We saved some of the best experiences for last during our family summer trip to Banff, Alberta.
I intentionally kept our last day as a blank slate when planning the itinerary.
At the advice of a local, we spent the day exploring Yoho National Park, located an hour drive from the town of Banff.
Our first stop was Takkakaw Falls. At 373 m, it is the second tallest waterfall in Canada.
The uphill drive through the woods was calming and we were blessed with beautiful weather.
From the parking lot, it was a 30-minute and 1.5 km hike to the falls on a flat well-maintained trail.
We stopped at scenic lookouts and I still laugh at our fearless pest, photobombing his Daddy by not-so-safely crawling across the front of this bridge above the rushing river.
It was cooler as we neared the Falls and its refreshing mist.
What a beauty.
Our next stop was the stunning blue-green Emerald Lake, a 30-minute drive from the falls.
The bonus was that we got to canoe, an activity we lamented not doing at Moraine Lake.
The canoe rental shop was also cheaper compared to the more well-known Moraine Lake.
As we were lining up at the canoe rental place, I struck up a conversation with a couple from Florida, pictured above.
The wife had asked if we had adopted T as one of her sons was gay and looking to start a family.
She shared that two of her sons were adopted and from what she shared, I wouldn't be surprised if they also had FASD or a similar diagnosis.
The conversation reminded me my family is part of a larger community. We're not alone in this.
We had the canoe for an hour and it was enough time to circle the breathtaking lake.
It felt so amazing being surrounded by blue-green water and dwarfed by snow-capped mountains.
But wait, there's more!
On our way out of Emerald Lake, we stopped by the Natural Bridge, a natural rock formation that spans the Kicking Horse River.
We let T explore as we enjoyed the calming sound of the water and the refreshing breeze.
I love this photo below of T standing on the solid bridge looking out to the rushing river as it's a symbol of grit against life's turbulence.
T spotted many dogs during our trip. Most owners let T play with their dogs.
This photo below with this beautiful husky was my favourite from our trip.
After a busy day, we relaxed at our hotel and took a short late afternoon nap.
For our final night, the hubby and I treated ourselves to a steak dinner, as Alberta is reputed for its superb beef.
The steak dinner and the sides of grilled mushrooms and truffle Mac and Cheese were yum.
We enjoyed one final sunset walk along Banff Avenue, feeling grateful for our time here.
When we got back to the hotel, I noticed this lovely note below that T had written, unprompted, for the staff while the hubby and I were napping.
Yes, we had annoying and disregulated moments during our trip with T, but as this note reminded me, he is a pure and kind child at his core.
A positive way to end our final evening in Banff.
Explore our Banff Trip
No comments:
Post a Comment