Banff, AB

We spent a memorable afternoon traveling the iconic Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Banff. It is a stretch of spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery with massive overhanging glaciers, steep avalanche slopes and lakes of stunning turquoise blue. The one photo that I snapped at our picnic spot doesn't come close to capturing the spirit of this landscape. I think it has to be experienced to be believed.

We pulled into Tunnel Mountain Campground and then headed onto the bustling streets of Banff where crowds gather all year long from every place under the sun. There were many British, German and Japanese visitors there when we stopped into Beaver Tails to gorge ourselves on this Canadian delicacy. It is basically a huge piece of fried dough covered in sugar or icing and then sprinkled with your choice of candy toppings. Needless to say, the girls spent the next two hours running around at the playground to burn off the sugar high before bedtime.

We were now back on familiar terrain and the girls were eager to head into Calgary for the long weekend to swap our northern gear for our southern gear before hitting the road again. When we finally arrived, the girls ran through the house calling to each other from their own rooms shouting, "It's sooooo big! Our house is soooo big!" I guess spending three months in a 26 foot trailer can change your perspective on some things. It has certainly shaped ours.