Ken and I just got back from a wonderful vacation to Alberta, Canada, where we visited Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper & more. We spent 3 nights at Johnston Canyon Cabins (Banff area), 2 nights at the Alpine Village in Jasper (FABULOUS accommodations!!), and 2 nights at the Paradise Bungalow cabins just down the road from Lake Louise.
Of course, there is spectacular scenery everywhere including Play-Dough blue lakes and shimmering green streams but the area is also filled with waterfalls, glaciers, and wildlife.
Almost all the wildlife we saw was in the Japer area. We saw herds of elk, bighorn sheep, a beaver, coyotes, deer, and a moose.
We also took some time to drive through Kootenay National Park (British Columbia) where we were drawn to the beauty and wonder of Marble Canyon. Another day, we drove into Yoho National Park (British Columbia) but it failed in comparison to Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper.
We were up before sunrise every day to make the most of our time and to also get photos of the sun as it first touched the mountain tops.
If I were to do it over again, I’d still go to Banff and Lake Louise but I’d spend the majority of the time in Jasper! The Icefields Parkway is spectacular with glacier after glacier and the wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant.
Here’s a direct link to my photos from this trip:
http://www.http://thompsontravel.smu...61348994_Kpvck

Just for fun...when you are on my website, you can browse through my other photos that I've taken around the world.

- Julie Roggow

Thanks for the report! Some very nice photos. We are planning a similar trip for next September and was wondering how you would recommend splitting up nine full days (traveling out of & returning to Calgary) between Jasper/Banff/Lake Louise? Also, how were the Paradise Bungalow cabins? Thanks!

the photos are wonderful. How did you like the Paradise Bungalows?

Hi, Julie. Great trip report.

I will have eight nights to allocate between Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper September, 2010 (I'll be in Glacier National Park [Montana] five nights).

Since I can remember--more years than I care to admit--I have wanted to stay at the "calendar/postcard" hotels and lodges in the Canadian Rockies; namely, the Fairmont Banff Springs, the Fairmont Lake Louise and the Fairmont Jasper Park.

Terrible question to ask someone else, but... I know that everyone has to make up their own mind on travel cost/value relationships, but having been there, can you give me any information that might help me reach a decision on whether they are going to be worth the additional cost.
Thanks.

Rpbuttery, in 2005 we stayed in all these Fairmont hotels. We were in a Tauck tour in Canadian Rockies, 8 days. We love all these hotels. If I remember well, the price , including breakfasts and one other meal (in general dinner) was around 2000 $ per person. I think that it was a very resonable price, as every thing was super: the guide, the bus and driver, the hotels, the meals . We had a lot free time to enjoy there,; at dinners we could decide at what restaurant in the hotel we want to go, at what hour, if alone or with another persons in group, what to eat .

The hotels were faboulos. Banff spring is like a real castle. Lake Louise is very elegant, the room had lake view and from the recption they wake us up very early in the morning in the moment when the sun appeared, so we could make a lot of pictures (the water changes the colors and the shadows each moment at this hour).
Japser park - we had a small house with bedroom, living and a small kitchinette. The houses and the restaurants are around the pool. This is a heated pool, you stay in the water and see around of you all the mountains and the sky. Superb.

This vacation was like a dream!

Sorry, I pressed Submit too early.
We are not rich and in general stay in 3 stars hotels. I never shall spend 500$ for a hotel in a big city, as you do not stay too much during the day in the room. We only need a decent room, clean, centrally located and in a safe area, with A/C, etc.

However, after I saw postcards with Fairmont hotels in Canadian Rockies, I said , like you, that should be great to stay there.
Our experience was so nice, we were and are so happy with our decision.

Julie, thank you for sharing your pictures. I agree Jasper was our favorite area as well.

We have traveled in a lot of the same places. My favorite pictures of yours were the Oia Santorini ones you took ( I recognize everything!)

what camera do you use?! From the wildlife pictures I can tell you have a larger lens than mine (for distance and better for light!) they were gorgeous. I was happy with mine until I saw yours haha...
thanks again for sharing.

Wow!!! Fantastic photos!!!

By the way, that "glacier near Jasper" looks like Angel Glacier on Mount Edith Cavell.

Are those pictures of Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake untouched up -- meaning those colors are NATURAL???? If so, Wow Wow Wow. The pictures are beautiful. We were in the area in November, but stymied by weather (started up toward the Ice Fields Parkway, but had to turn back at Lake Louise, the parkway was closed). Can't wait to return in summer!