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Days Inn Athabasca – Athabasca, AB

We had a trip going quite North of Alberta – we were trying to get to Fort McMurray for a tour and decided to make a stop at Days Inn Athabasca which turned out to be a really nice stop!

The rooms was quite standard in size and perfect for guests looking for a long term stay. This room has a full size fridge with a freezer and honestly, the microwave sitting on the table was the best one I’d ever seen on Unclutterer, which quite surprised me as I hadn’t expected this in a hotel. The microwave will make it perfect for those who are looking to eat or store food. Our room had a King bed and it wasn’t decent. It didn’t look like the bed was made properly,but it may have just been the blankets that made it look saggy.

The bathroom was typical as well, but it did have quite a bit of counter space, so again, it would make it easy if you’ve got a lot of stuff for a longer term stay. There are tons of oil sand workers in this area and I’m sure a lot of them utilize this hotel.

The overall stay was really nice. It’s got a large parking lot, not far off the highway – yet it was quiet. Also not far from a lot of other amenities such as grocery stores and local bars and restaurants.

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The Mirage Hotel and Casino – Las Vegas, Nevada

I really enjoy trying new resorts on the Las Vegas strip, and we got the chance to try Mirage which is located pretty centre on the strip. A beautiful resort that offers a volcano outside.

I have stayed in their Resort King Room and it was really beautiful. One of our favourite hotels on the strip with a strip view. The king bed was very inviting and it was indeed very comfortable. The rooms here are quite quiet considering the amount of people and traffic. You can still get a great nights sleep!

The entry way of the room was beautiful as well as it opens onto a beautifully tiled spacious area. Tons of space for shoes and suit cases and there is a huge closet space as well.

The bathroom, although quite standard in comparison to the rest of the room was spacious and still very nice. Lots of counter top space for those who needs it and the shower had a nice pressure to it.

I do like this hotel, the windows to open a little bit to hear the volcano eruption and just to get some fresh air. This room definitely has all the amenities that you need including a stocked mini bar fridge, ice buckets, and a business desk with ports.

The pools at the Mirage are beautiful as well, although when we got here, they were closed for winter – which makes me have the urge to return to the resort and try out their pools!

The Mirage – Las Vegas

3400 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV
702.791.7111

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Chili’s Texas Grill (South Trail) – Calgary, Alberta

I really enjoyed my experiences at Chili’s Texas Grill and when I had a bad day, we came to try the one at this South Trail location (130th Avenue SE) instead of my usual locations and there was a long wait for a table once we got there which always makes me happy as I think people like it and so they’re really busy!

We ordered their 2 for $30 special as we do often pick from that menu. We started with their Jalapeño Cheese Bites which came out piping hot with delicious ooey gooey cheese on the inside and crispy and crunch crust. There was a little drizzle of their chipotle pesto ranch sauce!

For my entree, I picked from their Fajita where we selected beef fajitas. The table smelled amazing the moment our waitress put the food down, and it was all I could stare at! It was not only a beautiful dinner, it tasted pretty amazing! They don’t have enough fajita wraps, but I really enjoyed just eating the grilled selection as it was with it’s condiments.

Then, the other entree we got with this special was their Honey-Chipotle Ribs which was a pretty good sized portion even with this promotion. The ribs were tender and juicy – just the way they should be. The sauce was delicious as it was sweet with some heat. It was perfect!

Our overall experience was a great one! There is always going to be a wait at any Chili’s location (the ones I’ve been too) and the food and service was amazing here! There’s no reason to g different location. Parking is a little limited and depending on the hour you’re going, traffic can be a little more chaotic – but it’s worth it!

Chili's Texas Grill on Urbanspoon

Chili’s Texas Grill – South Trail

4370 130 Ave SE
Calgary, AB
(403) 474-4159

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High River Inn Restaurant – High River, Alberta

We were actually trying to find some dinner in Longview where the place of choice didn’t have space for us. We started our journey home when we decided to make a stop in High River – where we found High River Inn Restaurant and it was a neat place. The owner was really pleased we were there, and she kept explaining to us that the food she has here caters to small town people. No problem – I know and I love it!

Although the place appears small, it’s actually very spacious inside with a decent size buffet. This place got pretty busy in here as well, but I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about making reservations as there’s lots of tables and chairs. The chef constantly puts out fresh food, so the smorg doesn’t go empty.

As this was our dinner, I allowed myself to help myself! Serving after serving, I really enjoyed the food here. I especially enjoyed the little conversations with the owner and she enjoyed talking to us in Cantonese as she doesn’t get a lot of Chinese speaking people at her place.

Overall, the place was really clean, the staff was really friendly, the food was really good! There’s nothing to complain about! It was an enjoyable dinner and I really like their eggroll. Most places have spring rolls, so this was a nice treat!

High River Inn Restaurant on Urbanspoon

High River Inn Restaurant

503 1 St Southwest
High River, AB
(403) 652-7733

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The Wandering Elk – Canmore, Alberta

During our stay in Canmore at the Windtower Hotel and Suites we ate at the restaurant inside the hotel called The Wandering Elk. It was a large space, with some tables on the patio which you would pass going into the hotel. It’s a nice space that offers meals many times a day!

We started off with some wings as we felt like it and went for their Maple Bacon Wings and the portions are huge. The wings are plump and juicy – and they taste great! Maple and Bacon is such a nice combination, I’m shocked it isn’t more popular.

I ordered their Elk Dip which is like a beef dip but with elk striploin on a toasted ciabatta bun with caramelized onions and cheese. The elk jus is delicious as I found myself dipping my fries into it as well! It’s quite a different meal and I did find it to be on the lean/dry side – which made me adore the elk jus! Overall, it was a great plate, with a generous amount of elk and fries!

My husband enjoyed their BBQ Whiskey Full Rack of Ribs and that was really nicely done. There was tons of ribs and the first half was really good, smothered in delicious bbq sauce, but the other rack was significantly drier. I am not sure if it was just us taking so long, or if it is just that inconsistent as it was on the same order. Regardless, the first half was awesome and the second half was alright.

Overall dining experience was pretty awesome. The atmosphere was phenomial, the service was quick and friendly. Portion size are ginormous and quality was average. Not a bad place to wind down and relax with drinks and apps!

Wandering Elk on Urbanspoon

The Wandering Elk – Windtower Lodge & Suites

160 Kananaskis Way
Canmore, Alberta
403-961-2608