Banff

If you have the chance and the time, be sure to take an excursion and go dog sledding! The best tour company for this is Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours. They are the real deal – a family operated group that truly have a love for the dogs. The scenery is amazing!

I stayed in Banff for only four days for a wedding. I am DEFINITELY coming back as soon as I am able. The national park is absolutely huge, with lots of trails of varying degrees of difficulty. It’s impossible not to miss the wildlife – elk, big-horn sheep, mule deer, moose, grizzly bears, just to name a few. Lake Louise is not to be missed, but be sure to hike further towards the glacier plains.

I stayed at The Juniper Hotel, which I highly recommend. The rooms are small, but who cares because you’ll want to be outside anyway!

Hey there! I’ll be visiting Banff for a wedding in late May. Decided to turn the visit into a 4-day outdoor adventure weekend. I’m hoping some of you folks can help me with some recommendations. My sister and I want to go kayaking, our fiancees want to do some hiking. Can anyone recommend a place where we can rent kayaks? Any adventure outfitters come to mind? Moderatelly difficult trails? Also, what is the weather generally like around that time? Thanks!

In the ‘70’s, it was as if God needed a place to rest and he created Banff.

I arrived in the night during winter and couldn’t figure out why there were stars visible only directly overhead. When the sun rose the next morning, I was dumb struck by the peaks that surround Banff.

And the Banff Hotel is a part of Europe transported here magically.

I don’t know if Banff has been Park City-ized in the 30 years since I visited but it was heaven on earth back then!

I was stunned. What I love about Banff that sets it apart from most other regions of natural beauty is the centralized village and the large arts community. Whistler is a great ski resort, however that’s all it is in the end. Banff is that and much, much more. I knew I would really enjoy the scenery, but I didn’t expect to want to live in Banff when I visited.

Banff has great shopping and food. Vermillion Lakes is one of my favorite place to take pictures at. The colors are amazing. I go there several times a year.

The Fairmont is wonderful and is very relaxing. The suites are very nice. Banff is a good place to use as a base, there is so much to see in the area.

Visiting Banff in college, I remember checking into the local hostel and after the old fella behind the counter noticed I was from Texas he began asking me about JR, Dallas, and such. He wouldn’t let me leave until I said, “y’all come back now!”

Anyone who’s been to Banff must have read this somewhere. I thought they were hilarious :D They’re a bunch of true questions asked by tourists to the staff working at Banff. Enjoy:

1. How do the Elk know they’re supposed to cross at the “Elk Crossing” signs?
2. At what elevation does an Elk become a Moose?

3. Tourist: “How do you pronounce ‘Elk’?” Park Information Staff: ” ‘Elk’ “Tourist: “Oh”.

4. Are the Bears with collars tame?

5. Is there anywhere I can see the bears pose?

6. Is it okay to keep an open bag of bacon on the picnic table, or should I store it in my tent?

7. Where can I find Alpine Flamingos?

8. I saw an animal on the way to Banff today – could you tell me what it was?

9. Are there birds in Canada?

10. Did I miss the turnoff for Canada?

11. Where does Alberta end and Canada begin?

12. Do you have a map of the State of Jasper?

13. Is this the part of Canada that speaks French, or is that Saskatchewan?

14. If I go to B.C., do I have to go through Ontario?

15. Which is the way to the Columbia Rice fields?

16. How far is Banff from Canada?

17. What’s the best way to see Canada in a day?

18. Do they search you at the B.C. border?

19. When we enter B.C. do we have to convert our money to British pounds?

20. Where can I buy a raccoon hat? ALL Canadians own one, don’t they?

21. Are there phones in Banff?

22. So it’s eight kilometres away… is that in miles?

23. We’re on the decibel system you know.

24. Where can I get my husband really, REALLY, lost??

25. Is that two kilometres by foot or by car?

26. Don’t you Canadians know anything?

27. Where do you put the animals at night?

28. Tourist: “How do you get your lakes so blue?” Park staff: “We take the water out in the winter and paint the bottom”. Tourist: “Oh!”

So go see them. Best way is by train, in the back bar car. Not sure if they still exist but that was remarkable. Listen to Gordon Lightfoot’s “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” then go.

a few years ago. I’ve been going there ever since I was a wee lil’ monster.