Category: Adventures

According to my Big Mountain Challenge itinerary, today was Willow Stream Spa Day. Yay! I had been looking forward to this day since I read over the plan for the week, and I knew that it would be a much needed relaxation day after hiking Cascade Mountain. Boy was it ever a relaxing day!

Last night I crashed before midnight. I was absolutely exhausted; my body felt broken in many places, and my foot was feeling the effects of a 10+ hour hike. After sleeping in a bit, I dragged myself out of bed and got ready to head for breakfast. All of our breakfasts are included, so we decided to make our way to the Bow Valley Grill in the hotel for their breakfast buffet. The selection of food was amazing. There was an omelette station with peppers, mushrooms, bacon, and many other possible ingredients; a fruit station; a section with different kinds of frittatas, hash browns, and sausages; oatmeal, cereals, yogurts, etc etc etc. The list really does go on. Dan and I feasted quite quickly while enjoying orange juice and coffee, and once finished, the waiter brought our bill. It was $68.21! We gasped. This was very different than the usual Starbucks breakfast sandwich and coffee that we would usually get. Thank goodness breakfast was included! The service was incredible and the food tasted great :).

Then it was time for our included massages. We signed in to the Willow Stream Spa, and then we were given a tour of the facilities. The co-ed resting room included delicious cucumber mint water, as well as free cookies and a place to lounge and socialize. From the window, we were told about the three pulsating waterfalls of varying temperatures: Bow Falls, Cascade Falls, and Assiniboine Falls. After enjoying those, it was recommended that we stay in the rejuvenating mineral pool for at least 15 minutes to obtain the benefits of the minerals. Hey, I believe it. Then, we could enjoy the outdoor whirlpool, steam room, sauna, and eucalyptus inhalation room. Super stoked! We changed into our robes and sat in the waiting area. 

Paul greeted me for my sports massage. All I can say is that he was amazing and that I really needed a massage. Being a sports massage, it was quite deep tissue, and at times the massage was painful. He worked on certain muscles in my shoulders that I didn’t even know existed. He moved on to my legs for quite some time and rolled out my IT band in a way that a foam roller couldn’t even compare. All of the pain was worth it, because by the end of the 60 minutes, I was incredibly relaxed. I sat back in the waiting room, drinking some water, and quite out of it. Dan showed up right after, having completed his massage with Courtney. He was extremely happy to have his hip flexors destroyed by her. Apparently it was what he needed after the long hike. We took a quick break for lunch and then returned to the spa to spend some time enjoying the mineral pool and waterfalls… and steam room… and sauna…. and eucalyptus inhalation room… and outdoor whirlpool. I really can’t complain. It’s luxury life that I don’t experience often, but when I do, it sure is heavenly! We were even impressed that there were disposable razors in the change room so we could shave. So we shaved, ’cause we could.

After enjoying the spa, we wandered into town. We stopped at Evelyn’s for coffee, wandered the Banff Farmer’s Market, took photos along the river, and then headed to the Bear Street Tavern for Banff’s best pizza (apparently) and drinks. 

Not uncommon for this whole trip, we ate and drank a ridiculous amount, and felt super full and bloated afterwards. So what’s the best thing to do after eating that much? Walk back to the Banff Springs Hotel, check ourselves into the spa, and be lazy in the mineral pool and waterfalls :). It’s been quite the extraordinary and relaxing life today…