Every day at night I pull my blanket up to my forehead to cut off all possible lights coming from the modern world and crest towards dreams.
During my trip to the Canadian Rockies, I didn’t pull my blanket at night because the internet and appliance rich modern world took a backseat, and a dream-like reality, set in an idyllic location, encompassed my whole existence.
The soothing sounds of water from the rivers and waterfalls, smells of berries and flowers, and scenes of refreshing greenery all around rendered my days delightful.
Every time I saw the beautiful birds in different colors flying cheerfully from spruce to pine and resting on a pebble in a tumbling mountain stream, I felt an urge to relinquish the lure of a comfortable modern life and embrace wilderness for the rest of my life.
While I am still on my zigzag way, pursuing the diagonal between reason and heart, let me present you with chronicles of the Canadian Rockies as I witnessed them in the beautiful Banff and Jasper National Parks in Canada!
Every day at night I pull my blanket up to my forehead to cut off all possible lights coming from the modern world and crest towards dreams. During my trip to the Canadian Rockies, I didn't pull my blanket at night because the… Click To Tweet
Luminous Lake Louise
The sight of the luminous lake Louise which is named after the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria penetrated me viscerally.
When I dipped my hand in the lake, the chilly water sent a current through my spine which heightened my senses to its zenith.
A kind of feeling that is perhaps hard to get while sipping drinks under an umbrella beside a swimming pool or enjoying the grande latte inside Starbucks.
It was different. I realized this when I heard the cacophony of selfie clicking visitors and started walking away from the crowd.
Generally, I ignore this omnipresent behavior of tourists everywhere. But that day I didn’t.
When I dipped my hand in the luminous lake Louise , the chilly water sent a current through my spine which heightened my senses to its zenith. #Travel #Canada Click To Tweet
After walking down a few yards along the lakeshore, I found a place from where I savored the scenes to my heart’s content.
I felt I am a part of the surrounding amphitheater of finely chiseled mountains that hoist Victoria Glacier audaciously toward the heavens.
Lake of the Little Fishes, which is the name of Lake Louise given by the first nations people, gifts us a grand scene of pristine wilderness.
A cruise on Mysterious Lake Minnewanka
Given a choice, I always opt for the reflecting sky because this choice of mine gives me not only the sky but also the shore of a lake, where I can sit for hours, without any purpose, unlike the practical world.
So, needless to say, while exploring the Canadian Rockies, where lakes are precious pearls in the landscape, I tried seeing as many lakes as possible.
Going on a cruise on Lake Minnewanka by Pursuit was a natural choice for me. I used a combo ticket for a cruise on Lake Minnewanka and a ride up the spectacular Banff Gondola.
Book your tickets and skip the line.
The milky green water of Lake Minnewanka was full of little shafts of imprisoned light. On its surface, I saw the towering peaks of the majestic Rockies floating silently.
It lured me to look deeper beneath its surface but my vision failed to pass its opaque surface. I felt the lake bears a mystery beneath and surprisingly it came true.
This Canadian lake hides an underwater ghost town beneath its surface. The water of the spirits, which is another name of the lake given by the first nations people, has many fascinating legends.
The milky green water of Lake Minnewanka was full of little shafts of imprisoned light. On its surface, I saw the towering peaks of the majestic Rockies floating silently. #travel #Canada Click To Tweet
Tip: If you are on a trip to Banff, then cruising on Lake Minnewanka is a must.
A hike along the jubilant Johnston Canyon
A hike along the jubilant Johnston Canyon was long but totally worth it. Almost throughout this hike, a flowing cascade accompanied me.
Birds whistled, trees rustled and sometimes a cool breeze caressed me along the way. When I reached the end and saw a gushing waterfall from a tantalizingly close distance, I was filled with zeal and zest for life.
Water bodies are magical in any form because they are always flowing and never resting. I highly recommend this tour. Book the Johnston Canyon Tour.
Radiant Rockies from the Banff Gondola
Everyday magic happens twice in the form of sunrise and sunset. And this magic is for all of us, irrespective of geographical borders, color, caste, and social position.
Everyday nature gives us the opportunity to bid adieu to all mistakes and begin again. Every single day. Isn’t it a marvel? Isn’t it wisdom?
Whenever I get the opportunity to witness a rising sun or a setting sun, I don’t miss it. During my trip to Banff and Jasper, there was no exception.
I boarded the magnificent Banff Gondola and spent a resplendent evening while witnessing the sunset over the Rockies, sweeping views of the Bow Valley and the ongoing sunset festival. The evening will remain etched in my heart forever.
Book your tickets for Banff Gondola in advance and skip the line.
Tip: Sit on a chair and be mesmerized by the peaks of the Canadian Rockies all around. Don’t miss to take a ride on the Banff Gondola.
Basking in the beauty of Bow Lake
No matter how much the modern world tries to detach us from the lure of experiencing the beauty of the natural world, it will fail because
Beauty is our natural inheritance.
Terry Tempest Williams
I realized this when I saw Bow Lake. I simply basked in its beauty. It is really hard to describe it without resorting to shameless cliches like breath-taking, jaw-dropping, wondrous, and stunning!
I spent a few hours here and read a travel book on my kindle. In case you want to know the name of the book, then it is The Geography of Genius – A Search for the World’s Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley.
A rendezvous with the Athabasca Glacier
While driving through the Columbia Icefields Parkway, which is one of the worlds most scenic mountain road drives, I felt Kodak moments line up all along the route.
After every few miles, there is a stunning vista or interesting scene. The Columbia Icefield, which is home to one of the most accessible glaciers in the world is a major attraction on this route.
Although I saw a glimpse of the Athabasca Glacier from the road, it was not enough. I wanted more. I wanted to feel the cold air on my face while standing on the glacier and touch it.
I wanted to touch the wilderness, the remnants of the last ice age. So I took the Columbia Icefield Adventure by Pursuit. Book this trip because it is worth every penny.
While driving through the Columbia Icefields Parkway, which is one of the worlds most scenic mountain road drives, I felt Kodak moments line up all along the route.
After every few miles, there is a stunning vista or interesting scene. #wanderer
While walking on the Athabasca Glacier, I saw that almost every hollow and crevasse was filled with light, shimmering and throbbing in pale-blue tones of ineffable beauty.
I saw many small streams flowing in between two disintegrated ice surfaces. I dipped my finger in that chilled flowing water and felt exhilarated.
After all, I touched a pristine, numberless-centuries-old piece of nature. Needless to say that when I heard that this Glacier will no longer exist in just 80 years from now, my heart ached, and I was deeply saddened.
A walk on the gorgeous Columbia Icefield Skywalk
After seeing the Athabasca Glacier, I walked on the gorgeous Columbia Icefield Skywalk by Pursuit above the Sunwapta Valley and found myself surrounded by beautiful vistas all around.
The vast expanse of blue sky and a few floating clouds above, the greenery, a flowing river below, a waterfall afar and the majestic mountain peaks in front kept me afloat in the abundance of beauty.
Tip: Walk on the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, perched 918 feet (280 m) above the ground, and let the vistas infuse inspiration in you.
Athabasca Falls
I love waterfalls because the unremitting surge of water and its splashes has an unparalleled splendor. The mighty Athabasca Falls cast a charm on a visitor within moments. And I was no exception.
I stood silently and savored the solemn scene of the falling water and a resplendent rainbow formed by the union of sunlight and water droplets.
The most appalling quality of water is its strength. I love its flash and gleam, its music, its pliancy and grace, its slap against my body; but I fear its strength.
Nan Shepherd
When water flows from our eyes we call it tears; a tender expression. When water tumbles down from rocks we call it waterfall; a powerful expression.
These qualities of water inspire me. I whispered to Athabasca Falls that I want to be an unhindered traveler like you!
Sailing on the mesmerizing Maligne Lake
The first glimpse of Maligne Lake in the Jasper National Park reminded me of the beautiful Lake Geneva in Switzerland. While the Alps surround the latter, Maligne Lake is embraced by the Canadian Rockies.
The turquoise water, the trees afar lining the water’s edge, the soaring peaks of the Canadian Rockies all together felt like an infinite treasure of beauty.
I wanted to envelop the vista and bring it back beside the window of my writing table! I would see it day and night, dark and light, when my pen stops or even when it flows.
But alas, that seems an impossible task. So I thought it is better to see and feel this slice of paradise, slowly, deeply, and intensely.
Even though it is August, autumn had touched the leaves. I could see a bit of red, orange and yellow in the trees.
After a while, I decided to embark on a cruise on Maligne Lake and see the world-famous Spirit Island. Book your tickets for the Maligne Lake cruise and skip the line.
Tip: Cruise the glacial waters of Maligne Lake and witness the Spirit Island. On the way, enjoy the abundance of picturesque panoramas all around.
Cheers to the delicious evening at Fiddle River restaurant in Jasper
A feast of eyes should be accompanied by a sumptuous feast of the stomach, isn’t it? But what if you get to do both together?
The Fiddle River restaurant in Jasper offers just that. But before I say more about this exquisite seafood restaurant, I have a confession: I could not resist myself from trying several delicious dishes at the restaurant. I ate way too much!
Address: 620 Connaught Drive (Upstairs), Jasper, Alberta, Canada T0E 1E0 Website: Fiddle River Restaurant Timings: 5 pm – 9:30 pm
I adored the log cabin-like wooden interior decor and liked the courteous lady who served us food.
I was also glad to find out that Fiddle River restaurant sources the finest and freshest ingredients from Canadian seas and farms, coast to coast.
After much deliberation, I decided to try Crispy Coconut Prawns as the appetizer and the signature Fiddle Fish Pot as the main course.
My husband couldn’t resist the Alberta Elk Stroganoff, patiently prepared over several hours using locally sourced Alberta elk meat.
I was especially touched by the warmth of Patrice (the owner) and Sushant, the exquisite cook who prepared a special chocolate sundae dessert for us after he came to know about our wedding anniversary that day.
The high-quality ingredients, delicious food and breathtaking views make Fiddle River my favorite restaurant in Jasper. Thank you Patrice for gifting us such a delicious evening!
Tip: Try Crispy Coconut Prawns in Appetizers and Fiddle Fish Pot and Alberta Elk Stroganoff in Main Course.
Similar Articles from Travel Realizations
Travel Realizations
The cocktail of daily lives especially in cities is becoming profoundly uniform in this world. To break free from this uniformity, wilderness is a beautiful and perhaps only respite.
This summer, I chose to visit the Banff and Jasper National Parks in the Canadian Rockies. These parks give us the opportunity to get lost in the lap of nature.
So, if you are planning your next vacation choose wilderness; choose Canadian Rockies and let me know about your chronicles too.
Pursuit’s Banff and Jasper Collection added an unforgettable charm to my trip to the Canadian Rockies, which I highly recommend.
Also, carry Lonely Planet’s guidebook to Banff and Jasper. It came in handy during my trip. Get a copy of Lonely Planet’s guidebook to Banff and Jasper. Until my next post, adieu!
Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a campaign with Pursuit and was hosted by the Fiddle River Restaurant. Opinions on this blog, as you can tell, are always mine.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Spirit Island in Canada – A famous icon of the Canadian Rockies. You may enjoy these other articles on Canada and USA.
- Beautiful Vignettes of Vancouver!
- Canadian Rockies from Banff Gondola!
- A cruise on Lake Minnewanka in Banff, Canada!
- Spirit Island in Canada – A famous icon of the Canadian Rockies
- A delicious evening at Fiddle River restaurant in Jasper!
- Glacier National Park – A travel guide!
- One day in San Francisco Itinerary: For Every Traveler
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