On our first night (Canmore), we were at an Airbnb. But for our second and third nights (Jasper), we stayed at a hotel, Mount Robson Inn. It was very nice.

Our room had two floors. So, Deb and I slept upstairs and the kids slept downstairs. Keaton and Kate shared the pull-out couch. Caileigh and Tara shared the queen size bed.

It worked out well because the kids were going skiing while Deb and I stayed in town. And since we were upstairs, they could get ready without having to disturb us.

By the time Deb and I went down for breakfast, the kids were already gone.

We had a leisurely breakfast and then asked the lady at the front desk about local hikes.

She suggested an easy one nearby and off we went.

It was cloudy and misty, so there weren’t great views of the mountains today. You could see the base of them and then they’d fade into the grey mist.

When we arrived the day before, there were elks all over the place. But as we approached where they had been, they were no where to be found.

There was elk “skat”, so we knew we hadn’t imagined them.

But we didn’t see many creatures on our hike.

We headed back to the hotel after an hour on the trail. And then Deb and I went into town to look around.

Deb found a housewarming gift for Keaton and Kate.

Then we stopped at Mad Grizzly Bistro for some spring rolls and wings. Deb had a glass of wine and I had a pint of beer and we enjoyed the ambiance.

Then it was off back to our hotel. Kate’s sister, Sarah, and her boyfriend, Cole, arrived as we got back. They were staying in Jasper for a few days, and it was a happy coincidence that our stays overlapped.

Our kids got back shortly after that. The kids went for a hot tub while Deb and I did a little reading.

Or was that napping…?

And then it was time for a few drinks before figuring what to do for dinner.

We decided on going to the Kimchi House. And ordered the special for six. It was delicious and it was almost all consumed.

Although, we realized later, we didn’t actually have any kimchi…

Keaton was able to scrape together enough bits from each dish to fill a tiny take-out container.

Sarah and Cole joined us for drinks afterwards at our place.

It didn’t last long though, since everyone was tired from skiing or hiking. And we had a long drive ahead of us the next day.