Summer is Here! Lake Vibes at Minnewanka

"People come to the lake for a reason," says Travis Mann, General Manager of the Minnewanka Lake Cruise. "No one comes here to move at 100 miles per hour—we come here to slow down and soak it in."

Lake vibes seem to have that effect on people. Being on the water is both calming and uplifting. Particularly after a long winter in the Canadian Rockies, when the rich blues and lapping waves are a welcome change to the quiet landscapes of a white winter. For the team at Lake Minnewanka, summer is in full swing and they couldn't be happier.

A boat is docking as two workers tie it up.

"The more time I spend here, the more I feel that we really are on lake time."

Life on the Dock

The Lake Minnewanka crew is made up of team members from around the world. This season, Travis' team includes staff from around Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Japan. The crew lives and breathes the lake life, many of them returning year after year.

"I don't know how to describe the feeling here on the dock," says Travis. "There's something about the lake that is inspiring. In a way it's kind of mysterious—it draws you in and makes it hard to leave."

The magnetic pull of the lake works its magic on guests and team members alike. While many people come to experience a cruise, it's rare that anyone gets off their boat at the end of a trip and leaves the dock right away. Those looking for more time on the water might jump in a rental kayak or a motorboat. Adirondack chairs line the end of the dock and provide a wide-open view down Lake Minnewanka towards Devil's Gap and the surrounding peaks.

Boats are docked on a large blue lake, below tree-covered mountainsides.