Having talked about day trips to the south and the west of Calgary earlier in the summer, today we'll touch on some places to the west.

It goes without saying that a drive to the mountains makes for a great day trip. Banff National Park, with the townsites of Banff and beautiful Lake Louise, are only a few hours away. This coming Sunday, August 19th, Doors Open Banff offers an opportunity to look inside some heritage homes and buildings.

Of course, there are a host of good hikes in the park. Going up to the tea house at Lake Louise is a perennial favorite. One of my personal favorites is the walk up Johnston Canyon, though I have never gone as far as the Inkpots.

Banff from Sulphur Mountain

Be sure not to bypass Canmore, an interesting destination with lots to see and do any time of year. Below, several of our staff members share hikes starting near Canmore that they have enjoyed.

1. Somewhere I love going for a day trip is the Canmore Nordic Centre. They have a number of paved paths as well as some gravel and dirt paths. During the summer it is completely free (and dog friendly) and is really good for rollerblading, bike riding and walking. I am often up there training for Biathlon and it is a very popular spot for bikers. It is nice because it is only about an hour drive from NW Calgary and is beautiful! Also, you don’t have to pay the Banff park pass and you still get to be in the mountains!

Thought I would share my favorite place!

Jill

2. My vote for my favourite place to visit is a day trip to Grassi Lakes which is up behind the town of Canmore on the road leading to the Nordic Centre. The hike is doable for a wide range of ages and abilities and offers more reward:effort than just about any hike I know locally. It features scenic outlooks including a cascading waterfall, 2 very showy species of orchids (Calypso and Ladyslipper) and the most beautifully coloured ponds (2) at the top. Of further interest are some petroglyphs reportedly `1,000 years old, up above the higher of the two lakes. You can also take in Canmore which is a bit touristy but still features some good eating/coffee stops. Best of all, it’s only an hour from downtown Calgary!

Mark

Grassi Lake

Going a little further afield, Carole shares a favorite destination.

3. Marble Canyon is about 6 kms into BC, if you take the Hwy 1/93 turnoff heading towards Radium. It only takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit and is breathtaking. An easy climb for most people, including children and seniors. The trail is an interpretive one. There’s a picnic site and washrooms at the base, so it’s a lovely destination for a picnic followed by a brief excursion. One of my favourite places for visitors who are of varying ages and have limited energy.

To find more about the history along the highway between Calgary and Lake Louise, check out Kathryn Manry's West on one : the stories behind the scenery : fascinating facts, stories and pictures along the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary to Lake Louise.

Find out more about visiting and hiking in the Rockies through these great guidebooks;

Several of our staff members enjoy this less-well known park just north of Calgary.

The best thing about Big Hill Springs Provincial Park is the proximity to Calgary. (See the map and directions on their webpage.) The park is small and there are only a couple of picnic tables, so take a blanket and a cold lunch. The waterfalls all run down into a series of creeks and bridges at the entrance to the park. It's great for toddlers because the creeks are shallow and slow moving. The kids can play for hours. For older kids and adults, the walking trail is quite steep in places but is only about 2km and takes you through a variety vegetation zones.

Its a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Marg

I found a wonderful clipping about Big Hill Springs in our files. Dating from 1934, the article starts as follows: "Memories of Highland glens, of the coombes of Devon or the Derbyshire dales, are apt to rise in the minds of many former residents of the Old Land who follow the winding road that leads from Cochrane to Big Hill Springs. Even without the fairy-like glade that surrounds the springs, with its miniature waterfalls and crystal pools, as the objective, the journey through the wide valley is well worth the visit." The article ends with a letter to the editor from Mrs. C.D. Casey who enjoyed the springs as much then as we do now. "Big Hill Springs...is a veritable little paradise tucked away in a secluded valley."

Candace

If you are looking for fun Calgary Staycations, check out this book, Day Trips From Calgary (2006), by Bill Corbett. This book has a nice section on Big Hill Springs Park as well as other great places to visit. Mr. Corbett says in the 2002 edition, "I wrote this book to entice Calgary residents and visitors to consider all directions of the compass when embarking on a day trip from the city. Those who do so will be wonderfully surprised.

We have some great books on touring the wine regions of British Columbia as well as recipes inspired by B.C. wine. Check out these books to get the insider scoop on how to find some wonderful wine tours.

John Schreiner's Okanagan Wine Tour Guide by John Schreiner

The lush Okanagan Valley is internationally acclaimed for its wine industry. Updated and revised with more than 60 percent new material, John Schreiner's Okanagan Wine Tour Guide provides succinct insider profiles of each of the region's 129 wineries, and for the first time covers winery producers from Creston, BC. Included are thumbnail sketches of wineries and winemakers, as well as everything you need to know to take a fascinating self-guided tour through the valley that produces 95 percent of British Columbia's wines. Schreiner peppers the book with fascinating facts acquired through his own winery visits, and gives his recommendations about what to sample from each cellar. Maps, addresses, telephone numbers, and website addresses round out this comprehensive guide.

Island wineries of British Columbia by Gary Hynes

Winner of the Gourmand International Wine Books Award 2011 for Canada

Celebrate the unique flavours, terroir and grape varieties that can be found only on the wine islands off the west coast. A collaborative effort from the writers of EAT Magazine, Island Wineries of British Columbia is your guide to a growing wine culture and the food movement that accompanies it. Starting with the history behind the regions wine production, this book is an intimate conversation with local wine producers, their individual stories, their most memorable creations and where you can find their beautiful wineries. Complete with maps and suggested wine tasting excursions, Island Wineries of British Columbia also explores the island's meaderies, cideries, fruit wines, artisan distilleries and craft beer. You’ll find recipes from some of the regions most talented chefs, including offerings from Café Brio, Camilles, the Sooke Harbour House and Stage Wine Bar; each recipe has an emphasis on local ingredients and provides exquisite pairings of wine and food.

Winefeast: Eat, Drink & Discover BC Wine by Troy Townsin

This beautiful book features more than 120 tantalising wine-inspired recipes that have been collected from BC's top winery chefs and winemakers. Legendary chefs like Michael Allemeier from Mission Hill Winery and Bernard Casavant from the Burrowing Owl have contributed their favourite cooking-with-wine recipes to this compilation, making it a must-have for anyone with an interest in Canada's culinary hertage. The recipes focus on gourmet cooking that uses easy to find ingredients and simple instructions so that both novice and experienced cooks can recreate these culinary delights at home. Winefeast introduces readers to the world of wine and contains informative, and at times humorous, sections on how to taste wine and improve sensory evaluation skills, how to cook with wine, as well as histories of all the different grapes and wine styles that are produced in British Columbia. There are also sections on food and wine pairing as well as detailed maps and region-specific guides with wine touring highlights so that visitors and locals alike will have all the information they need to tour BC's spectacular wine country. The book contains mouth-watering food shots and breathtaking scenic photography by Gary Faessler. Winefeast is the perfect gift or must-have keepsake for anyone with a passion for food and wine. With a copy of this book and a bottle of BC's finest, readers will have no problems creating a 'wine feast' that will delight guests and quench their thirsts for BC food and wine knowledge.

Banff and the Kananaskis are wonderful places to visit on a beautiful long weekend. However, if you are staying in town this weekend, there are lots of intriguing options to keep the kids occupied.

Calgary Public Library has some great programs for families on Saturday, May 19.

Fish Creek Library is offering an exciting program at 2:00 p.m., Elephone and Telephee: A herd of elephant stories, jokes, songs, and poems are presented with puppets and lots of audience help. This program is presented by WP Puppet Theatre.

Join our Drop-in Storytime at Crowfoot Library at 10:30 a.m. Bring the little ones for a half hour of stories, songs, and fingerplays the whole family can enjoy. Ages 2 to 5 with a parent/caregiver. No registration required.

Don't forget to drop by your local branch on Friday or Saturday for books and movies to entertain the kids. The library will start our summer Sunday closures on May 20 and will be closed on Monday, May 21 for Victoria Day.

Calaway Park Grand Opening is on Saturday, May 19 with all the usual fun rides and tempting treats.

Heritage Park will start opening daily on Saturday, May 19. The park is celebrating Victoria Day on Monday, May 21 with a free pancake breakfast for the first 500 customers. On Monday you can also enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea in the upstairs Tea Room of the Wainwright Hotel (Check in advance for ticket availability.)

Celebrate Mountie Day on Monday May 21^st from 11-4 at Fort Calgary. “You are invited to join Fort Calgary on Victoria Day to commemorate the formation of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) by Sir John A. Macdonald in 1873...”

The Royal Tyrrell Museum begins its spring programs on Saturday, May 19th. Check out their website for times and details. One of our staff members visited with her family recently and was very enthusiastic about the whole experience. She shares her impressions in a blog entry, "Walking with the Dinosaurs".

Curious about the history behind Victoria Day? Place your hold on this new book: Victoria Day by Lynn Peppas.

"Victoria Day is celebrated across Canada on the third Monday of May. It is a federal statutory holiday in honor of the birthday of England's Queen Victoria. It is informally considered the beginning of the summer season in Canada. Readers will learn about the importance of the first sovereign of confederated Canada, as well as Empire Day, celebrated in Britain."

Explore the roads less travelled as Joan Donaldson-Yarmey talks about the roadside attractions of Southern Alberta.

Joan has written several books on exploring Alberta, Backroads of Southern Alberta and Backroads of Northern Alberta, as well as Backroads of Central and Northern British Columbia.

Monday, May 14, 2012

12:00 - 12:45 p.m.

Main floor South - New and Notable area

Register In Person, By Phone at 403-260-2620 or Online.

On Monday evening, Joan will be reading from her newest mystery, Whistler's Murder. This book, third in the Travelling Detective series, features travel writer, Elizabeth Oliver, who becomes involved in murder and mayhem when visiting Whistler, B.C. (This title will soon be available to borrow from Calgary Public Library.

Monday, May 14, 2012

6:00 - 7:30 pm

Main floor South - New and Notable area

Register In Person, By Phone at 403-260-2620 or Online.