We went to Canada for our five year anniversary in January. Yep, we were the weirdos that got married in January haha. But we love Canada and I hadn’t ever taken a proper wintery mountain trip. We came once in the summer the year we got married so it was cool to see how different it looked in the winter. Flights were really cheap from Cleveland to Calgary so win win! We arrived at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in the evening after a long but beautiful drive. We LOVED this lodge, the service was phenomenal, everything was comfortable and cozy and there was a fun free activity available everyday. Workout classes, smore stations, ice skating, awesome live music every night. We of course chose a record cold week of weather so we spent a lot of time reading fireside & enjoying the hot tub. We did little drives & one hike at Maligne Canyon on a “warmer” day haha. One day was -26 F, for real. We’re used to cold in Ohio but not that cold. I would still come back here in a heartbeat in the winter because the lodge was that great. You have the whole place to yourself & its cheaper! The staff said they call it “secret season”.

The second half of the trip we spent in Yoho National Park in British Columbia. On our drive there we stopped at Abraham Lake which is famous for its ice bubbles in the winter, it’s worth a stop if you have time. Yoho is just as beautiful but our experience was a little dampened by where we stayed. The Emerald Lake Lodge is really pretty & in an amazing location but I wouldn’t stay here in the winter. Summer could be ok but there would still be issues. There is a lot I could complain about but I already wrote my online reviews. If you’re out there stop by the lodge for a drink and check out the views & super cute boutique along the lake close by. If I could do it again I would stay in Field at Truffle Pigs Lodge & Bistro (if it’s winter, summer I’d always want to camp or do a remote little cabin). We went there twice to eat because it was so good. Overall it was a gorgeous trip & we had a wonderful time. (first section of photos is film I shot & the rest are iphone)

Where to Eat & Drink

Jasper: Jasper Park Lodge, Kimchi House, Earls Kitchen & Bar

Banff: Banff Ave Brewing Co.

Yoho: Truffle Pigs Lodge & Bistro, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (not in Yoho but close), The Siding Café

What we did

lots of reading, hot tubbing, scenic drives

ice skating

Maligne Canyon Hike

window shopping in downtown Banff

drive at night & stargaze

tea at Chateau Lake Louise (make a reservation!)