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Passports and Pigtails

A Travel Family in Search of Authentic Connection

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • Alberta
        • The Moose Hotel & Suites Banff: Making Memories out of Milestones
        • The Ultimate Alberta Road Trip: An 1100 km Guide to the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and Banff National Parks
        • Shadow Lake Lodge: A Back Country Hike-in Experience in Banff National Park, Canada
        • Folk, Flavour and Fringe: A Local’s Guide to Summer Activities in Edmonton, Alberta
        • Notes from the Hill: The Edmonton Folk Music Festival
        • Brunch and Bakeries: Exploring Edmonton’s Old Strathcona Neighborhood with Alberta Food Tours
        • Macaron 101: A Confection Class with Ollia Macarons & Tea
        • Elevating Expectation: A Stay at the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel
        • Mount Engadine Lodge: All-Inclusive Connection in Alberta’s Backcountry
        • Fairmont Hotel Macdonald: Staying in the Jewel of Edmonton’s Skyline
        • Fairmont Hotel Macdonald: A Mother-Daughter Weekend in the Fairytale Castle of Edmonton
        • Downtown Delights Food Tour: Indulging in Edmonton’s Diverse Cuisine Scene
        • Adventures in the Air: The Snow Valley Aerial Park, Edmonton, Alberta
        • FISE World Edmonton: An Epic Weekend of Spokes and Slopes
        • Visiting The Edmonton Ice Castle
        • Edmonton, Alberta: Spending Summer Discovering our Capital City
        • Alberta’s Majestic Backyard: This is Banff, Canada
        • Unplugged in the Rockies: Camping and Hiking at Abraham Lake, Alberta
        • Lions and Tigers and Towers, Oh My! Spending a Weekend in Calgary, Alberta
        • Back to Basics: A Calgary Farmer’s Market Food Tour
      • British Columbia
        • From Water to Wine: An Okanagan Vacation at Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos, British Columbia
      • New Brunswick
        • Exploring the Historic Charms of St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick
      • PEI
        • Beach Sand in my Hourglass: This is Cavendish, PEI
    • Caribbean
      • Dominican Republic
        • Dominican Republic: Discovering your Idyllic Corner of this Caribbean Island
    • United States
      • Luxury, Location and Long Bars: A Stay at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston
      • Patriot Place, Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots: Kicking our NFL Bucket List Through the Uprights
      • Finish Lines, Fenway and the Freedom Trail: A Family Guide to Exploring Boston, Massachusetts
    • Hawaii
      • Sunsets, Surfers and Swells – A Week on Oahu’s North Shore
      • OAHU: Aloha to a Kid Free Week
    • Italy
      • Paris and Italy: A 28 Day Itinerary
      • Connection Along the Cinque Terre
      • Falling for Framura, Italy
      • Footsteps thru Florence, Italy
      • From Sea Glass to Sea Views, This is Positano
      • From Tuscany With Love
      • On the Canals of Venice…
      • Unexpected Bliss: A day in Portofino, Italy
      • When in Rome…Stay and Stroll
      • Pillars, Power and Performance: Visiting Rome’s Colosseum & Forum
    • Paris
      • Disneyland Paris – Magic en Francais
      • Our 34 Hour Love Affair With Paris…..Part 1
      • The City of Paris…Part Deux
    • Mexico
      • Mexico’s Mayan Riviera: An All Inclusive Week at the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort
    • Costa Rica
      • Kids Saving The Rainforest: Family Friendly Volunteering in Costa Rica
      • Casa Mia: A House in the Clouds of Monteverde, Costa Rica
      • Pasión Costa Rica: An Exceptional Education in Monteverde
      • Kelly’s Surf Shop: A Day on the Waves of Tamarindo, Costa Rica
      • Sirena Serena: A Boutique Oasis in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
      • Tree Houses Hotel: Sleeping in the Canopy of Costa Rica
  • Travel Planning
    • My Top 25 Travel Tips: Packing, Planning and Enhancing Your Experience
    • 8 Ways to be a Respectful Travel Family
    • A Journey of Roots: Planning a Multi Generation Vacation
    • Christmas Day….Home or Roam?
    • Paris and Italy: A 28 Day Itinerary
    • Local is the New Lux
    • Planning a Family Vacation Abroad
    • Checking In by Completely Checking Out….
    • It’s Not Just Water: My ‘Waterlust’ Affliction
    • It’s Never Too Late to Look at a Map…..
    • Stories for my Suitcase: 20 of My Favorite Books
  • Family
    • Gowns And Glamour: Preparing Your Graduate (and Your Wallet) For Their Big Moment
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Work With Us

Category: Alberta

Gowns And Glamour: Preparing Your Graduate (and Your Wallet) For Their Big Moment

November 10, 2021March 4, 2022 AmyButterfieldAlberta

High School Graduation is a major milestone to be celebrated, especially after two years of academic performance amidst a pandemic. Our kids are resilient beings who have put in years of hard work, exam writing and fine social balance dotted with spurts of elation, tears, extra curricular schedules, mask mandates, online learning, uncertainty and senior […]

The Moose Hotel & Suites Banff: Making Memories out of Milestones

March 29, 2021April 6, 2021 AmyButterfieldAlberta

Sitting on an expansive balcony at the Moose Hotel & Suites Banff is an incredible fortune indeed.  Not only due to the luxury of sweeping views and complete serenity, but because of the simple fact that we are sometimes gifted the opportunity of reflection.  In this rich space of mindfulness we achieve a deeper appreciation for […]

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

The Ultimate Alberta Road Trip: An 1100 km Guide to the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and Banff National Parks

June 24, 2020April 8, 2021 AmyButterfieldAlberta

Alberta, pinch yourself.  This your backyard. So go out and play. 2020 quarantine has put some dust on our travel wings, and as restrictions lift and regional tourism opens up, we are ready to stretch them out and shake them off!  This is our favorite road trip loop down the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and […]

Sugared and Spiced, Old Strathcona, Edmonton, Alberta

Brunch and Bakeries: Exploring Edmonton’s Old Strathcona Neighborhood with Alberta Food Tours

October 24, 2019September 17, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard – Food is an intricate pathway of connection, a network linking us to our emotional and physical self, our family and friends, to local businesses and global growers.  Food is an indulgence, a pleasure, a vital necessity, housing the power to both heal and […]

Original Cabin (Left), Shadow Lake Lodge, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Shadow Lake Lodge: A Back Country Hike-in Experience in Banff National Park, Canada

August 23, 2019January 25, 2022 AmyButterfieldAlberta

Deep in the heart of world renowned Banff National Park, nestled among the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains, lies a lush green meadow dotted by a quaint row of cabins that make up Shadow Lake Lodge.  At a pristine emerald lake nearby, a fly-rod dances in the air and a family stops for a […]

Macarons 101 with Ollia Macarons & Tea, Calgary and Edmonton

Macaron 101: A Confection Class with Ollia Macarons & Tea

July 12, 2019September 17, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

mac·a·ron noun:  a small round cake with a meringue-like consistency, made with egg whites, sugar, and powdered almonds and consisting of two halves sandwiching a creamy filling. OLLIA MACARONS & TEA When it comes to the elusive french macaron, the popular Calgary based confectionery, Ollia Macarons & Tea, is a master.  A dynamic French-Canadian duo, […]

Taste of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Folk, Flavour and Fringe: A Local’s Guide to Summer Activities in Edmonton, Alberta

May 23, 2019September 17, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

Edmonton, Alberta, isn’t your average capital.   It is a destination that beats to its own unique rhythm on a drum of cultural diversity.  Home to roughly 1 million residents, Edmonton is a proud Canadian hub that boasts spectacular skyline views, a dark sky preserve, a world renowned festival scene and the largest urban parkland in […]

Northlands Race Track, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Horsing Around: A Night of Thoroughbred Racing in Edmonton, Alberta

August 22, 2018September 18, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

“There is something about the outside of a horse, that is good for the inside of a man.” -Winston Churchill- There is something nostalgic about walking the grounds of a stable, the earthy mixture of dirt and hay, manes and tails.  It is the sound of hooves, the neighs and the nickers.  A blow of […]

Edmonton Folk Music Festival

Notes from the Hill: The Edmonton Folk Music Festival

August 15, 2018September 18, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

THE EDMONTON FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL For nearly four decades, music lovers have been staking a claim on the hill of Gallagher Park in Edmonton, Alberta, making the trek numerous times over the four days of the legendary Edmonton Folk Music Festival.  Held every year on the second weekend in August, Folk Fest is a hand […]

Snow Valley Aerial Park, Edmonton, Alberta

Adventures in the Air: The Snow Valley Aerial Park, Edmonton, Alberta

July 6, 2018September 18, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

THE SNOW VALLEY AERIAL PARK, EDMONTON Those first unsure footsteps, shaking hands, a nervous but determined face, gentle words of encouragement…. and a zip-wire so fun it needs to be crossed half a dozen times before moving on.  A mix of rainbows, platforms, adrenaline inducing pathways and strategically placed rest areas suspended high above the […]

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We are the the "B' Family behind the stories of 'Passports and Pigtails', a family of four on a journey to explore as many corners of the globe as possible. Whether it is counting hotel stars, or sleeping under the millions above, we are simply in search of authentic connection.

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I have been wanting to try this little Italian inspired gem forever! Champagne birthday on the first day of Spring 🥂💕 Where Edmonton stores summer for the rest of the year. I’ll show you the world ❤️ Take me to the ocean 💕 Remember to breathe in the quiet ❤️

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1 year ago

That one space where the terms herd and distance are actually still cool. ❤️

#exploreedmonton

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1 year ago

So there’s a little AZ flowing in the AB.

Smile aside, this was not a decision I made easily. Like so many others, I’ve been torn on what to do. I’m a Libra and it’s written in my star chart, I weigh pros and cons and agonize over committing. This week in Alberta they opened up the AstraZeneca vaccine to 40+ which put the pressure on to make a decision. So today I stopped at a random walk in clinic and was back out in 10 minutes. It happened that fast.

Here’s what pushed me, a mom who doesn’t live in pandemic fear nor get the flu shot, to the tipping point of getting that first dose: I’m tired. I’m tired of still living like this a year later with no end in sight. I’m tired of watching my kids navigate their years of school and socialization in these unrealistic circumstances, facing two week quarantines for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m tired of not being at the rugby field and thinking about a 3 minute time slot graduation ceremony. I’m tired of watching hard working locals lose their businesses. I miss my friends and throwing parties and dancing in a crowd to live music. And most of all, I miss my Grandparents who celebrated 61 years of marriage yesterday in BC and all I could do was call and send flowers. Again. I miss seeing my mom who struggles with Parkinson’s and needs my support after a surgery gone wrong. I miss my in-laws and my bestie in NB who live in a mandated bubble. I feel like Alice on the wrong side of the glass. So if this poke in the arm means I can get back to travel and family and concerts and seeing my kids grow up without worry, without restrictions, even one moment sooner, then it was worth it. ❤️
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1 year ago

The mountains don’t just call, they have us on speed dial. ❤️

Is there a more quintessential Rocky Mountain space than the panoramic expanse of Lake Minnewanka? Located just 5 km from the town of Banff, this short loop also passes Two Jack Lake and the Cascade Ponds picnic area, offering spectacular mountain, water and wildlife scenery. This glacial lake is 21 km long and 142 meters deep, and is a popular spot year round for experiences such as hiking, camping, wild ice skating and boat tours.

#mybanff
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2 years ago

NEW POST: With Teen B's 18th birthday on the books, we were determined to make this major life milestone an epic memory. From jaw dropping rooftop hot pools and a spectacular Italian patio to a Deluxe Two Bedroom Suite with panoramic views, read about our experience at the Moose Hotel & Suites in Banff, and discover why this top rated, hospitality driven hotel should be on your staycation radar.

Pacini Banff Banff & Lake Louise Tourism Travel Alberta

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Recent Posts

  • Gowns And Glamour: Preparing Your Graduate (and Your Wallet) For Their Big Moment
  • The Moose Hotel & Suites Banff: Making Memories out of Milestones
  • From Water to Wine: An Okanagan Vacation at Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos, British Columbia
  • The Ultimate Alberta Road Trip: An 1100 km Guide to the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and Banff National Parks
  • Brunch and Bakeries: Exploring Edmonton’s Old Strathcona Neighborhood with Alberta Food Tours
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