The High Feather: A Trip To Banff, Canada

If you've ever wondered where postcard pictures or the scenery on the pages of National Geograhic Magazine originates; look no further than Banff, Canada. Home to the Canadian Rockies and lakes where the color is such a beautiful shade of blue pantone gets jealous, this national park has plenty of activities to keep your A-D-D at bay. Here's some of my favorites:

1. Canoe on Lake Louise or Moraine Lake.

Don't be intimidated if it's a chilly day....it was actually warmer on the water than on land when we trekked out on our canoe. The Fairmont Lake Louise boat house rents the canoes and it is $55 CAD for half an hour.

Does it get any more outrageously gorge?

The view from the hike just to the right of the "facilities" in the parking lot of Moraine Lake. No need to climb up the rock pile as you will see many doing...the hike from the parking lot takes you to the top. (Lesson learned the hard way!) Although we did our canoeing at Lake Louise..either lake is picturesque with unbelievable hues of turquoise water.

2. Hike Johnston Canyon.

This is the first waterfall you will come to called the "Lower Falls."

Looking down over the Upper Falls. Once you've seen this view of the waterfall....the real decision has to be made...to ink pot or not. The trek to the ink pots from this point took a solid hour just to reach, so you're looking at 2 hours round trip just to get back to this upper fall location.

The trail to the ink pots is up hill for the first half and then down hill for the last half. The pots do have that out of this world water color but if you're not into long hikes don't worry you'll catch the same color combo at the Lakes.

3. Banff Gondola