October 2021

Bella!! Where have you been loca?!

I honestly have to say that travelling within Canada has been nothing but eye opening. It's actually crazy to know that there are many beautiful cities and locations to visit right at our fingertips, but we still romanticize travelling across the ocean for new views. I can definitely continue travelling around Canada and seeing all the new sights that have yet to be explored.

P.S. after a weekend in the rain in Vancouver, I can definitely say I would rather live in rainy climate than one with snow. At least with rain, my nose doesn't get runny!

Kitsilano Beach

Okay, when I tell you that this is the cutest little walk that's so close to the boardwalk in Banff National Park, I'm not lying. It honestly felt like we were looking at the Apple Macbook stock backgrounds. The beginning of the hike is absolutely breathtaking (and very easy to walk through) and the bridges you pass give you the best views of the mountains! Then you get introduced to the Nature Art Walk, which is filled with long and tall trees, the river and ends with a magnificent waterfall, but let me warn you, it does get difficult 10 minutes into the hike. Talk about stairs on stairs on stairs!

Downtown Vancouver

Everyone raves about Lake Louise, but let me tell you that this detour to Moraine Lake (which is on the way to Lake Louise) was one of the best decisions we ever made. The water is so blue (and a lot more calmer than Lake Louise) and the hike is absolutely gorgeous. It's an easy walk around the lake and you get a gorgeous view of the mountains.

There's also a rock pile - which fun fact, is actually the Rocky Mountains - that you can hike up. Now this hike is something that's worth doing, despite how breathless you get while getting to the top and the narrow steps up with a busy crowd. The view of the lake will take your breath away! Definitely worth the trip, just make sure you go early in the day.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

This one was specifically a stop for my Julie and the Phantoms peeps, because honestly? How could I not go to one of the most iconic filming locations in the show?! From "we're playing the orpheum baby!" to "just wait until tonight man when this place gets packed with record execs!" It's crazy to think that the show that I binge-watched for three months on an intentional repeat was a place I could stand in front of and say I saw in person!

If you haven't watched this show, it's a Netflix musical directed by the one and only Kenny Ortega (who you know, did the iconic Hocus Pocus and High School Musical movies, just to name a few). It's funny because when it was first released, I thought it was a kids show - and to be fair, it was aimed at kids show - but 16-30 year olds all over the world fell in love with the soundtrack, the storyline and the cast!

Definitely give it a watch - the soundtrack will get stuck in your head!

Stanley Park

The photos you see online about Lake Louise do not add up to how beautiful it looks in person. We kept wondering if it was real, if the water was actually that blue. Yes. Yes it was.

We took the easy walk towards the Glaciers, but didn't actually make it to the Glacier because we found a cute little hideaway at the end of the lake. Although it is a classic place to visit when in Alberta, it should 100% be on your list of places to visit. Though you definitely want to go early in the day otherwise you will not find parking and will be turned away.

Granville Island

This drive is unbelievable. With all the stops you can make on the side of the road and the views you have? It's absolutely breathtaking. It is only a 3 hour round-trip drive (because let's be honest, you'll stop everywhere on the way there, and just drive straight back!) and you have to add this to your itinerary. P.S. you don't have to do the glacier walk that the town offers, you can just drive to the parking lot and walk to the toe of the glacier! But, I'll be honest when I say you definitely need warmer jackets because it gets cold!

It's safe to say that by the end of the trip, my ankles and calves were absolutely tired. There's still so much more to discover in Banff and Alberta, and I can't wait to go back and visit!