by Alice Griffin - Keramay

Created on: January 23, 2007   Last Updated: May 07, 2007

Driving out of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway you are immediately hit with the awe-inspiring site of the Canadian Rockies looming ahead. It's hard to concentrate on driving when all you want to do is stare, but somehow during my trip I managed to keep my eye on the road as well as on the scenery. This might have more to do with the fact that as I left the relative comfort of Calgary I was gripping my steering wheel very tightly wondering what lay ahead for me on the drive to my first stop, Banff.

Having spent a few days kicking around Calgary checking out the cowboy hats and boots in cold, but not completely freezing January conditions, this next leg was a part of the trip that both thrilled me, and scared me. I had asked a number of people about the drive to Banff and Lake Louise, followed by the longer stretch to Jasper and had been met with many a look of fear and talk of don't let anyone make you drive fast', take it easy when you are going around bends', take a thermos and a blanket', are you doing it alone?' but maybe it was the hire car man who expressed complete fear for this young woman heading off in a car, which was not the most ideal for snow conditions (it was cheaper!) that really put the fear of god in me. I don't know, but as I gripped my steering wheel I think it would be fair to say that my levels of panic where slightly higher than they would have been had I been driving to my local shop.

As always happens the first leg wasn't quite as bad as I had been anticipating and was a relatively smooth 1-hour journey through some amazing scenery with only a sprinkling of snow on amazingly quiet roads. As I took the Banff turning I appreciated that quietness as I ended up on the wrong side of the road having clearly left my brain in England. I spent a few nights at the Banff International Hotel, which was absolutely lovely, but following a ride on the Happy Bus' that trundles up and down Banff Avenue and includes a drop at the Banff Springs Hotel, I was wishing I were more accustomed to the finer things in life. If you want a memorable stay in this beautiful town then this has to be the place to park your suitcase. Standing looking up at it surrounded by snow-capped firs you simply can't help but be captivated I almost imagined Rapunzels hair to be flowing elegantly from one of the windows; this is most definitely a fairy-tale style stay in the mountains. Heading inside is even better; with a massive outdoor hot tub and a maze of boutique shops

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