Need quick help with Radium Hot Springs info
Aug 29th, 2005 | 08:45 AM
#1
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Need quick help with Radium Hot Springs info
Leaving in two days from Calgary and staying at Tyrol Motel (anyone know it??)in Radium Springs. We want to visit Banff, Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. Anyone know the best route to cover everything in most efficient way? We leave Calgary early Wed. morning and return late Friday afternoon. Should we drive directly to Radium Springs, stopping for our visit to Banff on the way? And then do the Moraine Lake area on Thurs. or on our way back Friday? Any suggestions would be great. Also any suggestions to eat in Radium Springs area?? Thanks.
Aug 29th, 2005 | 10:51 AM
#2
Joined: Jun 2003
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There's a great restaurant on 93 just as you come to the intersectionof 95:
http://www.oldsalzburgrestaurant.com/
You may be able to walk to it from your motel. Across the street from Old Salzburg restaurant, there lives a eccentric woodcutter. (You can't miss it!) He allows tours (if he's in the mood) and sells his work. Check it out. But don't take pictures, he doesn't take kindly to that...we couldn't help ourselves and took a picture from the patio of the restaurant. That's when we noticed that he has water guns set up and were treated to a display for our impertinence. Don't miss it!
http://www.oldsalzburgrestaurant.com/
You may be able to walk to it from your motel. Across the street from Old Salzburg restaurant, there lives a eccentric woodcutter. (You can't miss it!) He allows tours (if he's in the mood) and sells his work. Check it out. But don't take pictures, he doesn't take kindly to that...we couldn't help ourselves and took a picture from the patio of the restaurant. That's when we noticed that he has water guns set up and were treated to a display for our impertinence. Don't miss it!
Aug 29th, 2005 | 11:40 AM
#3
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,501
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As it gets closer to your departure, check the weather forecast.
At this point the weather forecast is indicating that Wednesday will be sunnier than Friday, but that could change. I think you should do your best to see Moraine Lake in sunshine. For that reason, I would visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on Wednesday (if the weather forecast stays the same).
Something you could consider doing on Wednesday is driving to Radium the long way round, via Golden. If you did that, you could see Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. After that you could head west on Hwy #1 and see the main attractions in Yoho National Park (Takakkaw Falls, which is just east of Field, BC and Emerald Lake, which is just west of Field). When you reach Golden, you could turn south on Hwy #95 and continue to Radium.
That drive nominally would take you 4.25 hours. With stops to see scenery, it could take you 8 - 9 hours.
On Thursday you could relax in Radium itself and/or you could drive south on Hwy #93 through Fairmont, as far as you feel like going.
On Friday, you could drive northeast from Radium on Hwy #93, which will take you through Kootenay National Park.
Instead of turning east when you reach the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) at Castle Junction, you could keep going a bit further to the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy #1A), and then turn east on it.
That would give you an opportunity to visit Johnston Canyon en route to Banff. Since it will be close to the holiday weekend, I expect Johnston Canyon to be even more full of visitors than usual. I still think it would be worth a visit, though.
Then you still would have time to stop in Banff townsite on your way back to Calgary.
At this point the weather forecast is indicating that Wednesday will be sunnier than Friday, but that could change. I think you should do your best to see Moraine Lake in sunshine. For that reason, I would visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on Wednesday (if the weather forecast stays the same).
Something you could consider doing on Wednesday is driving to Radium the long way round, via Golden. If you did that, you could see Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. After that you could head west on Hwy #1 and see the main attractions in Yoho National Park (Takakkaw Falls, which is just east of Field, BC and Emerald Lake, which is just west of Field). When you reach Golden, you could turn south on Hwy #95 and continue to Radium.
That drive nominally would take you 4.25 hours. With stops to see scenery, it could take you 8 - 9 hours.
On Thursday you could relax in Radium itself and/or you could drive south on Hwy #93 through Fairmont, as far as you feel like going.
On Friday, you could drive northeast from Radium on Hwy #93, which will take you through Kootenay National Park.
Instead of turning east when you reach the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) at Castle Junction, you could keep going a bit further to the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy #1A), and then turn east on it.
That would give you an opportunity to visit Johnston Canyon en route to Banff. Since it will be close to the holiday weekend, I expect Johnston Canyon to be even more full of visitors than usual. I still think it would be worth a visit, though.
Then you still would have time to stop in Banff townsite on your way back to Calgary.
Aug 29th, 2005 | 05:03 PM
#4
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Thanks..does it make any sense to do the Lake Louise/Moraine Lake part of the trip on the Thursday (weather permitting) or is it to much travelling to and from? What you are saying is that Lake Louise/Moraine Lake should be either Wed on way to Radium or Friday on way back from Radium (weather permitting)??? Thx.
Aug 30th, 2005 | 01:44 AM
#5
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 16
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My mother and I just returned to the USA very late last Friday (and wish we were still there). Your posts were so helpful to us. I promise a trip report soon.
Yes, that woodcarver does seem eccentric! We were looking for lunch but HAD to stop and survey his carvings outside his place. Unfortunately, a handwritten note on his door indicated he'd gone to the dentist and would return in 2 hrs so we missed him. He had LOTS of ladies lingerie hanging from a clothesline up above...?!
As we were carefully watching our budget, we ate near the Old Salzburg (didn't know it was so good) but I don't have the name of the restaurant where we lunched. It seems vegi- and all sorts of "wraps" are common up there in low-cost and moderate restaurants... they were quite good. (What's NOT common: DECAF coffee! I wonder why.)
We did stop in Radium Springs and were surprised to see "regular" pools that people soak in. I guess we thought the architecture of the pools would be more "natural" given the hot spring water in them. Interesting though. Wasn't very crowded and we opted to check that one out as Judy was right in thinking the crowds would be elsewhere. (Is radon a healthy substance though?! The signs near the pool do explain that it's not harmful.)
Other friends went the week before us. Weather conditions may change the view quite a bit -- is that true? We saw Lake Louise on a sunny day... bluer than blue and one of our favorite sights, esp with the view of the mountains. We think it was a small weasel that kept popping in and out of the rocks near the water, refusing to let us take a photo. (And lots of people walking their dogs!) But we saw Lake Moraine on one of 2 afternoons that it rained during a period of over 2 wks and must admit the lake's color didn't seem all that special. However, my friends found its water incredible on a sunny day when they visited. (Yes, we learned all about the color of glacial lakes and the cause for the blueness.)
We were surprised that the roads weren't all that crowded in mid-August and were able to cover long distances quite fast. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.
Artzfan
Yes, that woodcarver does seem eccentric! We were looking for lunch but HAD to stop and survey his carvings outside his place. Unfortunately, a handwritten note on his door indicated he'd gone to the dentist and would return in 2 hrs so we missed him. He had LOTS of ladies lingerie hanging from a clothesline up above...?!
As we were carefully watching our budget, we ate near the Old Salzburg (didn't know it was so good) but I don't have the name of the restaurant where we lunched. It seems vegi- and all sorts of "wraps" are common up there in low-cost and moderate restaurants... they were quite good. (What's NOT common: DECAF coffee! I wonder why.)
We did stop in Radium Springs and were surprised to see "regular" pools that people soak in. I guess we thought the architecture of the pools would be more "natural" given the hot spring water in them. Interesting though. Wasn't very crowded and we opted to check that one out as Judy was right in thinking the crowds would be elsewhere. (Is radon a healthy substance though?! The signs near the pool do explain that it's not harmful.)
Other friends went the week before us. Weather conditions may change the view quite a bit -- is that true? We saw Lake Louise on a sunny day... bluer than blue and one of our favorite sights, esp with the view of the mountains. We think it was a small weasel that kept popping in and out of the rocks near the water, refusing to let us take a photo. (And lots of people walking their dogs!) But we saw Lake Moraine on one of 2 afternoons that it rained during a period of over 2 wks and must admit the lake's color didn't seem all that special. However, my friends found its water incredible on a sunny day when they visited. (Yes, we learned all about the color of glacial lakes and the cause for the blueness.)
We were surprised that the roads weren't all that crowded in mid-August and were able to cover long distances quite fast. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.
Artzfan
