We were graced with a visit from Kyle & Bea, two of the Kiwis we journeyed closest with while in New Zealand. It was wonderful having these two kind, familiar souls in our presence again, and we relished this chance to introduce them to the province of Alberta.
We concluded that the heartbeat of Alberta is truly not felt without a trip to the majestic Rockies. Thus, we packed our weekenders and hopped into our trusty Corolla for an alpine escapade (or two).
Bound for Banff, we made a brief stop in Canmore for a nourishing bite at Communitea, and took a quick stroll around the town to take in the alpine charm and enjoy the balmy temperatures.
Never having seen the mountains before, our friend Bea was ecstatic. It was beautiful to hear Bea’s ecstatic exclamations in her adorable Kiwi accent.
Banff showed us her best side, lighting up with ideal conditions for our alpine escapades.
Temperatures were just below zero, with moments of sunshine and moments of hazy skies where clouds hovered lazily over the towering peaks. As icing on the cake, some timely light snow fell while we were basking in the warmth of the Banff Upper Hot Springs, making it appear to our friends that Canada could just not get any better.
Our Banff recommendations include:
White Bark Cafe for coffee & breakfast
The Block Kitchen & Bar for dinner & drinks
Scenic lookout on the road up to Mt. Norquay
We wouldn’t let these dear Kiwis depart Alberta without some alpine skiing across the Red Deer plains… which they were naturals at.
Well done, Alberta! Way to show off for our guests.
As our friends make their journey back to the Land of the Long White Cloud, we feel grateful for the many moments shared and memories made together on Alberta soil. Kyle & Bea, we commend you on a Canadian chapter of your lives beautifully and fully lived. We are proud of you for following your dreams, and bless you as you return to NZ and explore ideas and possibilities of what this next chapter of life will hold. xx
(A big thanks to Kyle for capturing several of the shots featured in this post!)