alberta Archives • The Bliss Movement

Johnston Canyon In The Winter: Everything You Need To Know

A hike through Johnston Canyon is a popular day trip activity for anyone visiting Banff, Canmore, and even nearby Calgary. I had always visited in the summer but finally got to experience it in the winter and let me tell you, Johnston Canyon in the winter is one of the most magical things I've ever seen. And this is coming from a self-professed snow and winter hater. Even when my hair was turning white as it froze in the -30 temperatures and I couldn't feel my legs anymore, I was overjoyed. I'm not exaggerating.Banff is one of Alberta's top tourist d[...]

Alberta, Canada, Travel

6 Things To Do On A Day Trip to Drumheller, Alberta

Drumheller is a tourist destination in the heart of the Canadian badlands where the flat prairie fields transform into deep canyons that you can explore, walking in the very footsteps of the dinosaurs that used to roam here. Yep, Drumheller is home to the richest discoveries and collections of dinosaur remains in the world. Education and preservation of these extinct beings are at the forefront of what Drumheller is all about and its unique standing is embraced by the entire community.After twenty-eight years of living only three hours away from this[...]

Alberta, Canada

A Visual Journey Through the Rocky Mountains, Part 2

[et_pb_section admin_label="Section" fullwidth="on" specialty="off"][et_pb_fullwidth_image admin_label="Fullwidth Image" src="https://www.journey-tobliss.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/lakelouise.jpg" show_in_lightbox="off" url_new_window="off" use_overlay="off" animation="off" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid"] [/et_pb_fullwidth_image][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title admin_label="Fullwidth Post Title" global_module="80407" saved_tabs="all" title="on" meta="on" author="on" date="on" categories="on" comments="on" featured_image="of[...]

Alberta, Canada, Travel

A Hike Through Grotto Canyon, Alberta

With the crisp winter chill in the air and impending snow on the horizon, I've been reminiscing about warm summer days and breezy autumn afternoons - an afternoon hike in particular. Like any well organized individual, I had a summer bucket list. Hiking was the last remaining and after my recent hike in the mountains I was finally able to cross that off the list as well (even if it is technically not summer anymore). I tagged along with my roommate on a recent Saturday morning and after throwing on our hiking clothes and grabbing bottles of water, we took off dow[...]

Alberta, Canada

Banff, Alberta: Spray River Horseback Tour

"This is Brew," is your only introduction to the animal being handed to you and you quickly begin to become acquainted to the gelding you're about to spend an hour with and trust to take you safely through the muddy trails. One foot snugly in the stirrup, it's a familiar feeling to swing your other leg up and over until you're seated up on the horse's back. Last weekend I took a day trip to Banff with a friend and the highlight of the whole thing was easily the horseback riding. Banff Adventures offer a number of different rides, from one hour up to an entire s[...]

Alberta, Canada

The Devonian Gardens Of Devon, Alberta

This might sound like a repeat post, like you've read the name Devonian Gardens somewhere around here before. And you did, right here. But there are two Devonian Gardens in Alberta, apparently. One nestled on the top floor of a shopping mall (which is a great escape from the winter blues) and one that is located just outside of Devon, AB that greatly exceeds the size of the one I've previously talked about. The Devonian Botanical Gardens have been around since 1959 and cover a whopping 240 acres. Whether you prefer flowers or plants, a space that is polished and m[...]

Alberta, Canada

Calgary’s Indoor Tropical Garden At The Core

Nestled up on the fourth floor of Calgary's downtown shopping centre, The Core, is an indoor oasis filled with palm-trees, flowers, ponds and fountains. After spending our morning having brunch at The Coup, mom and I made our way to the mall, Starbucks in hand, and ventured on up to the fourth floor. Before we knew it we had crossed over from bustling shopping centre into a garden filled with the sounds of flowing water and the color green all around. It may have been in my mind, but instantly I even felt warmer, like it was summertime at last! These Devonian[...]

Alberta, Canada

Brunch At The Coup and Meet, Calgary

As is typical for the middle of winter, this last week in Calgary has been bitterly cold with temperatures dropping below -30 C. A summer girl through and through, winter time makes me want to hibernate in my cozy home with the tea flowing, heat up, and a devilishly handsome cat to snuggle with beneath my pile of blankets. With my mom in town for a much needed mother-daughter visit this simply couldn't happen and in our best efforts to make the most of our weekend together, we braved the cold. Only so long as to get from one building to the next, of course. After[...]

Alberta, Canada

Edmonton’s Harry Potter Exhibition

"There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words." -- J.K. Rowling I read each of the books at least five times, growing up with The Boy Who Lived and all of his magical friends. I waited eagerly outside of a packed theater on opening night of the movies. I participated in a Harry Potter book club in the fifth grade, proudly dressing up as Hermione Granger. I cried when Sirius, Dobby, Aragog, Dumbledore, Severus, and Fred died. *spoiler alert: if you want to attend the exhibit yourself, read this afte[...]

Alberta, Canada

Whitewater Rafting in Jasper, Alberta

The musty smell of a boys' locker room greeted us as soon as we stepped onto the big yellow school bus. It's a smell that brings back childhood memories of spending the majority of my days in a hockey rink, whether for my ringette practices and games or for my brother and his hockey. But this wasn't a rink, it was a yellow school bus in a parking lot surrounded by the mountains of Jasper National Park. The back was stocked with wet suits and water booties of all sizes and everyone had eager looks on their face. After spending the previous day lounging at Lake Anne[...]

Alberta, Canada

Lake Annette, Jasper: Made of a Tropical Sea

Nestled in one of Alberta’s most famous national parks, Jasper is a charming town with spectacular mountain views. Popular with the tourists at any time of the year, Jasper National Park has nearly any activity that you could imagine. From hiking, rock climbing, or horseback riding to lounging by one of the blue-green lakes, the opportunities are endless. In the town itself, the streets are lined with bars, restaurants, candy stores, souvenir shops, and sports shops where you can book your active excursions with professional guides. My family has always loved c[...]

Alberta, Canada

An Afternoon in Rundle Park, Edmonton

As soon as the sun comes out I do my best to be outside. I crave sunshine, summer and hot weather for a good eight months a year. I love spending summer days visiting parks around the city or checking in on what new and exciting things are going on. On one of the warmest days in a very long time, I spent the afternoon at a local arts festival. Once we'd had enough of that scene, we drove to Rundle Park to join others who had decided to spend the afternoon around a BBQ or lounging on the green grass. Rundle Park, in North Edmonton, Alberta, is huge. Filled with fir[...]