There are so many choices to make for a family vacation such as theme parks, cruises, or resorts. This is a family experience that will always be remembered and treasured. Trying something new and different is what this package is all about. From snowshoeiing, to ice canyon walks, to cross country skiing, to dog sledding. Stay just outside the national park of Banff in a lovely resort that feels more like home in Canmore.

Day 1
Welcome to Alberta! Once you have picked up your luggage proceed to the Budget rent-a-car desk. Canmore is only 1.5 hours drive from Calgary’s International Airport and 5 minutes east of Banff National Park (20 minutes to the town site of Banff). Definitely a town for all seasons, Canmore moves effortlessly from season to season and you can be as laid back and casual as you like, or as active and engaged as you desire. Many feature films have been shot in the Canmore area, including Brokeback Mountain, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Open Range, The Edge, Legends of the Fall, Shanghai Noon, Mystery Alaska, Snow Dogs, the pilot episode of Everwood, and others.

Day 2
Wake up to the cool, crisp, clear air of the Rockies! Today we have scheduled two unique adventures for you. The first is snowshoeing. Traditional snow shoes, snow capped mountains, copious amounts of deep powdered snow, and a 360 degree panorama of breathtaking scenery! A great group or family activity as we meander through the silent forest following tracks of coyote, lynx, cougar, snow shoe hare and signs of other animals! What makes this different is you will explore areas of the Rockies where the crowds don’t go! Enjoy these immaculate sights through new eyes! Next is the Ice Canyon Walk. Just ten minutes from downtown Canmore, the trailhead for the Grotto Canyon Ice experience awaits. It is a casual 20 minute approach on either foot or snowshoe to the canyon entrance, at which point the guides will assist with kitting up your “Ice-Cleats”. The journey into the canyon is an amazing experience. You will travel over the canyon floor which is a polished sheet of wall to wall ice rising from the subterranean flow or spring which freezes, flows, and freezes again and again until it covers the canyon floor. Your guides will offer an aboriginal interpretive experience, providing information relative to the flora and fauna as well as the human and natural history. It is possible to see ancient rock art that dates back many thousands of years.

Day 3
Canmore was host to the Nordic events during the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Today we have scheduled you for a cross country ski lesson and then a guided tour on one of the many trails. After your lesson and guided tour, you might want to continue on your own by picking another trail. The guides will assist you with making a good choice.

Day 4
Today is a great day to take a drive to Lake Louise and Banff. No trip to the Rockies is complete without visiting these two icons. One highly recommended activity that everyone enjoys is ice skating on Lake Louise. At the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise you can rent skates and enjoy a couple of hours on the frozen lake with incredible views of the hotel, mountains, and glacier. We have included a one hour horse drawn sleigh ride for you today. Departure times vary by day and reservations must be made in advance. This evening on your drive back to Canmore, stop at the town of Banff to enjoy this quaint town for dinner and some shopping. You can find it all on Banff Ave., or perhaps you may wish to visit the famous Fairmont Banff Springs, the castle in the Rockies.

Day 5
It’s a dog day today! We saved what might be considered the best for last. These dogs are anticipating their workload today! This is one of the oldest methods of transportation on the North American continent. You will be guided along the enchanting streams and forest trails descending to secluded Goat Pond - a 10km back country adventure that takes about one hour. In the majestic setting of the small lake, you'll find yourself transported to another dimension as you will take a break for photos and refreshments, with the majestic mountain landscape as a backdrop. On the return, participants, including children who may have initially felt hesitant, will be offered the opportunity to "drive" and be a “musher” of your dog team. This adventure just howls of fun and enjoyment! Your afternoon and evening are free to explore the area on your own.

Day 6
Allow a little extra time to return to the Calgary Airport to drop off your car and get yourself checked in for your flight home. We hope you have enjoyed your visit to Canmore, Alberta for an experience that will always be cherished in your heart!

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TOUR INCLUSIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS

Guaranteed departures
5 nights accomodations at the Falcon Crest in Canmore
Budget full size car for 6 days with unlimited miileage
Snowshoeing instruction and tour
Ice Canyon Walk
Cross Country Ski lessons, equipment and trail tour
Horse drawn sleigh ride in Lake Louise
2 hour dog sledding tour
Hotel taxes & GST as applicable
Maps and destination information
Additional Information

Tour is available between December 1, 2009 and April 15, 2010
Package offered daily
Departure dates on or within the seasons shown will determine the price
Rates are land only and in US Dollars, per person, double occupancy
Airfares from most US cities is available, please ask our staff for assistance

The Falcon Crest Lodge
If you are searching for luxurious mountain accommodations located within minutes of Banff National Park, the Falcon Crest Lodge in Canmore offers the perfect setting for your next Rocky Mountain Retreat. Your mountain adventures begin at the Falcon Crest Lodge. Only a five minute drive to Banff National Park, the hotel is also just a short walk from downtown Canmore.

Located in Canmore, Alberta, the Falcon Crest Lodge is approximately a 1.5 hour drive from the Calgary International Airport and is only minutes away from the Banff National Park Gates. (Approx 20 minute drive to the Town of Banff) Nestled in the Majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains, and surrounded by 5 World Class Ski and Golf Resorts, your recreational opportunities are endless.

The Falcon Crest Lodge offers many accommodation features not normally found at “regular hotels”. Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by a friendly and helpful team of staff who are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you may have and to assist in planning a memorable stay while in the Canmore Area.

All of the luxurious rooms feature granite counters, pillow-top mattresses, warm fluffy duvets, and a 27 inch cable television with DVD player, AM/FM Radio and CD Player, Gas Fireplace, Kitchenette, and even a Gas Barbeque on your deck or patio! Accommodations also feature our new spa-inspired bathroom amenity package, “Aqua Suffusion.” All of your senses will agree that the Falcon Crest Lodge is the place to stay in Canmore.