The Rockies are Canada's Himalayas, the highest mountains on the continent. They run along the border between British Columbia and Alberta, and down into the USA. Though not close to Vancouver, The Rockies are within driving distance or, better yet, take the train. The Canadian, an iconic train that has plied the four-day route from Vancouver to Toronto since the 1950s, stops in Jasper, right in the heart of The Rockies.

Jasper is a small town of only a half-dozen streets in Jasper Provincial Park. Adjacent to this stunning park of snow-capped peaks, hiking trails and glacial lakes is Banff National Park, home to spectacular Lake Louise and the Columbia Icefield. The drive along the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to the picturesque town of Banff is one of the world's most scenic drives. Imagine driving between the soaring peaks and mirror-like lakes and seeing Grizzly bears, big-horn sheep and elk munching grass on the side of the highway.