Snow for Thanksgiving?

Yes, you read it correctly...  The title up there, yes, it really does say that BIG BAD "S" word!  However, before you get your knickers in a knot wondering if the snow-storm is heading your way.  We went to the Canadian Rockies for an over-nighter on the Thanksgiving weekend and that is where the snow is.

We stayed at the Delta Royal Canadian Lodge in Banff.  It is one of our favourite places to stay when we are in the mood for a mountain mini-break.  The restaurant is 5-Star and has won many awards at festivals and food-related affairs.  There is also a mineralized swimming pool and a spa with full services for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The big event for the trip was to take Little Miss up the Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola.  The morning was clear, so we made our way to the top in a crazy, dangling, eerily quiet gondola pod and got to listen to Little Miss giggle, ooo, and aaahh the whole way.  The views are amazing way up there and we were pleasantly surprised that the weather held and was not windy or blustery when we stepped out on the boardwalk at the top.

Once you're out of the little pod and into the fresh air (and on terra ferma again), the views are breathtaking and worth every penny of the fare to take the trip.  Click any of the photos for a larger/better view.  The photo above is looking out over the town of Banff (bottom left corner).  The small rocky bump in the middle of the valley is Tunnel Mountain with the Bow River to it's right.  

 This photo is a little harder to see since it was misty in the distance, however, the small left-hand curvy line is the Trans-Canada Highway heading towards Lake Louise and the British Columbia provincial border.  The right-hand curvy line is the winding Bow River heading towards the town of Banff (the upper photo) and onwards to Calgary.

It was an absolutely lovely day!  On the way home we stopped in the town of Canmore (the first town heading into the mountains along the Trans-Canada, or in our case, the last town before heading home) for a walk around and a small shopping break.  I wouldn't be so pushy to mention this, but Mr. Confessions found a wonderful treasure for me at an antique shop.  Now, since it's dark and the lighting is bad, you will have to wait until daylight when I can take some proper pictures....

Until then and Happy Thanksgiving!
Heather