Banff is a picturesque town located in the Canadian Rockies in the province of Alberta. It is a popular tourist destination visited by tourists throughout the year( July and August are the busiest months). The best way to reach Banff is from Calgary. Most of you would probably land at Calgary International Airport. Whenever I used to see photographs of Banff, I wondered how can anything be so perfect like a painting or maybe the pictures have been edited using some software. The bewitching scenery, crystal clear lakes, high peaked mountains, all lulled me into a gentle stupor. Now, I could realize that the photographs were real without any doctoring.
Best way to reach Banff from Calgary International airport
There are a number of car rental companies at the airport. We rented a car from National car rental. This part of Canadian Rockies is so picturesque that it will be best to rent a car. You will want to make several stops on the way to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and lakes.
Banff is at an elevation of around 4540 feet. The drive is so enjoyable as you gently and gradually climb the mountains. The roads are wide and you will not feel the hairpin bends. This has been the best drive ever.
If you plan to visit the area during the summer months, booking the hotels well in advance is a must, otherwise, you will be left with very few options and will also end up paying a higher rate.
Accommodation
I joined this trip with my sister and family in the month of August. We started looking for hotels from the month of June itself but found all of the hotels to our liking to be fully booked. We decided to stay in Canmore at Stone Ridge Mountain Resort by Clique and enjoyed our stay in the luxurious 2 bedroom suite. The rooms have a beautiful view of the Three Sister Mountains. What I really liked about this place is the proximity to all the locations that we wanted to visit. The full kitchen, a washer and dryer units ensuite was a plus.
My favourite spot to have my breakfast and watch the scenery
The resort has underground parking making it perfect for all seasons. We were so glad that we stayed in Canmore and not Banff. Banff can get very crowded during July- August and Canmore seemed to be so peaceful. I felt Canmore is a perfect base to enjoy the Canadian Rockies and view of the Three Sisters Mountain Range every day from the balcony was a real treat.
View of the Three Sisters from the balcony
Since we had a full kitchen in our suite, we bought enough groceries for our week’s stay from Calgary and some from Safeway in Canmore town ( about a 5-minute drive from the resort).
Canmore town
Banff downtown
It is located within the Banff National park. The downtown is a perfect place to stroll around and buy some souvenirs.
My favourite place to eat there is Nourish Bistro, a vegan place. It is better to reserve a table in advance or you will be standing in queue for a long time. They have some great fresh juice(” Beat it ” in particular) and lip-smacking innovative Nachos( I have never had this kind of a version anywhere else )
The beautiful small picturesque town is surrounded by magnificent mountains and has several boutiques, cafes and wooden chalets.
I loved the Rocky Mountain Soap Company to buy some handmade soaps, organic lip balms and lotions. Whenever I go to a particular place, I always prefer buying things that are made locally and that’s how they become special. At this store, all the products available are made locally and I was really impressed by the variety of fragrance they have. By the way, they have products for both men and women 🙂
On the edge at Glacier Skywalk
The route from Banff to Icefields parkway is terrifically scenic with a lot of places to pull over to enjoy and appreciate the stunning scenery. Don’t miss the beautiful Bow Lake.
Bow Lake
You have to reach the Columbia Glacier Discovery Centre and get the tickets. It is about two and a half hours’ drive from Banff. From here, a bus will take you on a short ride to the point where you can start your walk to the Glacier Skywalk.
Even though it is called Glacier Skywalk, you don’t get to see any glacier from here. You will be able to walk on a glass-floored skywalk which is built above 900 feet over the Sunwapta Valley. The nearest glacier is a few kilometres away from here.
Free audio guides are available to know about the history and wildlife of the area. If you are acrophobic, you can still view the valley from a point without actually walking on the glass skywalk.
Just managed to sit for a pose
On reaching the skywalk, I hesitated a bit to proceed but ultimately along with the crowd, I pushed myself forward to get the courage to look down from the glass and see the stunning view of the valley. I actually sat down as I was more comfortable that way.
Enchanting Lake Louise
Lake Louise, Banff
This was the highlight of the trip. I usually prefer less crowded places though this lake was much crowded but I loved this lake the most. This lake has a spectacular mountain backdrop and the overall scenery is beautiful. We went sometime in the afternoon. I had a strong urge to sit there for hours. By the way, do not forget to carry a good bug spray as there were lots of bugs.
Canoeing
After a while, we went canoeing in Lake Louise which was so much fun and as you get closer to the mountains, the scenery gets even better . The waters are in the stunning shades of turquoise.
We went for a 1-hour ride. This is a perfect activity if you are travelling as a family or with a group of friends.
Gondola ride
Gondola station is a 5 minutes drive from Banff. There is also a free shuttle from Banff town. This is a ride that should not be missed if you are in and around Banff. I had a wonderful time on a 4 passenger open chair while going up and a closed glass cabin gondola while coming back. The view was breathtaking and we were excited to be reaching an elevation of 7000+ feet above sea level.. It is just an 8-10 minute ride to reach up to the Sulphur mountain.
There is a Starbucks, washroom and also an information desk at the Gondola Terminal. Having a clear day is important to enjoy the whole Gondola experience and we were lucky to have a bright and sunny day. A maximum of 2 hours should be enough including the 1 km hike to the summit of Sulphur mountain. It was a bit windy up there, so it is wise to carry a light jacket and a scarf.
Lake Minnewanka Cruise
The Devil’s Gap
The views from Lake Minnewanka are eye-catching. No wonder the cruise was full as also the parking lot. Reaching early would be good otherwise parking can be a challenge. There is also a bus running on regular intervals from Banff and Canmore to reach here.
You can see around Lake Minnewenka better from a boat compared to watching it from the shoreline. It was a 1-hour cruise. The guide was very informative and explained about the area and the wildlife. If you have the time, include this in your itinerary since it is less crowded than the other nearby lakes. If you are lucky, you might spot some animals, we spotted a bear climbing a mountain.
Calgary downtown
Stay at Calgary
We stayed here just for a night at Hotel Le Germain that is located across the street from the Calgary Tower. It is a lovely boutique hotel with excellent modern well-equipped rooms. Malls and restaurants are all within walking distance.
”The family of Man” – Interesting!
Cafe
Veg-In YYC, a small cafe on 6th avenue is a great place to try some delicious wraps and burgers.
I love to stop by at Tim Hortons for a cup of French Vanilla and simple toasted and buttered Bagels 🙂
Shopping at Calgary
There are a number of malls in Calgary and we visited the CORE Shopping centre that has the leading international and Canadian brands. If you are seriously looking to do some good shopping in Canada, then Calgary is a good place since Alberta is the only province where you will not be paying the PST( Provincial Sales Tax). You will be paying just the 5 % GST on top of the price tag.
An unforgettable journey comes to an end and waiting to have another adventure in some other beautiful destination.
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