Town of Banff

Town of Banff: The townsite is about 90 minutes from Calgary via the Trans Canada Highway, and less than two hours from Calgary International Airport.
Ice skating and sculptures in winter.

Banff Avenue :" This is the Main Street in Banff. You will fall in love right away with Banff Avenue. There are many shops, restaurants and art galleries."

Banff Springs Hotel: Styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle

Banff Upper Hot Springs
Bathe in soothing and recuperative Hot Springs with the spectacular Canadian Rockies right in front of you. If you don't bring your own towel and bathing suit, these are available to rent for just under C$2 each. But take note: the bathing suits on hand are old fashioned to match the bath house's 1930s style.

Bow Falls
Frozen in winter. The 1953 Marilyn Monroe film The River of No Return featured the falls.

Bow River Side Walk
The trail across the river leads to the Bow Falls

Cave and Basin

This is the birthplace of Canada’s National Park system. You will visit and see the Cave that three railway workers discovered years and years ago.

Hoodoos: (Tunnel Mountain Drive) : Hoodoos are composed sedimentary rock covered by harder rock that is harder to erode. Once softer sediment erodes rock needle, or tower like natural obstacles are left.

Restaurants: Earls, The Keg Steakhouse and Bar,  Spaghetti Factory, Tony Roma's (Mount Royal Hotel)

Sulphur Mountain Gondola: Banff’s only Gondola takes you up to the top of Sulphur Mountain and you will have a panoramic view of the Canadian Rockies. The gondola ride takes about 7 minutes and there is a cafeteria and restaurant at the top as well as a gift shop. You can walk on the boardwalk to next peak to the observation decks. Ice skating and sculptures in winter at base.

Surprise Corner: Locally known as Surprise Corner (but there is no sign), this is the spot where most of the famous pictures have been taken of the historic Banff Springs Hotel

Tunnel Mountain Drive : "There is a viewpoint on your left where you can see town of Banff. Keep going North, once you get to the junction you can take a left to get back to the town or turn right to go towards the Hoodoos:. After the Hoodoos, keep going and you will end up at a "T" junction, take a left to get on Banff Ave which takes you back to town."

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Day Trips from Calgary

Banff National Park

Lake Louise
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Lake Louise

Banff National Park

Set in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It attracts roughly 4 million visitors each year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entry Fee for Adult per day: $9.80
When you enter the park, ask for a free Map of Banff National Park

*** (Bow Valley Parkway) Highway 1A "This is an just an alternate highway to Lake Louise, but you can travel at much slower speeds and you may have a chance of seeing wildlife. If you see other cars stopping, especially tour buses, that usually means there is something out there. Early in the morning you might have a bigger chance to see wildlife. " See Johnston Canyon

Interesting fact:

"The Trans-Canada Highway near Banff has million-dollar overpasses just for wildlife"- Canada Cool

Johnston Canyon You can walk along the Canyon listening the water and feeling the breeze. There is a paved walkway to the second waterfalls about 3 Km one way. You will see ancient water erosion of the canyon and see how long it took to what we see now. Johnston Canyon Resort. Wear comfortable shoes, a walking stick is handy. Winter: Ice climbing. The catwalk and waterfalls are frozen in winter, use ice-walkers and a walking stick.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Lake Louise
Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Lake Louise

"Every year, millions of people come to Banff National Park to marvel at the emerald waters of Lake Louise set against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier which is probably the most beloved and most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies. Walk clockwise around the lake to get closer to the glacier and a view of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Close to Moraine Lake"

Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola:
Spectacular views of Lake Louise, Victoria Glacier, and the peaks of the Continental Divide. Adult +- $25

In the footsteps of Dr. Zhivago

Lake Louise Train Station
Vintage rail cars, landscaped gardens and turn of the century historic log station. Walk in the footsteps of Doctor Zhivago (1965)
"Stock shots of rail travel from the Lake Louise area appeared in Dr. Zhivago, which starred Julie Christie and Omar Sharif."

Lake Minnewanka
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**Minnewanka Loop You can stop at Lake Minnewanka for a light walk or boat cruise (there are washrooms). Stop at Two Jack lake for a picnic and watch locals fish or canoe (there is an outhouse). Go to Johnson Lake and walk around the lake or watch locals swim on a hot day. You may see Big Horn sheep between Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake.

Moraine Lake:

Valley of the Ten Peaks. Crystal clear blue lake, spectacular mountain scenery, third highest mountain in the Rockies. Close to Lake Louise

TOKELOSHE ©

Banff National Park

6 Degrees C. Drive to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake
& Banff. Lunch Old Spaghetti Factory Banff - Bow Falls- Banff

We took our son and he's girlfriend to Banff National park again. The weather was cloudy; fortunately it started clearing up when we reached Lake Louise, which had a lovely milk color. There were some canoes out on the lake, but we didn’t row out as it costs $35 to rent and we have a canoe at home. There were two guys who went into the cold glacial water with only their bathing suits on. Our dog who was the only dog there, attracted a lot of attention from the tourists.

We stopped at Lake Louise train station, which we had not been to before.

Afterward we went to Moraine Lake, which was emerald green. The driftwood on the beach makes for lovely photos.There were also canoes in the water.

We I posed at the life-sized toy bear, at the gift shop and restaurant. We made as if it was attacking us, but when we saw the photos, the friendly face of the grizzly didn’t work as expected. We had fun though.

Afterwards we went to Bow Falls, our son and he's girlfriend hadn’t seen before and us only in winter. It was a torrent of white water, apparently kayaks go down it sometimes, but there weren’t any then. We saw a fantastic view of the fantastic Banff Springs Hotel, from the stairs, which we hadn’t noticed before. Unfortunately we didn’t see any animals besides squirrels and birds.

We then went to the town of Banff, where we had lunch at The old Spaghetti factory. The waiter was very friendly, the food of good value and relaxing 1900's décor. It is on the second floor and I sat by the window watching horse drawn carriages, (two weddings), limos & trolleys come by. I had Lasagna.

More photos of Lake Louise and Banff