Birthday Celebration #whererockies
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from this trip. I kept thinking about how quiet and solitude my birthday trip would be.
I walked to the airport anxious and unsure of what to expect. I imagined a million things that could go wrong. After having a few drinks, I was ready to fly out with my friend and make our way to Calgary, Canada.
Two hours later…
When my friend and I got to Calgary, I didn’t realize how vibrant the city was. It reminded me of a metropolitan city with lots of food and high-end boutique stores. It reminded me of home, and I liked it.
Day 1
Our first night in Calgary was wild, we watched the first Warriors game at a hole in a wall bar, and we met an Indian Blackfoot and an Anarchist all in one night.
The US dollar is strong here. Everything in Canada was lower, we were getting a bang for our buck. A regular Canadian meal was $12, in American money, that’s about $9.
Good Friends + Food + Drinks = A Good Time
We laughed, made jokes, and made new friends. When we were walking back to our hotel, the sun was still up – it was about 10:44 pm. I was shocked to see the sun still up when it was supposed to be night time. I had to cover all the windows in my room so the sun wouldn’t shine through. Yet, I still slept like a baby.
Day 2
The next day we rented a car and drove to Banff National Park. We hike 2 hours uphill on an endless and very long hill. I had to stop about 7 times to catch my breath. On a positive note, we got our Camelbak to hydrate us. When we finally got there, the view was stunning. The top of the hill was a four-story interactive museum that held Banff’s history.
I was geeking out and read every panel and played with a few wildlife games. They also had 2 cafes and one restaurant that overlooks the Canadian Rockies. I was so happy. I bought a Canadian Rocky book and a few souvenirs, something for my memory to hold on to.
We even got to discover Downtown Banff, and it was adorable. It reminded me of a really nice ski town like Aspen or Vail. Every store was similar to a Patagonia to North Face ski shop combined with an aroma of fresh mountain air.
Day 3-4
The next day we headed to Jasper National Park, we saw the glacier lake, Mistaya Canyon, and explored Jasper downtown. The town was vibrant and filled with mountaineers and hikers alike. It was similar to another Banff Downtown but 5 hours up north.
Day 5
On the end of our day, we drove back and had our windows down and listened to the wind. At one point we were experiencing many micro climate changes all at once. We saw the rain, snow, and sun all within 4 hours. We even saw 2 black bears.
Going back home was difficult, just thinking about leaving this place broke my heart.
Canada was a truly blissful experience, and one of a kind. If you’re looking for a cheap experience in the great outdoors I highly recommend Banff, Alberta. Being outdoors made my heart so happy. I think I’m a mountain girl at heart.
What to pack
- Tanktops
- Shorts
- Flowy Dress
- Jacket
- Workout Leggings
- HAT
- Sunscreen
- Selfie Stick
- Camera
- Walking Shoes
Packing was fairly easy. Just your usual packing list. You just need to bring your workout clothes and maybe some nightlife clothes to change into. Make sure to bring lots of water and chapstick.
