A visit to the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, about an hour north east of Calgary is also worth a stop. That is if you like dinosaurs ( who doesn’t).
Looks like we're going this year. What's it like, any recommendations for things to do/avoid?
smokepole; Good afternoon my cyber friend, I hope the day's been behaving for you and you're all well.
With the understanding that my post will assume the following:
A) unlimited time B) unlimited budget C) similar tastes to what I might enjoy
Here goes.
Going up:
If you're able to swing west a wee bit, cross on Highway 2 which will take you up past Waterton National Park. Head in and look around as it's very, very pretty.
Continue on up Highway 2 until you reach Fort McLeod which has the old NWMP fort there, as well as the NWMP graveyard where one of the most colorful people in our history, the half Blood NWMP Scout Jerry Potts is buried.
Once you're done there, head west a few minutes and go to Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump which is a UNESCO heritage site and interpretive center run by mostly Blackfoot Confederacy folks.
If it's not too, too late then, we'll head back to Fort McLeod, then west on Highway 3 until you hit Highway 40 which is the Kananaskis Route and it's just been opened up for summer travel.
As someone who has wandered around in mountains all over North America and a wee bit in the Alps in Austria and Switzerland, I'd put the Kananaskis road near the top of the "must see mountain roads" list.
At risk of offending our Montana friends, it equals the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Montana park for jaw dropping beauty.
Once you come out at the 541 Highway, then roll into Calgary.
Do your thing at the Stampede. Bring a hat or buy one there, everyone has one.
The Glenbow Museum in Calgary used to be nothing short of fantastic, but I've not been through there in decades.
You can go up the CN Tower in the middle of Calgary to see around the neighborhood if so inclined.
Going home:
Go back west and hit Banff, which is okay but a sad remnant of what it used to be and a tourist trap, but go there and head up to Jasper. The drive alone again is nothing short of spectacular.
Cross into BC at Valemount and head south on Highway 5 through Blue River, Clearwater and into Kamloops. You're now in rolling sagebrush, BC cattle country at its best and most of the world doesn't know that exists. It's a really pretty drive getting there too.
From Kamloops, there's a fast way and a scenic way down, take your pick, but you could backtrack on Highway 1 and drop down at Golden and head south through Radium, into the Kootenays, so Cranbrook, Creston and then cross into Bonner's Ferry.
Also, you could wander down through more cattle country on Highway 97, hit Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, stop here for a coffee and then cross at Oroville WA.
If I think of more things to see and do or you put up a few parameters for me to follow, I'll do my best.
Until then, then...
Dwayne
Last edited by BC30cal; 01/26/24. Reason: more information
Smokepole: Dwayne pretty much nailed it. Waterton is much less crowded than Banff. Book ahead for any accommodations in the national parks and prepare for sticker shock with the price of accommodations.
The Tyrell Museum in Drumheller is world class as is the Calgary Zoo. Heritage Park is worth a look as well.
I lived in Calgary for 55? Years and avoided the Stampede unless we had out of town guests so I can’t offer much in the way of useful input.
True. And Jim and Tulsi weren't catfishing, they were doing hot yoga.
And drinking PBRs.
Link?
There's a video but I can't distribute it, it's copyrighted. I heard Pabst is going to run it as a commercial during the Super Bowl.
I saw a preview, it was a cameo appearance from Tulsi, all I could see was the top of her head, then looks into the camera for an instant, then go's back to work, Jim seems happy.
In all the years of traveling, especially my younger years traveling across country every summer with grandma and grandpa, the Calgary Stampede is the one thing that I’ve wanted to do but never have.
I hope you take pictures and share your trip with us since I’m sure that there are many guy’s who are interested.
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
Those chuckwagon races look like a blast. My dad and I went to the chariot races in New York and that was fun. I was pretty good at reading the program and handicapping my picks but with the chariot races I was simply guessing. We were at the races the same day OJ Simpson was performing his low speed chase. 😂
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
Just watched a youtube clip of the Chuck Wagon races, WOW, moved me in a way no horse race ever has...
The amazing thing is watching the single or lone riders running with them, the wagons are FAST.....
Must be added to my 'To Do' list.....
It is definitely my favorite event. Most of the horses used for chuckwagon racing are throughbreds that weren't quite good enough for the big-time throughbred racing. A good chuckwagon horse can cost a lot of money.
drover
223 Rem, my favorite cartridge - you can't argue with truckloads of dead PD's and gophers.
24hourcampfire.com - The site where there is a problem for every solution.
Looks like we're going this year. What's it like, any recommendations for things to do/avoid?
smokepole; Good afternoon my cyber friend, I hope the day's been behaving for you and you're all well.
With the understanding that my post will assume the following:
A) unlimited time B) unlimited budget C) similar tastes to what I might enjoy
Here goes.
Going up:
If you're able to swing west a wee bit, cross on Highway 2 which will take you up past Waterton National Park. Head in and look around as it's very, very pretty.
Continue on up Highway 2 until you reach Fort McLeod which has the old NWMP fort there, as well as the NWMP graveyard where one of the most colorful people in our history, the half Blood NWMP Scout Jerry Potts is buried.
Once you're done there, head west a few minutes and go to Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump which is a UNESCO heritage site and interpretive center run by mostly Blackfoot Confederacy folks.
If it's not too, too late then, we'll head back to Fort McLeod, then west on Highway 3 until you hit Highway 40 which is the Kananaskis Route and it's just been opened up for summer travel.
As someone who has wandered around in mountains all over North America and a wee bit in the Alps in Austria and Switzerland, I'd put the Kananaskis road near the top of the "must see mountain roads" list.
At risk of offending our Montana friends, it equals the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Montana park for jaw dropping beauty.
Once you come out at the 541 Highway, then roll into Calgary.
Do your thing at the Stampede. Bring a hat or buy one there, everyone has one.
The Glenbow Museum in Calgary used to be nothing short of fantastic, but I've not been through there in decades.
You can go up the CN Tower in the middle of Calgary to see around the neighborhood if so inclined.
Going home:
Go back west and hit Banff, which is okay but a sad remnant of what it used to be and a tourist trap, but go there and head up to Jasper. The drive alone again is nothing short of spectacular.
Cross into BC at Valemount and head south on Highway 5 through Blue River, Clearwater and into Kamloops. You're now in rolling sagebrush, BC cattle country at its best and most of the world doesn't know that exists. It's a really pretty drive getting there too.
From Kamloops, there's a fast way and a scenic way down, take your pick, but you could backtrack on Highway 1 and drop down at Golden and head south through Radium, into the Kootenays, so Cranbrook, Creston and then cross into Bonner's Ferry.
Also, you could wander down through more cattle country on Highway 97, hit Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, stop here for a coffee and then cross at Oroville WA.
If I think of more things to see and do or you put up a few parameters for me to follow, I'll do my best.
Until then, then...
Dwayne
Dwayne, You have missed your calling my friend. That was a suggested itinerary a professional tour director could be proud of. Your typically pleasant and good natured posts are a breath of fresh air on this site and I’m glad you’re here. You Canucks are my favorite “neighbors”.
I hope you and yours are well and Spring treats you right this year.
I will add a little to Dwayne's post. If you are a rodeo fan,Calgary will host the best Pro Rodeo Cowboys there is, most will be at the NFR in Las Vegas in December. There is one exception, you will see the very best Chuckwagon races during Calgary Stampede. It is an amazing, dazzeling, dangerous event. Try highway 22 from Highway #3( Crowsnest Highway) It is now called the Cowboy Trail. You will see some of the best Grazing land in North America. Big Cow/calf operations with a good chance of seeing wildlife, including Grizzlies. Waterton Park is a Gem, south of this and it blends into Glacier Park / Montana. I rodeo'd but as a amateur...if you follow Rodeo, Calgary pays the Cowboys very well * for any hayseed...Calgary is big , fast and noisy city. Beware and Good Luck
