Food | Travel | Family | Life
Weekends at the Banff Gondola are full of fun Christmas activities to get everyone into the holiday spirit.
Disclaimer – Pursuit invited my family and I to enjoy the Mountaintop Christmas. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s one of our favourite times of year up at the Banff Gondola – Christmas! We had such a great time last year and all of us were happy to go again….
It’s summer time! It’s nice to not have to deal with school and homework and lunches. With time off though, we definitely need to keep the kids busy. We decided that this year, we would try and discover more of what was around us.
We headed to the World Waterpark at West Edmonton Mall a couple weeks ago. It’s been so long since we have been at the mall, it’s always amazing how much is actually in there. We spent all day Sunday at the pool. With all that it has to offer, it’s not hard to do.
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The Aga Khan Garden opened this past weekend in Edmonton. Located at the University of Alberta Botanic Gardens, this impressive 4.8 hectares of land is definitely worth a visit to.
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Disclaimer: We were hosted by the Marriott Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio for two nights. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While travelling to Texas for a cruise last month, we decided to book an extra couple days to explore San Antonio. We were expecting to spend a few days in the sun. Instead, we ended up in Texas during a winter storm!
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A couple of weekends ago, we headed to Banff to see the Santa Clause Parade. We are so lucky to have the mountains so close by and we were excited for this much needed escape.
Before heading back to Calgary the next day, we headed up the mountain on the Banff Gondola and checked out all their offerings just in time for Christmas.
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Disclosure: I was provided tickets for my family to visit the Legoland Discovery Centre but all opinions are my own.
My family and I headed East to spend some time with family in Toronto and celebrate Canada in Ottawa. The whole time we were there, it rained. So what do you do when you have kids that need to get out and play? Head on over to the Legoland Discovery Centre in Vaughn.
The Legoland Discovery Centre is very different from the Legolands in the US. This was an indoor playground and exactly what we needed to escape the rain.
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When Calgary’s new international terminal opened late last year, the new Marriott In-Terminal Hotel also opened. Located between the international and domestic terminals, the hotel boasts 318 guest rooms, Fitness Centre, a swimming pool and Yakima, the hotel restaurant and bar.
The fact that it’s located right in the airport is so convenient, especially for those early morning flights. Last month, when we headed to Cuba, our friends spent the night since our flight was at 6am. Needless to say, we totally wished we had done the same, as we were heading out the door at 3am.
My family and I were invited to spend the night and check out the hotel for ourselves. We jumped at the chance to have a mini staycation, especially since I had checked out the hotel during the opening and loved everything about it.
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This past February, I finally made it to Hawaii! I didn’t need a gift
for my birthday in March, just a trip with my family. We went to
Honolulu with both sets of parents and had a wonderful time. Although we
didn’t spend our ten days at Aulani, Disney’s resort in Hawaii, we did
manage to go there for breakfast.
After
taking a Disney cruise, we have become fans of all things Disney so we
were very excited for our morning at the Character Breakfast.
The
Disney Character Breakfast takes place at Makahiki, the restaurant
located on the first floor. Our first stop was a picture with the top
mouse himself, Mickey. He took the time to shake hands with the kids and
give out hugs. We were also given enough time to take pictures with him
as a large group as well as smaller groups. The line wasn’t huge and
this one-on-one was a pleasant surprise.
Makahiki
is all about buffet dining and there was so much variety for breakfast.
They had a little kids station which was stocked with Mickey waffles
(!), scrambled eggs and tater tots. Breakfast also included an omelet
station, smoked salmon, various meats and cheeses, loads of fruit, eggs,
pastries and dessert. There is definitely something for everyone!
We
had visits from Goofy and Minnie who took the time to come by and take
pictures. Aunty entertained with her ukelele and got the kids to
participate in a little performance around the restaurant. It was such a
memorable day!
If
you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary, be sure to let them know
when making a reservation. In true Disney style, they really do make
you feel special.
I first learned about the Canadian Beef Culinary Series last year, when I attended the Canada Beef & Karisma dinner at Rouge restaurant in Calgary. It was there that I sampled amazing beef dishes created by Chefs Allemeier and Rogalski and learned about Karisma resort. It was also there that I won a stay at the hotel in the Mayan Riviera, which turned out to be one of our favourite vacations (Part 1 | Part 2).
I was excited to be invited this month to the Karisma Influencer and Media event held at the new Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence which opened earlier this year in Calgary.
We were fortunate to be treated to a four course meal made by the talented chefs at Karisma Hotels featuring Canada Beef. With Jeroen Hanlo, VP of Food & Beverage Operations at Karisma Hotels, the chefs kept us entertained and well fed all evening.
We first toured the amazing centre – fully equipped with a consumer kitchen, commercial kitchen as well as the beef fabrication room. We learned a lot from Marty Carpenter, the Centre Director and Abe van Melle, the Centre Technical Manager.
The evening started out with a tasty bite – beef tartare with habanero aioli. The platter was beautiful arranged with flowers and the beef was served on potato chips.
Our first course was Canadian AAA Spice Rubbed Tri-Tip, Baby Beets, Blue Cheese, Chantrelle Mushroom prepared by Chef Florian Durre, Executive Chef and Elorado Royale.
Our second course was Canadian AAA Petit Tenderloin, Yucatan Sauce “Chimole” prepared by Chef Jonaten Gomez Luna, Executive Chef at La Chique.
Our main course was the Canadian AAA Aged Rib-Eye, Black Corn Truffle, Creamy Sweet Corn with Traditional Mole and Tamarind. The rib-eye was my favourite cut, soft like butter. This course was prepared by Chef Francisco Perez, Executive Chef and Dorado Seaside Suites.
The final course was an amazing sight. The chefs prepared dessert using liquid nitrogen! The nitrogen was used to make creamy rhubarb sorbet as well as icy beads of carrot juice. This along with some coconut sponge, yogurt foam and cotton candy made for a flavourful dessert with lots of textures.
It was a fantastic evening, combining a couple of my favourite things – beef and Mexico!
After a hard week of moving, I am dreaming of an escape. I loved my little getaway last month to the Banff Springs Hotel. Although I was there for work, I was able to enjoy a lot of what the beautiful hotel had to offer. Finding a place to fill your belly was an easy task with all the dining options available. There were so many places to eat, there are still a lot more places I have yet to visit. Here are the few I was able to check out.
In-Room Dining
I was exhausted my first night and in-room dining seemed the way to go. I made a great choice with the Grown-Up Mac and Cheese. The decadent pasta contained lobster, foraged mushroom and truffled Boursin cream. It was rich and was the perfect bowl of comfort food.
Samurai Sushi Bar and Restaurant
This popular sushi restaurant located close to the spa is one you definitely want to make reservations for. I was able to get room at the sushi bar and enjoyed a couple of rolls. Definitely helped with my sushi craving.
Castle Pantry
This deli in the hotel was perfect for grabbing something quick and delicious. I had heard lots about the seafood chowder – filled with fish and shrimp. Definitely a must try. Hubby had the chili and was delighted with the meat-filled dish.
Rundle Lounge
Afternoon Tea is a must try, located on the second floor of the Rundle Lounge. It’s a great way to spend the afternoon. Read more about it here.
The restaurant is also a great place for lunch. We ordered the Lamb Donair Flatbread which had hummus, onion and was topped with yogurt. It was cheesy and delicious. We also tried the Surf & Turf Roll, minus the bacon. The sandwich was filled with lobster, shrimp, scallops and smoked salmon – the perfect dish for seafood lovers. Served with a side of sweet potato fries, our meal was filling and delicious.
I’m looking forward to my next visit to the castle in the mountains!