Lake Agnes Tea House Trail (Banff National Park)

What do you do on the first day of your trip when the forecast is a high of 42°F and rain? When you have six kids with you who are grumbling about the possibility of being outside at all? You go for a hike. You’re in Banff, after all. Gather the cold weather gear, tell the kids to suck it up, and choose a long one. 

We chose to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House for a chance to see three lakes, a waterfall, and some “Beehives” (whatever those were supposed to be). Hot tea and homemade baked treats at the midway point were a great incentive for us to get going. Despite the weather, some of us insisted on shorts.

The Grouse Grind (Grouse Mountain, Vancouver)

One of our favorite family memories of our family trip to Vancouver: conquering the Grouse Grind together: 2,830 steps. 1.8 miles long. 2,800 foot elevation gain. This climb is no joke – and absolutely beautiful.

It was a proud parenting moment also – the older two kids disappeared on the trail ahead of us (clearly forgetting their Harney Peak experience) and our youngest completed the whole route himself with some fierce determination. Video proof.