A Tale of Two Tea Houses

[trip style = active + adventure]

{Editor's Note :: I just got home from Alberta where I hiked high into the Canadian Rockies, and then descended into the Province's flatlands for the Greatest Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede. Drop by Trip Styler on Thursday for FULL ON Stampede coverage---including bull riding and deep-fried butter! I'm also going to be chatting with Jill Krop about "Stampede after the storm" on this Thursday's edition of AM/BC between 9-10 am on Shaw-subscriber channel 21 (216 for HD)}.

I can't walk, bike or drive into Banff National Park without tearing up. Nature; it's everywhere in high def, except the 'reel'---ok, real---version is accompanied by gusts of glacial air, mist from mountain streams, and marmot whistles as you walk into their territory.

Last week's trip took me into Lake Louise {above}, Canada's most photographed body of water. Sporting a shade of aqua-blue---bluer than the Caribbean Sea---Lake Louise is wilderness perfection, reflecting Victoria Glacier in a glamorous mirror-effect.

As gorgeous as Lake Louise is, she's only the beginning of Banff National Park's beauty. If you go---and I implore you to do so---carve out some time for a wallop of Canadian wow-factor on a trip style = luxury hiking adventure. Starting at the base of Lake Louise, venture sky-high for a spot of tea to one or both of Banff's alpine tea houses: vintage, wooden cabins serving tea and biscuits---sans electricity!---to hungry hikers during summer.

Here are the details: The hiking path to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House. A 5.5 km climb that took us about an hour from the base of Lake Louise.

Views hiking to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House.

The Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, built in 1927 by two Swiss guides for the Canadian Pacific Railway. There is no electricity or running water. Food is made daily on propane stoves. Supplies are brought up once a season by helicopter, and replenished regularly on horseback, or by staff who walk up with loads on foot. Cash only. Open during summer.

About to have a spot of HIGH---2100 meters high---tea.

Suggested: vanilla rooibos Tea.

Tibetan prayer flags strung from the second floor balcony.

Oh, "high."

Strolling toward tea No. 2 at Lake Agnes Tea House, a 5 km hike from the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House.

Lake Agnes Tea House. A wide, well-trodden trail gradually climbs 3.5 kms from Lake Louise to Lake Agnes. You can also reach it via the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, and vice versa. Open 9:00 am - 6:00 pm June -September/9:30 am - 5:30 pm September-early October. Cash only. At the top, try the gooey-good mountain bar, a mix of chocolate, coconut, seeds, marshmallow and craisins atop a graham cracker crust.

View from the Lake Agnes Tea House.

[photos by Trip Styler, taken as a guest of Tourism Alberta. AS ALWAYS, I only write about stuff that sends me head over heals.]

Enter to Win :: A West Coast Weekend Away

[trip style = spa + active & adventure + luxury + beach + weekend getaway]

{Editor's Note: Tourism Ucluelet recently contacted me with a trip that was too good not to share. In partnership with Trip Styler, they are offering a trip style = weekend getaway including a three-night stay, a spa gift certificate and surf lessons! See below for details.}

Update June 24, 2013, 6.35pm: Congrats Bridget Clifford. According to Random.org, you have been chosen to win this sand, surf and spa package in Uclelet, BC. You have been contacted via email and have two days to claim your prize.

One of my VERY accomplished travel writing friends recently told me Vancouver Island's west coast is his favorite place on earth. In the spirit of sharing my GORGEOUS backyard with you, I implore you to check out this sand, spa and surf giveaway to that very locale, Ucluelet.

The Goods {a $1000 value}

• Three-night stay at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in a Studio Suite. Black Rock Resort is perched at the edge of the Pacific Ocean in a centuries-old rainforest. Suites offer a magical perspective of Vancouver Island’s wild west coast.
• $100 gift certificate to Nurture Day Spa, an Aveda Spa merging plant-based skin and body care products with the art of high-touch experience customized to your specific skin and body care needs.
• Surf lesson and complimentary rentals for two at Relic Surf Shop and School, offering a wilderness surfing experience in Pacific Rim National Park.

How to Enter Comment on this post and tell us your favorite way to spend a three-day weekend, via the "leave a comment" link below. *You MUST comment on this post for a chance to win. Along with the below bonus entries, you have up to three chances to win.

Bonus entry 1. Go to Trip Styler's Instagram, find this contest's post, and regram it per the instructions. Bonus entry 2. Tweet this: Enter to win a 3-day surf n spa weekend via @Travel_Ucluelet + @tripstyler -> Enter: http://tiny.cc/TSUcl #TSUcluelet #UclueletXCanada

Details Open to residents of Canada and the USA 21 years or older. Entries will be accepted June 10 - 24 {until 5pm}, 2013. Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced at the top of THIS POST on June 24, 2013. After prizing notification is sent via email, the winner has two days to make contact, or the prize will be given to another entrant.

PS - To get to Ucluelet, fly to the Tofino airport from Vancouver, or go by boat from the Horseshoe Bay BC Ferries terminal—a half hour outside of downtown Vancouver—and drive onto the 1.5-hour car ferry bound for Departure Bay, Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Once in Nanaimo, follow the signs for Tofino/Ucluelet, a 2.5-hour drive away.

[photos by tourism ucluelet]

From Sea to Sky

[trip style = luxury + active & adventure]

{Editor's Note :: At this very moment I'm in Whistler testing a new and splashy luxe package offered by the Pan Pacific Whistler. Flying in and out by seaplane is on the menu, as is two nights in a one-bedroom suite complete with kitchen, walk-out balcony, WiFi, daily breakfast, lunch at Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub, bike rental and dinner at one of many local restaurants like Alta Bistro. The details (package available until Sept 29, 2013). Rates for two start at $1,138. I'm micro-blogging about the experience as I go, so check out Whistler and check in with me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Vine.}

I was recently researching a story for Fodor's on the most beautiful road trips in Canada, and the Sea-to-Sky stretch between Vancouver and Whistler came up in a ton of publications. Hugging granite cliffs, the road winds through ancient forests and practically kisses the sea. And don't even get me started on the glacial vistas---there's a reason there are so many roadside viewpoints.

Yesterday I took the same journey from an alternate near-angelic angle. Boarding a 14-seat seaplane in Vancouver, I literally traveled from sea to sky above the namesake highway. Cresting at cloud level, the seaplane floated at the top of peaks so sculpted and white, they appeared as though they were decorated by the Cake Boss using a fancy frosting tool.

Flying low above glaciers giving way to deep green valleys divided by frothy slivers (aka. raging rivers), Canada's wild took on a whole new point of view. Pairing this journey with a luxe weekend is the icing-formed peaks on the cake.

Trip Styler Tip :: You can enter to win this Fly-In/Fly-Out Package here (just click on the contest tab). The contest closes Sunday, May 26.

Vancouver's Harbour Air Terminal

Video - Taking off from Vancouver

Video - Landing in Whistler

Pan Pacific Village Centre Lobby {Note: there are two Pan Pacific properties in Whistler}

Video - My room at the Pan Pacific Village Centre

[Photos by @tripstyler, taken while as a guest of Pan Pacific Whistler. See my 'view' on what I write about here.]

SUP n SIP

[trip style = weekend getaway + active & adventure + wine tasting]

This past weekend started at 6.09pm with this inviting vista {above}. My little family of 2.5 drove to Osoyoos, one of BC's longtime summertime sizzlers {read: lake + wine country} to visit our friends, as well as SUP and SIP.

SUP and SIP is something our friends developed for their stand-up paddling company, 3 Phase Adventures, headquartered in Osoyoos. Think of it like wine tasting with a calorie-burning twist!

From LaStella winery's beach {yes, rows of grapes run from the hill down to Osoyoos Lake}, we embarked on a leisurely paddle ending on the winery's Italianate terrace sipping wine, talking La Dolce Vita and overlooking vines. Future Saturdays may have trouble measuring up.

Here's a short video which sums it up: {Can't view this video?}

PS - looking for a place to stay in the sun-soaked area? I recommend the Villas at Hester Creek.

[photo and video by @tristyler]

Road Trip :: Tennessee To Texas

[trip style = sightseeing + urban]

The USA's South has been calling my name for an eternity, so when I got the chance to strum my own Southern tune, I jumped onto the y'all express. Destination: Tennessee and Texas! My road trip started in Nashville last Wednesday, took me into Memphis on the weekend, on a 10-hour fried food-filled journey to Austin {where I am right now}, and will wrap in San Antonio on Wednesday. More on each destination in the coming weeks, but for now here's a few photos. Jump on the bandwagon via TS's Instagram {no promises, but I'm *hoping* to photograph fried pie}.

[photos by @tripstyler]