North Dakota Alberta (June & July)
|
In mid-June 2024 my brother and I drove to Canada (with a few sites in North Dakota) and I would stay about a month before I flew back home. It's always a long drive, so we try and find some things to see along the way. In North Dakota, we had the chance (again) to see the world's largest buffalo monument in Jamestown. They built a small old west town around it, making it a little more interesting than just seeing a giant buffalo. Not to be out done, we saw in the town of Steele, the world's largest sandhill crane. That's very specific. Add this to your checklist of North Dakota sites. Once we arrived in Canada, the month I was there was filled with hiking and site seeing. We trekked up Tunnel Mountain to see the overlook of Banff townsite, followed by a stroll around the streets of Banff. Also, near Banff, there were several hikes near Lake Minnewanka. We spent one very early morning going to Moraine Lake before sunrise. While still spectacular, it was a little cloudy. Then we bussed over to walk around Lake Louise (well, walk to the end and back, not actually around it). Driving a little further up the Icefields Parkway, a few stops included Bow Lake and the recently re-opened Peyto Lake. The plan was to be there a month, fly home, then fly back in September. There were lots of small hikes and numerous walks for the month I was there.
|
|---|
Jamestown, North Dakota - Built/born in 1959, home of the world's largest buffalo monument, standing 26 feet (7.9 metres) tall and 46 feet (14 metres) long. |
Steele, North Dakota - Home of the world's largest sandhill crane sculpture, 'Sandy', standing at 40 feet (12.2 metres) tall. |
Steele, North Dakota - Always a good photo tip - 'stand in hole'... |
Bismarck, North Dakota - This explains why I always felt alienated in North Dakota. |
Coutts, Alberta - The town's number 1 tourist attraction. |
Banff, Alberta (Banff NP) - Banff as seen from the top of Tunnel Mountain, Banff's smallest official mountain at 1,684 metres (5,525 feet). |
Banff, Alberta (Banff NP) - The colorful downtown Banff, on Banff Avenue. |
Lake Minnewanka, Alberta (Banff NP) - Just the tip of the 21 kilometre (13 mile) long lake. |
Moraine Lake, Alberta (Banff NP) - There at sunrise, a little cloudy to see all of the 10 peaks. |
Lake Louise, Alberta (Banff NP) - Usually crowded, it is best to be there early (or when there is no one else there). |
Bow Lake, Alberta (Banff NP) - Bow Lake is on the Bow River and near Bow Glacier and the Bow Summit, well wrap me up and tie me with a ribbon. |
Peyto Lake, Alberta (Banff NP) - I should have worn my color coordinated blue shirt. |