Flight AC8056. We are about to leave British Columbia for Alberta. Maya, who is now accustomed to falling asleep in one place and waking up in another, is still sleeping as we head to the airport.

Being able to take the stroller to the departure gate (or in this case, right up to the small plane) makes our lives so much easier (we simply have to register the stroller when we check in). Maya continues to snooze in her “home on wheels” between flights, while we relax over breakfast in the Maple Leaf Lounge. We make a mental note: morning is an excellent time for us to travel.

Flight AC208. We land in Calgary, and board the minibus to Banff. The closer we get to Canada’s oldest national park (and the third oldest in the world), the more impressed we are by the landscape. And the town is just as stunning. The first thing we notice is the abundance of chocolate shops. I count at least three on our way to the Mount Royal Hotel (a reminder of our little “hill” back in Montreal).

When we get off the bus, we realize that no matter where we look, the Rockies shape the landscape. Incredible.

The next morning, we visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site and learn a little more about the history of Banff. The town was created after three railway workers, in search of silver deposits, looking to make a fortune, discovered thermal springs instead. Today you cannot dip so much as a toe in these sulphurous waters because human bacteria could harm the Banff Springs snails, a protected species.

***

The castle-like Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel really piques our curiosity. William Cornelius Van Horne, Vice-President of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, decided to build a deluxe hotel for wealthy tourists interested in the hot springs. The building opened its doors in 1888 and soon became one of the most popular hotels in North America. It is probably one of the most photographed spots in Banff, as it can be viewed from so many different angles.

***

“Naminals! Naminals!”

Maya is ecstatic. Just a few metres away, some bighorn sheep are watching the cars go by. When we board the minibus, we can see them strolling past us. It is not unusual to spot black bears, grizzlies, wolves, elk and the occasional moose either.

Maya is in such good spirits that we decide to join a tour group headed to Lake Louise. Although we only spend half an hour there, Joseph declares it to be the most beautiful place he has ever seen. It’s not surprising that this is one of the most photographed sites on Earth. We are also thrilled by nearby Moraine Lake and its “beware of the bears” signs. Is this my chance to finally see one?

Stay tuned.

Did you know that…
… as well as heli-skiing, you can do heli-yoga and heli-hiking in Banff? They all entail helicopter travel to remote mountaintops. These activities are available through Icefield Helicopter Tours (www.icefieldheli.com). The company even offers wedding packages!

… Marilyn Munroe filmed scenes from River of No Return in Alberta, near the Bow River? She slept in the Banff Springs Hotel, where her photo still hangs and the bar still serves a Blond Bombshell Martini, created in her honour.

… the thermal springs are fed by water that is filtered through fissures in the rock under the west side of Sulphur Mountain? The water absorbs calcium, sulphur and other minerals from the rocks, is heated by the Earth’s core, and is forced up under pressure through a fault on the northeast side of the mountain.

… Banff National Park covers 6,600 square kilometres?

… according to archaeologists, the area has been inhabited since 11,000 B.C.?

… only people who work in Banff can buy property there?

… Banff officially became an independent municipality in 1990?

… more than three million people from around the world visit Banff each year?

For more information:
Travelling with an Infant or Child (Air Canada): www.aircanada.com
Carry-On Baggage (Air Canada): www.aircanada.com
Maple Leaf Lounges (Air Canada): www.aircanada.com
Travel Alberta: www.travelalberta.com
Banff Lake Louise Tourism: www.banfflakelouise.com
Banff National Park: www.pc.gc.ca

We would like to thank Air Canada, the Canadian Tourism Commission and Travel Alberta (especially Maude Laliberté) for making this trip possible.