16 Photos That Will Make You Want To Explore Canada

One of my favorite things about being in the travel writing community is meeting people from all over different parts of the world. It’s great to have friends that can show you around the areas where they live and recommend some of the best spots to visit. The Banff National Park area of Canada has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember so, when my friend Sarah (from Solo Mom Takes Flight) invited me to come visit her in Calgary, you can bet I booked my flight and packed my bags just as soon as I got the chance! Thanks to Sarah’s hospitality and phenomenal tour guide skills I was able to see this unbelievably beautiful part of Canada. It far exceeded anything I had dreamed it would be and, I got to see it with a friend, which made the experience all the more wonderful. I know it may sound cliché but I really could not believe what I was seeing.

Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake and Emerald Lake (which is about an hour away from Banff in Yoho National Park) are breathtakingly gorgeous. The mountains and crystal blue glacier water are truly magnificent; Mother Nature’s artwork at it’s finest! And then there’s the wildlife… I mean, I’m practically a member of a herd of Elk with as close as I was to them. They weren’t actually fans of uninvited guests though so I kept my distance and enjoyed their presence while hiding behind some trees. I also had the chance to visit Kicking Horse Mountain and meet Boo, the resident Grizzly Bear who makes his home at the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge. It won’t come as a surprise that Boo is also not a fan of unexpected guests. If you ever hear a grizzly bear growl you will quickly find out just how fast you can run; even when they’re in a secure enclosure it’s not a sound you want to hear…. trust me on this! So, here are just a few photos from my trip that will make you want to explore Canada:

MORAINE LAKE

Lakeshore at Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake

WILDLIFE

Boo – Resident Grizzly at Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge

Fairmont Banff Springs – Banff National Park

Banff National Park – Fairmont Banff Springs

Fairmont Banff Springs – Banff National Park

LAKE LOUISE

Lake Louise

Dock at Lake Louise

Lake Louise

PEYTO LAKE

Peyto Lake

CROWFOOT GLACIER

Crowfoot Glacier

EMERALD LAKE

Canoeing on Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake

View of Emerald Lake Lodge

Emerald Lake Lodge

Have you ever traveled to Canada? What was your favorite area to visit? I’m headed back there this week for the Women In Travel Summit and will be exploring Quebec City and will also be making a quick stop in Montreal. I’m looking forward to returning to this amazing Country!

***A version of this post originally appeared on She’s On The Go***

***All photos are the property of the publisher and may not be used without consent***