Ski Vacation with Jason’s Family from March 13-17, 2017

With the experience Fei and Tony had in Banff in 2016, the good currency exchange rate and the direct flight from Houston to Calgary, we decided to go to Banff for this ski vacation.

We got to Banff in late afternoon of March 13. In order to rent the equipment we left the luggages in the hotel and immediately walked to the ski rental place in town. They had a lot of snow and the lower temperature on that day, therefore, there was a lot of icy sidewalk in the town. Right after we walked out to the hotel, Fei noticed that I did not booked the same close-to-town hotel as we had last year. The hotel (Fox Hotel and Suites) requires 10 more minutes walks to the town. It was a lit bit challenge to walk on the icy sidewalk, but we managed and got the rentals. Then we realized that we passed the equipment delivery schedule, so we have to call a taxi to drive us back to the hotel along with all rental equipment. It was a long day for everyone, therefore we only ordered some food from the hotel’s restaurant.

The next morning we go up leisurely, had breakfast and took the ski shuttle to Sunshine Village Ski Resort for our first day of ski. While we were waiting for the ski shuttle, Talia already had a lot of fun by playing the snow.

Sunshine Village requires a gondola ride to get the popular ski base area. The gondola ride excited Talia and she had fun already by riding the gondola.

After we got to the base, suited up the equipment, Talia wanted to play with the snow a little bit. Then we ventured with her to the Magic Carpet. She had her first taste of ski, she was OK. We took her up to Strawberry Trial for her first experience of downhill green run. She did fine when there is some slope for skiing down. But it was snowed heavily, and hard to see the trail sign, so we got to some part of the trial which we had to walk uphill a lit bit. She let us know that she did not like the walk immediately. However, we all managed to get her ski down the green run without issue. After the trial, she decided playing with snow is more fun and she just want to do that.

After we got back to town and we had a nice dinner at Maple Leaf as a late celebration of Jason and Theresa’s anniversary celebration dinner.

On the second day, we went to Sunshine Village again and took her on the Magic Carpet Trail. She did quite well with some normal fall. She did managed to do it for 20 times, then she quit and just played the snow around the Sunshine Lodge area.

In the evening we planed to take the bus to town for dinner. For some reason, the bus did not come as scheduled, therefore, we changed our mind and just had dinner at Chili restaurant in the hotel,

The next day we went to the smaller Norquay Ski Resort for the Ice Tubing. Theresa accompanied Talia and did quite a lot of tubing. Talia also had a lot of fun just play with snow next to the tubing park. Jason, Fei and Tony got chance to did some snowboarding and skiing.