I've been to the Rockies many, many times, so here are just a few of my favorites things to see and do in the summer:

Mt. Edith Cavell.
Although I cannot recommend actually climbing this peak (it killed several colleagues of my father in one avalanche), there is a nice little park down at the base, where a glacier is rapidly melting. This area is easily reached by car, and the drive up is pleasant in it's own right -- lots of switchbacks in the forest. This area is especially good for children; there's nothing really dangerous around, so they can run about. Above the park are extensive alpine meadows -- they're quite a hike away, but along well-marked paths. Bring bug repellent -- biting flies can be prevalent. In the valley down below the mountain there's a unique sight: a river of boulders. Basically, imagine a normal river. Now fill it with boulders up to six feet across. One of the weirdest things I've ever seen; if I can find an exact map reference I'll post it here -- you should go see this if you can.

Malign Canyon.
This is simply stunning -- it's a deep river canyon that is, in some places, only a few feet wide. The result is a raging, twisted torrent. The rock formations are really cool, the noise is terrific (in the spring, when the river is up), and the whole thing is extremely accessible. This is a great stop for a car trip; nice and refreshing. The noise and heights (it's a fairly deep canyon in spots) can be a little scary for young children, and you absolutely MUST keep track of them lest they go someplace they shouldn't. There are rails and fences, but anybody falling into the canyon WILL be killed.

Athabasca Falls:
All right, it's a waterfall. But it's a big one, and it's nice to look at, especially in the spring when the water level is high. I liked it a lot. There's a decent campground nearby, the riverbanks are nice and rocky, and it's a good place to stop for the night. If you walk along the riverbank, away from the falls, you can have a pleasant time looking for jasper and other pseudo-precious stones. The river is, of course, freezing cold. Stay out of it.

Columbia Icefields.
OK, this is going to be packed with tourists, but it's still pretty nifty. The glacier itself is retreating rapidly, but the base of it is still reasonably close to the highway, and is interesting in it's own right (small ice caves, etc.). One thing that always intrigued me, as a kid, was "rock flour" -- ground up stone that, when wet, looks like a damp rock. The upshot is that a deep hole, filled with rock flour, looks like a big rock you can step on -- and you can't. I saw more than one person end up knee-deep in FREEZING cold grey mud. The glacier itself can be insanely dangerous, so if you travel up on one of the tours, for the love of god obey the guides! Also, do not be tempted by the prospect of "skiing" down the glacier on your hands and feet -- the "snow" is really abrasive ice, and if you fall you'll get some serious scrapes. Even if you don't fall, you'll completely destroy your gloves. I know this, because I did it when I was a kid.

Mt. Whistler.
In the winter this is a skiing area, but in the summer there's a cable car to the top, where there's some light hiking and general sight-seeing to be had. The views were excellent, and it's pretty cool to be walking around on the top of a mountain. The cable car stops a fair distance from the top, and it can be a tough scramble the rest of the way (ie., the elderly and infirm shouldn't try it in the thin air), but it's completely worth it -- especially if you aren't a skier or mountain climber. It's possible to get to the top without the cable car, but that would pretty much be an all-day climb, judging from what I saw of the people making the attempt.

Other:
There are innumerable small side-trips and excursions to be found -- but note that travel times can be significant. If you see a sign pointing to a waterfall or something, don't be surprised if the waterfall is 75km down a twisty side-road. Plan ahead, but not obsessively -- you can still seize the moment, if you wish.

Anyway, since most people tend to view the Rockies as a winter-time destination, I thought I'd point out that there are other attractions in the area that don't require snow. The roads are good, the infrastructure is good, there's lots to do, and the mountains are extremely impressive.



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