Canmore, Alberta

Bow River Trail

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, this picturesque town is my retirement dream (very seriously considering purhcasing a piece of land soon with the current sprawl and real estate prices!). With the Bow River (photo left) running through it and majestic mountains that serve a backdrop of never-ending delight to the eyes. Different seasons also bring different colors to the town scenery.

View of Canmore from atop Ha Ling Mountain

A mere 1-1.5 hr drive from Calgary, this is a must I'm-free-this-weekend visit for casual walking on the Bow River Trail, or more intense hiking up one of the nearby mountains.  The town's neat little shops and restaurants are also well-worth visiting after your walk/hike (nothing compares to a good hearty meal after a good workout =P).  If you're feeling more adventurous, there are activities to suit all sorts of tastes (caving and dogsledding are my favourites!).

Rats' Nest Cave - the "chute"

Dogsledding with Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours