Adventures by Disney Canadian Rockies: Day 2 Review – Alberta Culture, Food & Cowboy History
🚨 This post is part of our detailed Adventures by Disney Canadian Rockies series! If you're just joining us, we recommend starting with Day 1: Calgary Arrival & Welcome Dinner.
We expected the mountains to be the stars of this trip—and they are. But what truly surprised us was how deeply we fell in love with Day 2: a beautifully curated tour through Alberta’s Indigenous roots, its cowboy culture, and its evolving culinary identity. It was immersive without feeling heavy, full of small delights and big conversations, and a perfect example of how Adventures by Disney designs travel days that connect you to place and people.
We’d flown into Calgary the day before, settled into the historic Fairmont Palliser, and kicked off the trip with a welcome dinner and the White Hat Ceremony—a warm and surprising tradition that set the tone for everything to come. Today marked the first full day of Adventures by Disney programming—and it overdelivered.
If you’re considering this trip or wondering whether it’s worth extending your stay in Calgary before heading into the mountains, let this day be your answer. It was rich, emotional, delicious, and eye-opening—and the kind of day that stays with you.
Breakfast at the Fairmont Palliser
A relaxed and delicious start to the day at the Fairmont Palliser—breakfast was included in our Adventures by Disney itinerary.
Our day began with a relaxing breakfast at the Fairmont Palliser—one of those quiet, luxurious starts that makes you feel like you're truly on vacation. Breakfast was included with our Adventures by Disney package. It wasn’t a required group activity, but we chose to sit together, just the three of us—and recognized a few familiar faces from the night before, exchanging smiles and waves with fellow guests we’d just begun to meet. The menu was generous, with made-to-order dishes ranging from fluffy pancakes to fresh fruit and eggs any style. The service was excellent, and the elegant atmosphere of the Palliser’s dining room made it a lovely way to ease into the day.
We’d barely started the tour and already felt pampered and well cared for—exactly what you hope for on a vacation like this.
Mickey and Minnie were ready to ride—Adventures by Disney style.
Alberta Food Tour Overview
Our first full day on the Adventures by Disney Canadian Rockies itinerary was a full-day guided Alberta food and culture tour—designed to connect us to the region through its most meaningful stories and flavors. It was led by Josie from Alberta Food Tours, who stayed with us from morning to evening and seamlessly tied each stop together with context, warmth, and curiosity.
This wasn’t just about meals. It was about understanding Alberta’s heritage through what people grow, cook, and share. At each stop, we experienced something unique—whether it was traditional Métis recipes, craft spirits made with local grain, or cowboy fare cooked over a campfire. Food was the thread that connected everything, and the lens that helped us see each experience in a deeper, more personal way.
First Stop: The Confluence – Métis Culture & Calgary’s Roots
The Confluence is where Calgary began—long before it was called Calgary.
Our day began at The Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary), the site where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet. Long before it became a Northwest Mounted Police post, it was a sacred meeting place for Indigenous communities. That energy—of gathering, of storytelling—was still very much alive.
Here we met members of the Métis Nation, a vibrant community with both European and Indigenous ancestry. They welcomed us with stories, songs, and food—generous in spirit and rich in meaning. One elder shared the story of her great-grandmother’s resilience; another showed us how traditional sashes are woven and worn.
Standing where rivers, cultures, and stories meet.
We tasted warm flatbread baked over fire and sampled Saskatoon berries—tiny, tart-sweet, and deeply connected to this land. The flavors were simple but full of heart. It was a powerful and eye-opening experience—one that grounded us in the history of the land and the people who shaped it, long before Calgary and the Canadian Rockies became a destination. It gave depth to everything that followed.
This stop also set the tone for how Adventures by Disney integrates culture with care. It didn’t feel performative. It felt deeply intentional and rooted in respect.
Second Stop: Eau Claire Distillery – A Toast to Alberta’s Agriculture
Next, we headed into the foothills to Eau Claire Distillery, located in the charming town of Turner Valley. Our group loved learning that the founder was inspired to start the distillery after discovering that Scotch whisky makers were importing Alberta wheat. Why not craft something world-class right here?
Lunch was served outdoors beneath a big sky. Think picnic tables and prairie views. We shared cowboy chili—made with Alberta beef—and gluten-free cornbread that packed a perfect little kick. We sat next to people we had just met the day before, and already it felt like a group of old friends. There was laughter, recipe-sharing, and a growing sense that this trip was going to be more communal than expected.
After lunch, the kids and teens were whisked away to their own guided Adventure Jr. experience, while the adults stepped into a whole different vibe: Rupert’s Hideaway, a speakeasy-style tasting room hidden behind an old wooden door.
We were greeted with trays of small-batch gins and vodkas, each one tied to local agriculture and crafted with care. But what made this tasting shine was the storytelling. We learned how the region’s grains and botanicals influence flavor, and how the distillery prioritizes sustainability and small-farm partnerships. The atmosphere was relaxed, and no one felt rushed.
If you’re wondering whether Disney does adult experiences well—this stop is your proof. It felt elevated but unfussy, and the pacing was perfect.
Third Stop: Bar-U Ranch – Cowboys, Campfires & Canadian History
Our final stop was Bar-U Ranch, a National Historic Site about 90 minutes from Calgary. It’s one of the oldest and most important ranches in Alberta—and stepping onto the land feels like stepping into a history book that’s still being written.
We arrived to the smell of campfire and the sight of wide-open grasslands under a watercolor sky. There were fresh-baked cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate waiting for us. Our guide—a third-generation cowboy—led us through the grounds, sharing stories of the ranch’s earliest days, how it survived changing economies, and what it means to keep cowboy culture alive today.
We watched a branding demonstration (on wood), explored restored bunkhouses and kitchens, and peeked into original root cellars where settlers stored food through brutal winters. The kids were lassoing hay bales, giggling with their new friends, and more engaged than we’d expected. We loved watching their confidence grow.
This was the most unexpectedly moving part of the day. Not just because of what we learned—but because of how connected we all felt by the end. The experience of being welcomed into these stories, by real people who live them, created a lasting impression.
End of Day 2: Dinner at Hawthorn & Free Evening at the Palliser
We arrived back in Calgary around 5pm, giving us the evening to unwind on our own. The guides checked in with each family as we got off the bus, but there were no more planned activities. Some guests headed out to explore the city. We chose to stay in—and we’re so glad we did.
Dinner at Hawthorn Dining Room inside the Fairmont Palliser: Alberta beef short rib (big enough to share!) and crispy Brussels sprouts
We had dinner at the Hawthorn Dining Room inside the Fairmont Palliser, and it was one of the best meals of the trip. Alberta beef is a must-try when visiting the region, and we went all in with the bone-in short rib—so large and rich that the three of us shared it family-style alongside several delicious sides. It was the kind of meal that feels indulgent and grounding at the same time.
Afterward, we made our way upstairs, full and happy, and turned in early. With an early morning bag pull ahead, we knew the mountains were calling—and our next chapter was about to begin.
➡️ Up next: a scenic transfer to Banff, with an unforgettable afternoon in Canmore that kicked off the mountain magic.
➡️ Continue the Series: Our Day-by-Day ABD Recaps
Day 3: Scenic Transfer to Banff & Stop in Canmore
Day 4: Full Day in Banff
Day 5+: Lake Louise, Columbia Icefield & More
