| We watched in dismay, the dark clouds
| |
| | clean rivers, and old-growth forests.
|
| massing at an alarming rate above the
| |
| | The park system has established an
|
| granite peaks of the Canadian Rockies in
| |
| | infrastructure that allows travelers
|
| Jasper National Park. An afternoon rain
| |
| | access while keeping the impact to a
|
| shower was brewing, and it was going to
| |
| | minimum. Abundant Visitor Centers are
|
| start pouring before we could return to
| |
| | manned with friendly Canadian park
|
| our campsite on the Kicking Horse River.
| |
| | service staff who help direct tourists by
|
| Fortunately, Canada's western parks have
| |
| | giving excellent information on
|
| a strict bare camp policy due to the
| |
| | everything from white water rafting
|
| presence of grizzly bears, meaning that
| |
| | outfitters to fine restaurants.
|
| almost everything has to be stowed away
| |
| | Just about any amusement you want for
|
| before leaving camp. There was nothing
| |
| | your Canadian Parks vacation is
|
| laying around our site that could be
| |
| | available. Here is one you won't want to
|
| damaged by rain, so we decided not to
| |
| | miss: The Icefields Parkway.
|
| worry about the change in weather.
| |
| | Billed as, "The Most Beautiful Road in
|
| We drove back from our day's sight seeing
| |
| | The World," the Icefields Parkway has a
|
| and other adventures, scheming for a way
| |
| | right to make the claim. It is 230
|
| to wait out the storm without getting wet
| |
| | kilometers of continuous World Heritage
|
| and found ourselves sipping gin-tonics at
| |
| | Site scenery completely protected by
|
| Truffle Pig, a quirky cafe in a little
| |
| | Jasper and Banff Parks. The white
|
| mountain town named Field. With Irish
| |
| | glaciers against the dark granite slopes
|
| fiddle music playing in the background,
| |
| | with clear blue mountain lakes at their
|
| we sat on benches by the open door and
| |
| | bases make for one breath-taking vista
|
| smelled the cooling rain turn dust into
| |
| | after another. The Icefield Parkway is a
|
| mud.
| |
| | must-see for any visitor to the region.
|
| The challenges of dealing with bears and
| |
| | Where -- Northern access to the Parkway
|
| rain are among the reasons people
| |
| | is from the city of Jasper, and southern
|
| generally either love or abhor camping.
| |
| | access is near the town of Lake Louise on
|
| It's an entirely different sort of
| |
| | the Trans-Canada Highway.
|
| vacation from staying in resorts and
| |
| | When -- The road is open most of the
|
| hotels. And we did a little bit of both
| |
| | year, except during severe weather. But
|
| on a recent vacation in Canada.
| |
| | summer and fall are the best times to
|
| But aside from the question of lodging,
| |
| | visit because snow obscures the beautiful
|
| all of the visitors to Jasper, Yoho, and
| |
| | contrast of glacier, granite, and
|
| Banff National Parks have one thing in
| |
| | mountain lakes.
|
| common: an appreciation for the dramatic
| |
| | What -- There are frequent picnic areas
|
| natural beauty of the high and rugged
| |
| | and some lodges for dining along the
|
| Canadian Rockies.
| |
| | Parkway. Also, several of the roadside
|
| Tourists from around the world flock to
| |
| | parks have trailheads for visitors to
|
| Canada's western national parks for good
| |
| | explore in a more personal and focused
|
| reason. Protecting a huge area that spans
| |
| | way than merely passing through by car.
|
| into two provinces, (Alberta and British
| |
| | How -- Tour buses allow the visitor to
|
| Columbia), the Canadian tourism industry
| |
| | completely focus on the scenery.
|
| is well aware of the value of keeping
| |
| | Individually operated vehicles offer more
|
| this large region pristine, maintaining
| |
| | flexibility; the Parkway fee is 17
|
| the natural beauty of the high mountains,
| |
| | dollars for the vehicle.
|
