Day 18: June 01 – Alberta, Canada

Travel day. Always a mix of butterflies and bittersweet goodbyes — and today was no exception.

Saying Goodbye in Temecula

We left Temecula and said our goodbyes to family. I already miss my parents, of course, and my aunts — Baby, who gave me a wallet I absolutely love, and Auntie Little. Aunt Lyn treated us throughout this trip, and so did Uncle Edward — everyone was incredibly generous, and we soaked up every last minute together before heading out.

Getting to LAX

Our flight was scheduled for 3 PM, but we left around 12 noon to give ourselves time to drop off the rental car at LAX before boarding. After returning the car, we hopped on the rental car shuttle bus over to the WestJet terminal.

For anyone flying WestJet out of LAX: check-in happens at Terminal 2, but departures — security screening and boarding — actually take place at Terminal 3, since the two are connected airside as part of LAX’s newer, rebuilt Terminal 3 complex. So don’t be surprised if you check in at one terminal and end up walking (or getting bused) over to another to reach your gate.
Funny enough, LAX has a bit of a reputation gap. It’s actually the third-busiest airport in the United States and one of the busiest in the world by total traffic — yet, as we found out, “busiest” doesn’t necessarily mean “best.” LAX is spread across nine separate passenger terminals connected by shuttle rather than an internal train, so depending on which terminal your airline uses, your experience can vary wildly. Some terminals (like the Tom Bradley International Terminal) have solid dining and shopping; others feel pretty bare-bones — which tracks with what we experienced at the WestJet terminal. Options were limited, and even the Duty Free selection was underwhelming. I ended up just grabbing a Starbucks while we waited for our flight to Calgary.

One thing I’ll give LAX credit for: efficiency at the gate. Scan your boarding pass, go through the standard screening, and you’re set for departure. No unnecessary friction there.

Wheels Up to Calgary

We boarded at 2:42 PM California time, and the flight itself was smooth sailing. We touched down in Calgary at 7:33 PM local time — it was raining when we landed, and the air hit us cold the moment we stepped off the plane. Evening temperatures in Calgary in early June typically sit around 7–9°C (45–48°F), a real shock to the system coming from warm Southern California. Definitely pack a jacket if you’re making this same trip in early summer — the days can be pleasant, but it cools down fast once the sun starts thinking about setting.

Breezing Through Canadian Immigration

This was the pleasant surprise of the day. Canadian immigration at YYC (Calgary International Airport) was fast and refreshingly modern. Here’s how it works: you complete your declaration at a Primary Inspection Kiosk (PIK) — you scan your passport, take your own photo, and answer a few quick questions on-screen. The kiosk prints a small stub, and that’s what you hand to the border services officer in line — no need to hand over your passport again at that stage.

Turns out we experienced Calgary’s border tech near the tail end of a real modernization push. YYC rolled out expanded Primary Inspection Kiosks specifically to speed up international arrivals, and travelers using the advance digital declaration option (through the ArriveCAN-style system) can skip straight to express lanes. Even without pre-registering, the kiosk process alone made our arrival dramatically faster than a traditional paper-declaration-card line.
The officer’s questions were simple and standard: What’s your occupation? Where are you staying? Are you carrying currency or food declarations? A few quick answers, and we were through — no drama at all.

First Impressions:

Driving (and Parking) in Calgary

Parking in Calgary works pretty similarly to what we’re used to in the US — you scan a code or ticket at a pay station and pay based on how long you’re staying, no attendant required. Nothing unfamiliar there.

What did throw us off was the roads themselves. Coming from the US, where highways and city streets alike are massive, wide, and built for room to spare, Calgary’s roads felt noticeably narrow in comparison. It was a bit of a letdown at first — I wasn’t expecting the contrast to be that obvious.

Service was another adjustment. Overall, it didn’t feel quite as attentive as what we’re used to back in the US, even though Canada has its own tipping culture that’s very similar to America’s — tips are expected at restaurants, and menus don’t typically include them in the price. So the expectation is there, just the energy behind it felt a little different.

One tip if you’re planning a similar trip: rent a car. It’s pretty much essential if you want to properly experience Canada, especially if the Canadian Rockies are on your list. Places like Banff and Lake Louise aren’t easily reached by public transit, and having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to stop for viewpoints, wildlife, and those “pull over, we have to get a photo of this” moments that road trips are made for.

Calgary’s Endless June Daylight

By the time we met up with my brother’s college professor and his family for dinner, it was already 9 PM Calgary time — and it was still not dark outside. This isn’t a fluke. Calgary sits at roughly 51°N latitude, which is significantly farther north than most U.S. cities we’re used to. In early June, near the summer solstice, Calgary gets close to 16.5 hours of daylight, with sunset not happening until around 9:30–9:45 PM and a long, lingering twilight after that. If you’re visiting Western Canada in summer, pack accordingly — you might not need that flashlight after all, but you will want blackout curtains for sleep.
(Side note: my brother and his wife were “hangry” enough by this point to bolt straight for the rental car counter the moment we cleared the airport. Fair.)

Dinner: Fusion Sushi & Thai All-You-Can-Eat

We had dinner at Fusion Sushi & Thai, an all-you-can-eat spot with last orders at 10 PM. We made it in time and did not regret it — the food was appetizing, generous, and satisfying after a full day of travel. The grilled meats were a standout, along with the sushi and specialty rolls. Huge thanks to Sir Mervin and family for treating us — what a warm welcome to Canada.

First Night: EconoLodge

We checked into an EconoLodge for $65 USD (roughly ₱4,000). The room was spacious with two double beds, a private bathroom, and parking available on-site — solid value for a first-night stopover. After a long travel day, it was exactly what we needed: a comfortable bed and a good night’s sleep before tomorrow’s adventures begin.

Next up: Day 19 in Calgary — stay tuned!