Most of the time, a road trip is usually the unenjoyable portion before a family vacation begins. Popular culture has made fun of the time-honored tradition of the family road trip time after time, whether it’s mishaps on the road, fighting siblings in the backseat or getting hopelessly lost with no sense of direction.
So many travel planners might be skeptical when they hear that a long road trip might actually be the ideal vacation. But that’s exactly what many families choose to do on the Icefields Parkway in Canada. Also known as Alberta Highway 93, this stretch of road between Jasper and Lake Louise was recently called “the most perfect 143 miles of pavement on the planet” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The reason? The Icefields Parkway cuts right through the stunningly gorgeous sights of the Canadian Rockies. Even the worst behaved children will likely marvel at the sheer beauty of massive mountains, glaciers, lakes and waterfalls all around.
Although the trip can be done in 3 hours, families will likely want to stop off at numerous points. Athabasca Falls is a popular stop, as is Athabasca Glacier, which travelers can climb up on with the help of a tour guide.
It all ends with the breathtaking Lake Louise, a glacial lake known for its distinctly blue hue.
