Enjoy fine dining at home from a new restaurant in Canmore
Ankor, a new fine dining restaurant by chef Danny Beaulieu, has pivoted to offer takeout and is a great dining option for your next night in. If you’re in the mood for seasonal cuisine paired with wine, then try the aged duck breast with parsnip, black garlic, raisin gel, pistachio and micro chervil with one of the many red, white, rosé or orange wines on the curated wine list. Alternatively, if you order the table d’hôte or cheeseboard by phone, Ankor will give you a 25 per cent discount on a bottle of wine.
103, 1430 2 Ave., 403-675-2424, ankorcanmore.com
Try a new outdoor activity during Jasper in January
When: January 15 to 31
The Jasper in January program provides a great opportunity to experience mountain life through largely outdoor and nature-focused activities. View the stars with a guide during the Festival of Galaxies’ touchless, outdoor telescope experience (there’s also a virtual planetarium experience), go on a sleigh ride beside Pyramid Lake with Jasper Riding Stables or sign up for an ice climbing lesson with Rockaboo Mountain Adventures. All activities require adherence to COVID-19 precautions, as well as advanced booking for individuals or their household.
Order takeout from one of 11 Banff restaurants
The Banff Hospitality Collective has compiled the menus and takeout information for 11 restaurants in one centralized website, making it easier than ever to enjoy a mountain meal. You can order steak, tacos, Greek food and more. Check out the website for more information, including a promotion on e-gift cards. For every gift card of $75 purchased, you’ll receive a $10 bonus card to use at any of the 11 restaurants for online takeout orders.
Experience a virtual forest bathing session
Shinrin Yoku, the Japanese term for forest bathing, means “taking in the atmosphere of the forest.” In other words, no swimsuit required. Canmore-based Forest Fix offers the opportunity to experience forest bathing with guided experiences meant to help reduce stress and anxiety while increasing energy and deep relaxation. While these sessions are normally done in person, Forest Fix is currently offering $25 virtual walks with the help of Zoom. The virtual sessions can be done from home or you can sit/walk outside on your own while listening in to the session.
Pick up some elk pizza from Three Bears Brewery
This new Banff brewery and restaurant has “food for every mood” (including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options) and a beer to match. Not sure what to order? Try out the elk and kale pizza with house-made elk sausage, baby kale and a house cheese blend. Three Bears makes its pizza dough in-house using a cold fermentation technique called the reverse ice water ferment, which takes the dough 72 hours to be ready. Takeout and delivery is available.
205 Bear St., 403-985-8038, threebearsbanff.com
Go for a fat bike ride in Kananaskis
Kananaskis Outfitters offers a variety of summer and winter tours, as well as rentals for snowshoeing and fat bikes. You can choose from a guided fat bike tour that takes you past a frozen waterfall or rent a bike just for yourself and head out on the bike trails. The fat bikes come with 4.8-inch tires on a low gear, making it easy to peddle in the snow.
1 Mt. Sparrowhawk Cres., 403-591-7000, kananaskisoutfitters.com