Rainy days in Banff/Lake Louise - what to do?
Jun 7th, 2005, 05:30 AM
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Rainy days in Banff/Lake Louise - what to do?
The weather forecast calls for rain and some thunderstorms when we get there in Banff (early June). Unfortunately, we cannot do anything to change the weather and our schedule. What activities can you suggest for my young teenage sons and daughter?
Jun 7th, 2005, 06:16 AM
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I guess you either stay inside and watch TV, or get wet. I suppose in Banff you could prowl the stores and find the electronic game rooms.
Or go find a bowling alley. The Canadian game of five pins is a lot of fun. Small ball and you get 3 throws per frame.
I usually get wet. Or sleeted on, or snowed on because I keep going, rain suit and all.
What else can you do?
Or go find a bowling alley. The Canadian game of five pins is a lot of fun. Small ball and you get 3 throws per frame.
I usually get wet. Or sleeted on, or snowed on because I keep going, rain suit and all.
What else can you do?
Jun 7th, 2005, 06:33 AM
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In addition to what the others already have mentioned, you can walk in Johnston Canyon, as the enjoyment of it does not depend on good visibility.
If you go white water rafting (on the Kicking Horse River in British Columbia, for instance), you'll get wet anyway, so the rain won't make you much wetter than you'll be already.
We've gone hiking in the rain (wearing good ponchos and stuff), and have enjoyed ourselves. And when we've returned, we've enjoyed that cup of coffee or cocoa all the more.
Another idea is to visit the Whyte Museum and the Natural History Museum in Banff townsite.
If you don't already have this on your itinerary, you could visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. It would make for quite a long day trip from Banff, but it would be worthwhile, IMO. The dinosaur skeletons are awesome. Furthermore, fascinating though the dinosaurs are, the museum has more to offer than just dinosaurs.
It would take 3 hours to drive to Drumheller if you by-passed Calgary to avoid city traffic. To do that you could drive Banff - Cochrane - Airdrie - Beiseker - Drumheller. It would take at least 2 hours to do the museum justice. If you took an hour or so to have lunch, the round trip would take 9 hours or more.
You also could drive through Kananaskis Country to the small towns that are located south-west of Calgary. I'm thinking of the hamlet of Bragg Creek, where there are a couple of cute craft stores (offering infinitely better value for money than the stores in Banff). They are fun to browse through even if you don't buy anything. I'm also thinking of little towns like Turner Valley, Black Diamond and Longview. In addition to visiting the national parks for their scenic beauty, I like visiting towns outside of the national parks because I like to see places where "real people" live. I mean I like to do this when *I* am the one who is the tourist.
If you want to do the "real town" circuit, you could drive east from Banff on the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1). When you get to Calaway Park (roller coasters and such), turn south onto Hwy #22 (affectionately known as the Cowboy Trail). When you get to Bragg Creek, stop to have tea / coffee and browse a little. Carry on through Priddis, Millarville, Turner Valley, Black Diamond and Longview. If you have not had lunch at one of these towns, be warned that the next opportunity to eat will be some distance away, in Kananaskis Village.
At Longview turn west onto Route #541. After a while the road will turn north and become Hwy #40. It will take you over the Highwood Pass, which is the highest section of paved road in Canada. You will pass Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes, which would be a nice spot to get out and walk if the rain has let up and even if the rain hasn't let up, provided you're prepared with the right gear. About half way from Kananaskis Lakes to Hwy #1, you'll reach Kananaskis Village, which would be another spot where you could stop for refreshments. Carry on to Hwy #1, turn west, and go back to Banff.
Here is a map of the Cowboy Trail. Click on the bottom right hand corner of the map till it gets large.
http://www.thecowboytrail.com/map.jpg
Hope that helps.
If you go white water rafting (on the Kicking Horse River in British Columbia, for instance), you'll get wet anyway, so the rain won't make you much wetter than you'll be already.
We've gone hiking in the rain (wearing good ponchos and stuff), and have enjoyed ourselves. And when we've returned, we've enjoyed that cup of coffee or cocoa all the more.
Another idea is to visit the Whyte Museum and the Natural History Museum in Banff townsite.
If you don't already have this on your itinerary, you could visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. It would make for quite a long day trip from Banff, but it would be worthwhile, IMO. The dinosaur skeletons are awesome. Furthermore, fascinating though the dinosaurs are, the museum has more to offer than just dinosaurs.
It would take 3 hours to drive to Drumheller if you by-passed Calgary to avoid city traffic. To do that you could drive Banff - Cochrane - Airdrie - Beiseker - Drumheller. It would take at least 2 hours to do the museum justice. If you took an hour or so to have lunch, the round trip would take 9 hours or more.
You also could drive through Kananaskis Country to the small towns that are located south-west of Calgary. I'm thinking of the hamlet of Bragg Creek, where there are a couple of cute craft stores (offering infinitely better value for money than the stores in Banff). They are fun to browse through even if you don't buy anything. I'm also thinking of little towns like Turner Valley, Black Diamond and Longview. In addition to visiting the national parks for their scenic beauty, I like visiting towns outside of the national parks because I like to see places where "real people" live. I mean I like to do this when *I* am the one who is the tourist.
If you want to do the "real town" circuit, you could drive east from Banff on the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1). When you get to Calaway Park (roller coasters and such), turn south onto Hwy #22 (affectionately known as the Cowboy Trail). When you get to Bragg Creek, stop to have tea / coffee and browse a little. Carry on through Priddis, Millarville, Turner Valley, Black Diamond and Longview. If you have not had lunch at one of these towns, be warned that the next opportunity to eat will be some distance away, in Kananaskis Village.
At Longview turn west onto Route #541. After a while the road will turn north and become Hwy #40. It will take you over the Highwood Pass, which is the highest section of paved road in Canada. You will pass Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes, which would be a nice spot to get out and walk if the rain has let up and even if the rain hasn't let up, provided you're prepared with the right gear. About half way from Kananaskis Lakes to Hwy #1, you'll reach Kananaskis Village, which would be another spot where you could stop for refreshments. Carry on to Hwy #1, turn west, and go back to Banff.
Here is a map of the Cowboy Trail. Click on the bottom right hand corner of the map till it gets large.
http://www.thecowboytrail.com/map.jpg
Hope that helps.
Jun 7th, 2005, 03:01 PM
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I don't know when you'll actually get to this area, ilocos_king, but when you do it probably would be a good idea to make enquiries about local conditions before you set out on day trips outside of the mountains.
I figure you'll be okay in the mountains, because water flows downhill from there. However, some places at lower elevations are in danger of flooding.
The Highwood River is in flood, is threatening the town of High River, and has prompted authorities to evacuate a couple of neighbourhoods in that town.
West Bragg Creek is under threat from the Elbow River, and is being evacuated.
Hwy #22X is closed at Millarville.
The Glenmore Reservoir, which is on the Elbow River in Calgary, has lost its usual blue colour and is looking incredibly brown. City authorities have said that the reservoir is filled to capacity, and they cannot hold the sluice gates closed any longer. They are going to open them, regardless of the consequences for downstream Calgary neighbourhoods.
On the way home from work today, I found that my preferred route was flooded, and I had to take another route.
All the best.
I figure you'll be okay in the mountains, because water flows downhill from there. However, some places at lower elevations are in danger of flooding.
The Highwood River is in flood, is threatening the town of High River, and has prompted authorities to evacuate a couple of neighbourhoods in that town.
West Bragg Creek is under threat from the Elbow River, and is being evacuated.
Hwy #22X is closed at Millarville.
The Glenmore Reservoir, which is on the Elbow River in Calgary, has lost its usual blue colour and is looking incredibly brown. City authorities have said that the reservoir is filled to capacity, and they cannot hold the sluice gates closed any longer. They are going to open them, regardless of the consequences for downstream Calgary neighbourhoods.
On the way home from work today, I found that my preferred route was flooded, and I had to take another route.
All the best.
Jun 8th, 2005, 12:07 AM
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Never mind the rain - we'll be there for 4 days next week and just look at the temperatures!!! The weather channel forecasts daytime highs of 7C on Monday and 4C (both with rain) on Tuesday - even the Banff official website shows 5c as being the lowest for June.
I'm beginning to wonder if we're mad going when we've waited so long for summer to arrive in the UK and it's now just beginning to warm up. I don't think that my sun and heat loving daughter is going to be overly impressed, particularly as it was a tough job getting her to go in the first place - perhaps I'd better keep quiet about the weather until we get there!!
Anyway, must go as off to buy waterproof trosers
I'm beginning to wonder if we're mad going when we've waited so long for summer to arrive in the UK and it's now just beginning to warm up. I don't think that my sun and heat loving daughter is going to be overly impressed, particularly as it was a tough job getting her to go in the first place - perhaps I'd better keep quiet about the weather until we get there!!
Anyway, must go as off to buy waterproof trosers
Jun 8th, 2005, 08:10 AM
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Hey Judy - send some of that rain up here to Edmonton!! We've had cool (16C) and cloudy days, but not a drop of moisture. Plus it is very breezy, so the water in our birdbath dries up within a couple of hours!!
The Environment Canada website shows that Friday will be sunny in Banff, and there is a "risk" of showers on the weekend, with temps on the cool side (14C to 16C). Wonder why the weather channel is so different??
By the way LynneRich - your daughter will love the shopping in Banff!!
The Environment Canada website shows that Friday will be sunny in Banff, and there is a "risk" of showers on the weekend, with temps on the cool side (14C to 16C). Wonder why the weather channel is so different??
By the way LynneRich - your daughter will love the shopping in Banff!!
