Staying on a college campus in Calgary was a great experience for everyone. We also had a once in a lifetime experience at the Olympic Park zooming down in a bobsled with retired professional Olympic bobsledders! Just driving through Calgary was fun in itself, as we enjoyed seeing some Canadian cowboys- all dressed head to toe in denim or flannel, cowboy boots and a hat preparing for the Stampede in a few days.

After a stunning drive through the Rocky Mountains, we arrived at the bright blue Lake Louise. Then our group enjoyed an afternoon hike that took us up to a century-old tea house and another beautiful lake. The hike is the only way to get to the tea house, so all the supplies and ingredients must be brought up via the hiking trail. We finished off the day by canoeing and singing songs on Lake Louise, which was the cherry on top of an unforgettable day!

The following day, we went to the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park and we had the opportunity to walk around, learn about glacier formations and taste fresh glacier water. Next, we crossed into British Columbia and had the chance to explore the water side city of Kelowna. The trip members continued their bonding with a morning of team-building adventure activities, and an afternoon on the beach which included a photo scavenger hunt, a large game of capture the flag and water relay races!

The next day we took the Sea to Sky Highway up to Whistler, where we had the chance to ride the Peak2Peak gondola which takes you from Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain… we were truly going in and out of the clouds! We participated in the Via Ferrata and of course had some time in Whistler Village.

Our last stop in Canada was Granville Island, where we had time to discover the neat artisan area and eat lunch in the market. Upon arrival in Seattle, we went up the iconic Space Needle to see the stunning bird’s eye view of the city. Afterwards, we spent the day exploring sunny Pike Place Market and enjoyed taking videos of the famous fish throwing and sampling delicious food. We then made our way to the Museum of Pop Culture, where they have exhibits about famous musicians and showcase original pieces from movies such as Lord of the Rings and The Princess Bride. We finished our night with some energetic games of whirlyball, which is essentially scoop ball in a bumper car!

We are all very excited about what new adventures are around the corner in California!

The Westcoast Blogger

Ready to take an incredible voyage next summer? Read more about our amazing 40-day American Voyageur trip!