasper following the wildfires of 2024. Please visit the Tourism Jasper website along with the Parks Canada website before planning your visit, and research any trails you plan to hike or ski.

Maligne Canyon will be closed for the 2024-25 winter season.

Pyramid Creek on the Pyramid Fire Road

Skiing the Pyramid Fire Road

My family first chose to ski the Pyramid Fire Road from Pyramid Lake because I wanted to reach the Pyramid Lookout (and couldn't resist skiing one of the most difficult trails in the park.)

The Pyramid Fire Road is 13.2 km round trip and the scenery from the lookout is definitely worth the climbing. The ski down is also a lot of fun!!

Pyramid Lookout on the Pyramid Fire Road Trail

Parks Canada describes the trail below: 

"Choose your turn-around point: ski the mainly flat, first 1.1 km to Pyramid Creek at the end of Pyramid Lake (green), and then continue on and gain steady elevation on your way to Pyramid Slough at km 3.1 (blue). Next, climb steeply to the lookout over the Athabasca Valley shortly before the end of the groomed trail at km 6.6 (black)"

Know before you go:

- Dogs are allowed on this trail on leash.

- This is a ski only trail. No fat biking, no hiking, no walking.

- The trail is groomed for both classic + skate skiing. It would be a very advanced skate skiing trail though with the climbing!

After skiing the Pyramid Fire Road, I recommend skating on Pyramid Lake if you've brought ice skates. and if you want to check out the Town of Jasper, this is a good opportunity before returning to the hostel for dinner.

Approximately 400 metres of climbing brought us to this lookout

Skiing the Trail to Moab Lake

Skiing the Whirlpool Valley Trail in Jasper exceeded all expectations! We skied 16 Km round trip to reach Moab Lake and the trailhead for the historic Athabasca Pass route.

It was pretty cool skiing to two sets of the iconic red Parks Canada chairs as well.

Easy skiing on the Whirlpool Valley Trail

Skiing beside the Whirlpool River

Parks Canada describes the trail:

"Ski through the woods on the gentle rolling terrain of Moab Lake Road (green.) The red chairs at a viewpoint of the Whirlpool River make a great destination. Beyond that, follow Moab Lake Road past the red chairs and the Whirlpool River (blue.) The groomed trail ends at a viewpoint of Moab Lake with another set of red chairs."

Know before you go:

- Dogs are allowed on this trail on leash.

- This is a ski only trail. No fat biking, no hiking, no walking.

- This is a great trail for skate skiing and there is a very large skate area in the middle of the double tracksetting.

First set of red chairs beside the Whirlpool River

Trailhead for the historic Athabasca Pass route (still 49km further!)

Moab Lake and the second set of red chairs

Winter Exploring in Jasper: Hiking Maligne Canyon

A valid question: did you really go to Jasper if you didn't hike Maligne Canyon?? 

This is a classic "must do" activity, summer or winter, and you can choose to hike above the canyon (required in summer) or hike down inside the canyon (winter only.)

Make sure you bring good spikes or ice cleats for this one and if you aren’t familiar with the canyon, guided tours are recommended. Helmets are also suggested due to the risk of falling ice.

2024-25 disclaimer:

Maligne Canyon is closed following the forest fires of 2024.

Hiking in Maligne Canyon is a must-do winter activity in Jasper

If you don’t have a helmet, stay away from the waterfalls, do not stand under them, and give the ice climbers wide space! (Good advice even if you have a helmet.)

We always park at the 5th Bridge parking lot and hike up the trail from here, dropping into the canyon when we find an opening in the fence. Read more about the hike on the Hike Jasper website.

You'll want good spikes or ice cleats for this hike!

Visiting Maligne Canyon is a good day trip and I recommend stopping at the Jasper Park Lodge to skate after if you've brought ice skates.

We also combined our hike + ice skating with dinner in town and wandering around looking in the stores.

Maligne Canyon is a magical place in winter

Winter Exploring in Jasper: Natural Outdoor Ice Skating 

We stopped to skate on Pyramid Lake after skiing the Pyramid Fire Road. The Pyramid Lake Resort maintains an oval on the lake and it's a nice place to spend an hour on a sunny day. The ice was quite smooth for our visit and we enjoyed the mixed ski/skate outing while staying in Jasper.

Skating on the Pyramid Lake Oval in Jasper

The resort also rents ice skates if you forgot to bring yours. Read more on the Tourism Jasper website.

If you need to warm up afterwards, I highly recommend stopping in at the Bear's Paw Bakery in town for a cup of Jasper's best coffee and one of their homemade treats. I'm usually tempted to order one of everything in the display case! 

After hiking Maligne Canyon, we also stopped to skate on Mildred Lake at the Jasper Park Lodge. This oval is a full kilometre in distance and so we got quite the workout skating laps here. Skate rentals are also available at the Jasper Park Lodge.

Skating on Lake Mildred at the Jasper Park Lodge

For more information...

For more information on winter activities or accommodations in Jasper, visit the Tourism Jasper website.

And downhill skiers will want to visit the Marmot Basin website.

You can also read my specific Marmot Basin story here: Marmot Basin: A Ski Resort the Whole Family will Love in Jasper National Park

Winter hiking in Maligne Canyon

More Resources:

Read: The Wildest Winter Canyon Hike in the Canadian Rockies - hiking Maligne Canyon with young children

Read: Winter Road Trip? North to Jasper National Park - with downhill skiing, ice climbing, and winter hiking

Night Rise, a Celebration of Winter at the Banff Gondola

Night rise is a beautiful celebration of winter, magic, wonder, and our beautiful Rocky Mountains. Created in partnership with the Stoney Nakoda Nation, their spoken word and authentic music bring life and a feeling of connection to this new event at the Banff Gondola.

Words to live by at Night Rise, Banff Gondola

A Whole New Way to Experience the Summit of Sulphur Mountain after Sunset 

I've visited the Banff Gondola many times, and have both hiked up Sulphur Mountain and ridden the gondola to the summit in every season of the year. Always on the search for something "new" though, I jumped when I found out that there was a new nighttime event happening at the gondola, one that would be unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

Night Rise gave me the opportunity to stand on top of a mountain, at night, in winter!! (Something I never thought I'd get the chance to do without a lot of discomfort, cold, and just a touch of suffering.)

Night Rise is a magical event in Banff this winter

I then received a second opportunity to return with my family so that my son got to stand on top of a mountain, again at night, and in winter! (On a very cold night I must admit.)

Standing on top of Sulphur Mountain, we were able to look down on the glowing lights of Banff below us, we danced and twirled through swirling magical lights on the outdoor observation deck, and we watched the trees light up with pulsing light and music along the boardwalk.

Even the gondola ride was a new experience with traditional spoken word and story telling from the Stoney Nakoda Nation, soothing, calming, and welcoming. The gondola ride provided a transition where we got to greet the night, welcome the darkness, and prepare for the wonder waiting for us on the mountain.

Winter on top of a mountain is pretty cool in Banff!

Looking down on the Town of Banff from the top of Sulphur Mountain

And watch the fun little video below for a glimpse of what to expect at Night Rise!

What to Expect from the Night Rise Experience 

First of all, this is a ticketed event and you can't just hike up Sulphur Mountain at night to experience Night Rise. The observation decks and upper terminal building are only open to those who have purchased tickets for Night Rise.

Second, this is a family event and would appeal to children of all ages. It's also a great event for people of all mobility and fitness levels because the gondola removes all effort involved in reaching the summit of Sulphur Mountain. Then when you reach the summit, there are elevators inside the building, benches everywhere for resting on, and windows on every level in case it's cold outside and you want to watch the light displays from the warmth of the building.

One of the viewing platforms lit up with interactive lights for Night Rise 

Night Rise at the Banff Gondola

The exhibit is spread out over four stations inside and outside the gondola building. "At these stations, visitors lounge among twinkling snowflake lights, walk atop interactive projections and explore like never before." - Banff Gondola

The event begins the second you step inside the gondola and ends when you reach the ground again, with spoken word, lights, and an interactive experience providing entertainment on the ride up and down.

Winter on top of a mountain in Banff

Diamond Dust, one of the magical indoor stations at Night Rise

Magical Diamond Dust at Night Rise

And watch the fun little video below for a glimpse of what to expect at Night Rise!

Everything you need to know about attending the event 

Tickets can be purchased online through the Banff Gondola website and the event runs through March 12th, 2022. 

Dinner packages can also be added on when you buy your tickets. Night Rise does not include food unless you add on a reservation for one of the two restaurants at the top of the mountain. The Sky Bistro would be my recommendation for a romantic meal with your partner and if you choose this addition, you'll enjoy both an appetizer and entrée at the beautiful Sky Bistro Restaurant on top of Sulphur Mountain. 

The Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen is a great family-friendly option where you'll be treated to a full buffet meal on top of Sulphur Mountain.

If you choose to purchase a dinner option, you can either eat first and then tour the Night Rise stations, or you can do your tour first and eat after. Everything is self directed and there is no "one way" to experience Night Rise. 

Come play outside in Banff on top of Sulphur Mountain

Other tips for visiting Night Rise 

• The gondola cabins are not heated so make sure you dress warmly with a winter coat, perhaps ski pants for the children, along with mittens and toques. You'll also be outside for at least half an hour if you want to fully experience the interactive lights from the two viewing decks.
  
  
• You won't need winter boots, but you'll still need shoes that are suitable for walking around outside and that have a bit of traction in case it's slippery outside. Don't wear high heel dress shoes is what I'm saying in a nut shell!
  
  
• This is not a "fancy" event. Warmth is more of a priority so leave the dress and heels at home. Even if you're going to be dining at the Sky Bistro you do not need dress pants, a suit, or a dress. This is mountain chic fashion so wear your nicest down coat.
  
  
• A relaxed tour of the Night Rise stations including the ride up and down will take 90 minutes to two hours. If you want to extend your time on top of Sulphur Mountain I recommend purchasing a dinner package. 
  
  
• Masks are required inside the gondola building at all times and recommended outside on the viewing platforms if you are in close proximity to other guests.
  
  
• Night Rise includes moving and colored lights in case that should be a concern for you or a family member.
  
  
• By order of the Government of Alberta, proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid test result within 72 hours of your visit is required to visit the Banff Gondola.

Twirling around in the interactive lights at Night Rise

Dancing on top of a mountain at night in Banff

Background and more Information on Night Rise 

Night Rise was created by the Montreal-based multimedia studio Moment Factory, and I especially appreciated their collaboration with the Stoney Nakoda Nations who contributed authentic spoken word and an original soundscape.

Key messages I took away from the experience were that the sky is not the limit, that we can listen with all of our senses, and that there is a deep feeling of peacefulness that comes from being connected to the land and to our history. 

For more information, photos, and videos, explore Night Rise on the Banff Gondola website for more information.

Celebrate Winter at the Banff Gondola

Disclaimer: Our visits to Night Rise were hosted but as always, all opinions and words here are my own. 

 

Memorable Hiking and Sightseeing at the Lake Louise Gondola

We spent our summer visiting many of the local ski resorts, and knew we couldn't skip the Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola. We spent a couple days skiing and snowshoeing at Lake Louise as a family last winter, and we were excited to see what the resort would look like with grass and flowers covering the slopes.

Summer sightseeing at Lake Louise (photo: Chris Moseley / Lake Louise)

The Big Appeal of visiting Lake Louise in Summer

Lake Louise promotes their summer experience with the following slogan: "The Best Grizzly Bear Viewing & Scenery In The Canadian Rockies!"

While we personally did not see any bears while riding the chairlift or gondola, we talked with other visitors who had, and the resort does report "near daily" sightings. It just depends on whether you are one of the lucky ones to be passing over the lower slopes at the right time.

There are several grizzlies who call the Lake Louise Resort "home" - likely for the safety they get on the protected lower slopes that are closed to hiking.

A visit to Lake Louise in the summer (or autumn) can be summed up in the following words off the resort website:

"Ascend To One Of Banff National Park's Greatest Mountain Viewpoints Where Grizzly Bears Are Spotted Almost Daily! Tour Our Free Wildlife Interpretive Centre, Take A Guided Walk And Dine In A Variety Of Unique Restaurants!"

 Lake Louise and area from the Kicking Horse Viewpoint, accessible via gondola or chairlift and a short hike

Why We Personally Chose to Spend a Day at Lake Louise this Summer

This one was easy for me in that my son was BEGGING to visit the Lake Louise Gondola. After listening to his cries and pleas for a couple of years, I finally relented and agreed to take him to what I thought would be an extremely touristy and crowded place in summer. Turns out, they have a few gorgeous viewpoints and a lovely chairlift experience. The advertising doesn't lie.

The Lake Louise Gondola is a fabulous experience for grandparents and kids

Why the Lake Louise Gondola (over other options for Banff sightseeing)

In order to provide you with a better "well rounded" perspective, I interviewed a few families who've visited the Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola over the past year. Below are their thoughts:

"We love Lake Louise and had never viewed it from the gondola, so it was on our wish list. We tried to get to the lake side at the Chateau and it was so busy with visitors, they were turning cars away. Visiting the Lake Louise Resort was a much more peaceful way of taking in the view."- Claire

Claire and family at the Lake Louise Gondola

"We chose to go here because my in-laws are in their 70’s, so a big hike was out of the question. But they’re reasonably fit, so we thought we’d get up high using the chair, and then walk as much or as little as they felt able once we were up. It was a win-win because either way, we got great views and a worthwhile experience for them on their visit from Scotland." - Michelle

"We chose the Lake Louise gondola as a trip to take the grandparents who came to visit from Europe as they are not very athletic. You get gorgeous views, and as a bonus, you have a very high chance of seeing a bear ( which we did right from the gondola.) And the idea of a shorter hike with amazing view was exactly what we were thinking they would be able to do. Also we took 18 month old and 3 year old kids. Again, to be able to hike at higher elevations is great with little kids as we are still far from enjoying those longer hikes." - Lucia

Michelle enjoyed showing off our beautiful mountains to her in-laws from Scotland

For my family, it came down to wanting to visit ALL of the sightseeing gondolas in the area. We couldn't skip one of the biggest resorts on this mission to become summer ski resort experts.

Enjoying the views from one of the lookout platforms above the gondola

What Families Enjoy about the Lake Louise Gondola

For my son, my mother, and myself, we enjoyed being able to do a lift-accessed hike that was within all of our abilities. My mother is 70, is very active, and loves hiking. However, she can't hike anything steep, and so climbing a mountain was out of the question. Getting her to the top of the Lake Louise Resort was an awesome feeling for us so that we could all get to a beautiful viewpoint (and have the same views as if we'd actually climbed something.)

My son would also add that he loved checking out the wildlife interpretive centre, a short hike from the gondola. It had a large "touch friendly" table and he got to study up on his animal facts.

My son enjoyed looking around the wildlife interpretive centre, one of the best in the Rockies

Other perspectives:

"We all really enjoyed it, the lines were not super long going up, and we loved that there was a choice of an open chair lift or enclosed gondola. Our 4 year old was so excited to ride the gondola and he loved the views as much as we did. He also loved watching for bears while we were riding" - Claire

"My in-laws absolutely loved the day. The weather was perfect, so that helped, but beyond that, the experience of riding the chair, seeing the views, doing a hike they would not have done on their own, and having a lovely lunch at the Whitehorn Bistro has been a highlight of their visit to Canada." - Michelle

"My daughter enjoyed riding on the chairlift and talking about where we ski in the winter. We also got to see Olivia, the grizzly, and her 2 cubs playing on our way down on the chair – which was great." - Stacy

Michelle's photo captures how memorable her day at Lake Louise was with her family

Isn't it Touristy, Busy, or Crowded at Lake Louise?

To echo Michelle's words below, the resort was quite busy if you stayed near the gondola. I honestly think a lot of people don't even make it over to the Whitehorn Bistro and Wildlife Interpretive Centre. They ride the chairlift or gondola up, take their photos from the viewing platforms, and ride back down again, satisfied with the views.

Check it out! This is where I skied last winter!

"It’s a bit busy and touristy inside the bear gates, but we were so surprised at how few visitors ventured beyond the gates to hike. Most visitors it seemed, were content to walk over to the viewing platform right next to the chairlift, or walk down to the Whitehorn for a bite." - Michelle

For active families, there are several hiking options just outside the "bear gates" on the upper mountain. It's also a short 10 minute walk down to the Whitehorn Bistro where you can enjoy lunch on the beautiful patio, or take a look through the Interpretive Centre (which is awesome for kids!)

Everybody I talked to agreed that the resort gets busier in the afternoons. Take the opportunity to ride the open chair in the morning when there are no line ups. Later in the day, the line up for the gondola will be shorter and you may have to skip the chair in favour of the shorter wait (as we did.)

No crowds in sight if you venture onto one of the hiking trails from the gondola

 

Families Share their Favourite Highlights of a Summer Visit to Lake Louise

For my family, the highlight of our day was our hike to the Kicking Horse Viewpoint. In hindsight we should have also splurged on lunch at the Whitehorn Bistro.

Other Families Share their highlights:

"The views up top, seeing the Grizzly bears, relaxing and having lunch up on the mountain." - Stacy

"Seeing how much my in-laws enjoyed the experience. There aren’t mountains like ours in Scotland, or the weather for that matter. It’s an ideal spot to show off our fabulous mountains – especially for out of town guests. Lunch at the Whitehorn was also really great." - Michelle

 "Our favourite part of the outing was the amazing views from the top - hands down one of our favourite views out of all we've seen during our 7 years exploring the Rockies. We could have stayed enjoying the views all day." - Claire

"Our favourite part was the views from the Kicking Horse viewpoint." - Lucia

Lucia at the Kicking Horse Viewpoint (her highlight from the visit)

Mountain Top Dining - the Experience!

Since we "cheaped out" and brought sandwiches with us (splurging on Starbucks coffee at the bottom instead,) I had to get help on this one.

Michelle's family enjoying drinks at the Bistro

"We ate at the Whitehorn Bistro at the top of the gondola - with a lovely short walk to it from the gondola. There was great food and great service, and you can enjoy the same awesome view from the patio! It must be the best patio view in Alberta!" - Claire

"We had lunch on the patio at the Whitehorn and were pleasantly surprised. We shared appies that were all decent size at about $15 a piece, so we had a good amount of food without breaking the bank, and it was really good. The service was good too." - Michelle

 

Lift Accessed Hiking and Guided Interpretive Walks at Lake Louise

We chose to do a short guided interpretive walk on the Trail of the Great Bear (a 45 minute tour where we learned about bear behavior and discussed what one should do if they see a bear, and how to stay safe in bear country.) While the walk was interesting, my son had a tad too much energy to stand and listen to the guide's talks at each station. We therefore didn't get as much out of the walk as others in our group definitely did.

Guided Interpretive Hike on the Trail of the Great Bear

Interpretive hike finished, we greatly enjoyed a hike on our own to the Kicking Horse Viewpoint, 1.7 km round trip with 149 metres of height gain. The trail started from the top of the gondola and was accessed via the electric bear gates that you have to walk through in order to gain entrance to the upper mountain trails. (The lower mountain is kept closed so that the bears have a private area to roam freely in.)

We loved our hike but I would suggest some better signage in order to help visitors actually find the hiking trail off of the gravel maintenance road. There is a beautiful loop that leaves from the gravel road, but not seeing any signs, we stayed on the road all the way until we reached the final junction and turnoff for the viewpoint. Apparently we could have hiked though a meadow full of flowers on the way up rather than plodding up the road. We did find the actual hiking trail on the way down to finish the loop and enjoyed the ridge top trail that brought us back down to the road near the gondola.

Hiking down the ridge from the Kicking Horse Viewpoint

My friend Michelle also shares of her hike to the Kicking Horse Viewpoint:

We did the 1.7km loop out to Kicking Horse Viewpoint and back. We found trail signage to be poor, and there wasn’t anyone around from Lake Louise to chat with when you got off the lifts, but we had done our research, and we're experienced, so it was okay for us."

Most of the other families I talked to opted not to do any additional hiking beyond the Whitehorn Bistro and Interpretive Centre. With young children, there are no super easy hiking options, and everything requires an uphill walk (which in the summer heat, can be a bit much with preschoolers.)

And while there are three different viewpoints that you can hike to, it would appear that most people visit the closest Kicking Horse one. (based on my interviews and chatting with friends)

Solitude and gorgeous views from the Kicking Horse Viewpoint

The Autumn Experience at the Lake Louise Gondola

Summer may be over, but the best time to visit Lake Louise is right around the corner. September is the most glorious time of the year at Louise with forests of golden larch trees found on many of the hiking trails.

Enjoy lift accessed larch season hiking at the Lake Louise Resort this fall!

"Submerse yourself in the beauty of golden larches this fall while enjoying an unmatched and safe opportunity to see grizzly bears in their natural habitat amid some of the most stunning scenery in the world." (Lake Louise Resort website)

 Follow this link for all information on autumn sightseeing and hiking at Lake Louise.

Autumn at the Lake Louise Gondola (photo: Karen Ung, Play Outside Guide)

Tips for Visiting the Lake Louise Gondola

Calgary Mom, Claire, says that she bought her tickets from Costco the day before and that they were really good value.

Claire also liked the fact that there is a package option that includes brunch at the base of the gondola with the ticket which is a really good value for a buffet brunch.

Calgary Mom, Stacy, reminds local families that it's FREE to visit the resort in summer if you have winter seasons passes.

Stacy also wanted to mention that for those who are less mobile – the resort have van service from the chair/gondola over to Whitehorn – so if people are taking family members who could not walk along the trail – they can still enjoy the views and head over to the lodge for a bite to eat!  All you have to do is ask one of the staff and they will send the van to pick you up!  I asked because I would love to take my dad who is no longer able to walk that far.

Make sure you check out the wildlife interpretive centre, a short hike from the gondola

Full Information if You want to Visit the Lake Louise Gondola this Fall or Next Summer

Follow this link for information on all of the guided interpretive hikes available, starting from $9.95 per person.

A trail map can be found here if you want to do some hiking on your own from the gondola.

Hiking through flower meadows at Lake Louise

Information on the gondola can be found here (note that pets are not permitted) with pricing information here. And note, that while Lake Louise promotes their sightseeing "gondola," you have the choice of riding in an open chair or a closed gondola.

Find webcams here to see what the weather is currently like at Lake Louise.

No better views in the Canadian Rockies! (photo: Paul Zizka / Banff Lake Louise Tourism)

There is FREE parking (and lots of it!) with free shuttle service between the Chateau Lake Louise (where you'll find the actual lake,) the Village of Lake Louise at Samson Mall, and the Ski Resort. Find out more on the shuttle service here.

Fun at the Wildlife Interpretive Centre

Enjoy ride and dine packages from $38.95 per person!

Don't believe that there are near-daily Grizzly and wildlife sightings? View the calendar here!

All information on dining at the resort can be found here.

And finally, Videos!! Because let's be honest, they sell most experiences once you see what you're actually going to get with your visit.

Missed one of your questions? Find everything else out at the Lake Louise Summer Gondola website.







Disclaimer: My family received complimentary sightseeing and hiking at Lake Louise so that I could write this review. As always, all words and opinions are my own.

Special thanks to the families I interviewed for providing their honest opinions as well.