Take a Breath - You Earned It
So, you were brave enough to book a Cave Tour. Now, what does the rest of your weekend in Canmore look like? Because one epic adventure deserves an equally thoughtful encore.
In this episode of Pairs Well With, we're diving (yes, diving — as in cave diving… never mind) into the calmer side of Canmore. The slower exhale after the squeeze. The yin to the yang of the wild adventure you just embarked on. The light to your dark. The cool to your spicy. The Ned to your Homer.
You get the idea. Adventure is better with balance.
We'll start with a local favourite: The Georgetown Inn and Pub. Tucked in the heart of downtown Canmore, this charming Tudor-style inn has been declared Canmore's most romantic hotel on TripAdvisor, with over 20 individually decorated rooms — some featuring double soaker tubs, fireplaces, and cozy seating areas. Guests even get complimentary tea and freshly baked shortbread upon arrival (yes, really). And the pub? Their famous fish and chips have been voted Best in the Bow Valley 15 years in a row — beer-battered Atlantic cod with house-cut fries, coleslaw, and fresh lemon. With a wood-burning fireplace and one of the best patios in Canmore, it's the kind of place where you sink into an armchair and don't feel the need to rush anywhere.
Before we get to your Après CT (that's Cave Tour for those not up on the lingo), let's review.
Yes. You had an EPIC time in the cave.
No. You did not get stuck in the laundry chute — BUT you were regretting that second croissant you had for breakfast.
Yes. The guide did just tell you to go use the facil-i-TREES, because no, there is not a bathroom in the cave.
No. We will not make you clean the dirt off the coveralls. Unless you complain a lot. Then… well, it's fair game.
Yes. You are pretty tired after all the crawling, squeezing, sliding, walking, rappelling, crying (kidding… or am I?), and yes, you are considering renewing that gym membership because, "Who knew you had muscles… there?"
Ok. Stay focused. Beer and food. The universal love language.
Head to The Drake Screaming Retriever Restaurant & Brewery — a Canmore classic with a seriously fresh facelift. One of Canmore's most iconic gathering places — the beloved Drake Pub — has reopened as The Drake Screaming Retriever Restaurant & Brewery, blending decades of local history with a fresh identity rooted in craft beer, great food, and community connection. Screaming Retriever Brewing Co., founded in 2021 in Calgary, now has its mountain home right here — with nine taps flowing under their brand, including standouts like the Peaky Hikers Vienna Lager and the Kananaskis Y2Y West Coast IPA. In the kitchen, refreshed menus blend elevated pub classics with fresh pasta made in-house, hearty bowls, and artisan pizza — all designed to pair perfectly with a cold pint. Oh, and they have two dog-friendly patios. Because of course they do.
This is where you replay the best cave moments, exaggerate slightly, and say things like, "I didn't even find that squeeze that tight."
Sure.
No worries if you're not a beer person. They have water too. (And other civilized options, including cocktails, wine, and happy hour from 3–7 PM.)
To wrap up this perfectly peaceful pairing, take a stroll up a creek. Really. Do it. This isn't a joke.
Head out for a Canyon Ice Walk with Canmore Raft Tours (yes, the name is slightly confusing — they do a lot more than rafting). Strap on your ice cleats and make your way along a frozen creek, exploring frozen waterfalls, pictographs, hanging forests, and of course opportunities to spot wildlife, as your guide leads you into one of the Bow Valley's hidden gems. Canmore's first and only locally-owned and family-operated scenic tour company, they pride themselves on guides who are qualified Wilderness First Responders with a combined 40-plus years of experience on the Bow River. All trips include transportation from Canmore, hot drinks, tasty treats, ice cleats, and poles. Homemade hot chocolate and cookies? Yes please.
You may even spot the elusive Rocky Mountain Inexperienced Hiker foraging for berries (hopefully not poisonous) while trying to determine which direction leads back to town. Please refrain from engaging with the wildlife. They could be dangerous. Or at least very grumpy.
After squeezing through ancient limestone and emerging slightly dustier — and significantly prouder — than when you started, you've earned the exhale.
A cozy room. A hearty meal. A slow wander through frozen waterfalls.
Adventure hits differently when it's balanced. And in Canmore, the wild and the restful have a funny way of pairing perfectly — kind of like caves and cookies.
Mmmm. Cookies.
