The Whistler Mountaineer

ATV Waffle Sunrise Tour

My Favourite Town Banff

On the 14^th of June, I jetted off on the Canada Specialist Travel Agent Famil. We flew Air New Zealand, the service is excellent and the food was great. We arrive in Vancouver a little tired but ready to start what I can only describe as a trip of a lifetime. We start our trip with a relaxing train trip to Whistler onboard the Whistler Mountaineer, there are two classes the Classic coach and the Glacier Dome. I went in the Glacier Dome the main difference is the windows are a lot bigger for you to see all of the amazing scenery. The Whistler Mountaineer served a beautiful two course Champagne breakfast.

When you hear of Whistler, you mainly think of it as a Ski resort. Whistler is open all year round and in the summer, there is a range of different activities such as Hiking, Mountain Bike Riding, and so much more one of the highlights of this trip for me was the ATV Waffle Sunrise Tour. We were all on Quad Bikes riding up the mountain for a hot Waffle Breakfast and then back down the mountain with a full stomach. This was a lot of fun I saw my first Mountain Bear on the ride. In winter, you can do the same tour with Snowmobile's instead of Quad bikes. We head back to Vancouver for another day where we get to see all the highlights on a City Tours such as Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension bridge. The first 4 days in British Columbia were amazing now it is time to check out Alberta.

We fly to Calgary on Westjet, which is one of Canada's low budget airlines similar to Virgin Blue.

The Canadian Rockies... need I say more. The most spectacular scenery large snow top mountains with beautiful blue lakes this is the view I had out the window of the bus. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, you see it on adds and brochures and to see it in real life takes your breathe away there is no doubt about it the hotel is beautiful and the Lake is the main attraction. My Favourite place of all was Banff, a small town surrounded by Mountains a cute main street with shops and pubs the town has a great atmosphere, which makes you want to stay longer. Banff is also home to the famous Banff Springs Hotel another Fairmont property. Words cannot describe the hotel it looks like a castle surrounded in pine trees. We Visited the Columbia Icefields and walked on a Glacier with the depth of 1000 feet and we took a scenic helicopter flight through the Rockies. This Day was my Favourite

I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to see Canada and I know I will go back again.

Sarah

saraht@australiazootravel.com.au