Last month I spent a memorable week exploring the outstanding beauty that is the Canadian Rockies. Clipper Vacations offers a 7 day/6 night travel package that allows you to see firsthand this breathtaking landscape while in the lap of luxury. I want to give you some inside secrets of places that you should not miss when you take this unforgettable trip.

Waterfall creek in Larch Valley

Your first night on this trip you stay at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. This massive European hotel is built alongside Lake Louise which is a breathtaking turquoise blue lake. I would encourage you to rent a canoe and explore the lake on your own taking in the view and listening to the distant rumbling of the melting glacier. There is plenty to do at Lake Louise, but I would highly recommend taking a shuttle to nearby Lake Moraine, which I felt had an even more ravishingly blue lake – a hidden treasure. Lake Moraine is only about 11 miles from Lake Louise so it is a quick trip. However if you are feeling slightly more adventurous, you can make a day out of it by taking the trailhead at Lake Moraine.  Hike up through Larch Valley, which is a moderate hike that takes you into a peaceful valley with trickling creeks where you are sure to see wildlife. What make this hike especially magical are the huge sheer snowy mountain peaks that surround you. You feel as if you are lost somewhere between earth and sky right out of a scene from The Sound of Music (I literally begun singing The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music…).

Photo from side of the road in Jasper

On day 3 of this trip you will board your motor coach from Lake Louise to Jasper. It is not a long drive, only a few short hours, but you will not want it to end. There is a new picturesque scene at every turn.

When I drove through I was extremely lucky and saw a mother grizzly with her two cubs along the road.

Once you reach Jasper I would stroll through the cozy mountain town.  A great restaurant for any palate is Earl’s, which also offers a great view of the town from a second story patio.

Grizzly family

You get to stay at the rustic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for two nights. In the morning, the Bear’s Paw Bakery is an absolute must for coffee and extravagant pastries!  If you are feeling active then rent a mountain bike and ride up to Maligne canyon (you could also drive or find a shuttle).

My final recommendation in Jasper is a bit off the beaten path at the Jasper Miette Hot Springs. It only costs a few dollars and a family could spend the entire day relaxing in a variety of hot a cold pools. Beware! There are friendly little mountain goats in the parking lot that lick the salt off the cars undercarriages!

Goats at Miette Hot Springs

From Jasper you will be transported to Banff along another stunning path where you just might see a moose alongside the road. In Banff it is easy to feel like you took a turn and somehow ended up in the mountains of Sweden or Austria. The town itself has tons of great restaurants and shopping. You stay at The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, which is basically a huge castle erected at the base of enormous surrounding peaks.

Cliff View in Banff from the HooDoo trail

From the hotel you can see everything; including the HooDoos (you will know when you see them!) Spend the day shopping and eating or hike around the area and take in the wonderment of it all. No matter what you choose to do, you can’t really go wrong.