Many people choose mystery trips for the thrill of the unknown. I, and over 75 other travelers, chose to go on a mystery trip for this reason and many others. We traveled with a well-known local travel agency that handled all the logistics and activities. Past travelers reported discoveries of adventure, breathtaking destinations, cultural experiences, and bonds of friendship.
This year, my bestie and I decided to explore our imaginations with an adventurous mindset! We both served in the military and that was one adventure after the next. We both grew up poor and that was an experience in itself. After all, life is one big adventure!
We arrived at the designated place at Nashville International Airport in the wee hours of the morning. We were told we would know where we were going upon arrival. We had ideas, but anxiously awaited the big announcement. Our friends and family members were as excited as us. They asked us to promise to text them when we found out. Many of us thought we were going to Canada. With a straight face, our tour director said we would be flying into Missoula, Montana. You could hear a pin drop. We’re going where? Many of us had never been to Montana; therefore, we were determined to make the best of it and we did! See previous post.
This mystery trip was an opportunity to relax, reconnect with nature, and with each other! In today’s fast paced world, we need to slow down. It was my opportunity to sing across canyons and dance under the watchful big sky!
Because so many people were on the trip, we had two motor coach buses, but we stayed at the same hotels and went to the same places. My bestie and I were on Bus One.
The peaceful mountains and lakes seemed to welcome us, like they knew we needed to leave daily stress behind. The beautiful landscapes evoked images of power and strength. There was a delicate balance between life and scare resources.
We stepped into the unknown wilderness and saw mountains, glaciers, Native American reservations, lakes, rivers, and wildlife. We were exploring God’s country! After staying in the beautiful town of Whitefish, Montana we boarded the bus the next morning for our next adventure.
Our motor coach driver was sworn to secrecy, but he was chatty. He told us he was from Calgary, plus he was driving a motor coach with Calgary written on the side. At this point, we knew we were headed to Canada, but where? Surprisingly, at least one of the travelers guessed Banff and Calgary. I was not familiar with Banff but was excited to go to Calgary.
We crossed the border without any hiccups. We only had to sign declaration papers. Our tour directors had previously faxed supporting documentation.
The quaint tourist city of Banff did not disappoint! It’s located in the province of Alberta and is one of Canada’s most popular tourist attractions. Quaint shops and restaurants lined the streets. We were surrounded by majestic mountains, stunning natural beauty, and wildlife. Many of the streets are named after animals native to the national park. The hotels are a mixture of chateau or castle style. We spent three nights in the stunning castle like Fairmont Hotel. By this time, we had new motor coach drivers and young tour guides. They seemed excited to share the mystery!
We learned we were going to the Ice Fields on Athabasca Mountain! We traveled down scenic Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N). It offered stunning views of mountains and blue/turquoise lakes. As our drivers navigated the highway, our young guides were excited to share their detailed knowledge. We were told to look for wildlife along the way. When we spotted bears, goats, and elk, the drivers expertly pulled over so we could take photos.
Our drivers made stops along the way so we could get out and enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains and lakes.
Some of us were a bit nervous about riding up a mountain on The Ice Explorer to walk on ice. We learned this massive machine was built for responsible glacier travel. Our expert drivers made the steep drive up and down the mountain seem easy! After we made it to the top, we creeped across the slippery snow and ice like little kids. A few people fell but were not hurt.
The next day, we traveled down Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and along the Bow River to stunning Lake Louise. It’s a world renowned destination for natural beauty and for hikers! We visited many other lakes and took pictures of mountains as we traveled the highway. After the tour, we were exhausted but still excited.
We spent our last night at beautiful Marriott Calgary Airport In-Terminal Hotel located inside Calgary International Airport .We had dinner at the breathtaking rotating Sky 360 Restaurant in Calgary Tower. We had a bird’s eye view of the big city. Afterwards, our tour directors surprised us with tickets to the observation deck. We took pictures standing on the glass sky walker with a magnificent view of the city below.
After breakfast the next morning, it was time to say goodbye to a wonderful experience. Since we were staying at the In-Terminal hotel, we had a short walk to the International Terminal. I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore God’s beautiful wonders and share the experience with friends!
“The end of a journey holds the seed of new dreams.”- Author unknown.
Francie Mae. July 27, 2025