This year, I finally took that trip to Banff I’ve been dreaming of ever since I saw a photo of Lake Louise on Instagram. Call me a basic millennial – it did not disappoint. If a Banff trip is on your bucket list, I say bump it up to the top.
I have to confess something: I’m lazy. I’m not much of a camper, and in fact I went more than 20 years of my life without a trip to Yosemite despite living just a few hours away from it. I know.
Banff is no joke. There are certain trails where you must have a party of at least 4 people to hike there. Bears, elk, and moose are all over that place, and I certainly learned from Gypsy Guide that they’re not the cuddly type. Apparently in the 80’s the place was overrun with elk who would wander into town and someone even tried to put their small child on an elk’s back.
But, I digress. If you take the road more traveled and enjoy my tips below for a lazy girl’s guide to Banff, I’m sure you’ll have a great time – and not have to complain about being cold or hungry or dangerously close to grizzlys.
Rent a car
Or bring your own, of course. According to Alicia Haque of Go Live Explore, the road trip between Vancouver (one of my favorite cities) and Banff is stunning. Someday when finances allow, I’d love to take a Rocky Mountaineer train ride to Banff.
There’s a bus that provides transportation around the park, but if you value convenience and are conscious of your time, private transportation is the way to go. The alternative, of course, being a privately organized bus tour.
Download Gypsy Guide
I’m normally a huge fan of organized tours, but this time I discovered something even better – a lazy girl must. It’s called Gypsy Guide.
You can download the Calgary to Banff route for free. Unfortunately, I made that drive in the dark so there wasn’t much to see, but it’s a great way to test it out and see if it’s something you’d like to invest further in.
Now that I’m home, I’d like to use Gypsy Guide if I go to Big Sur – or yes, even Yosemite.
Hang out in Banff Town
Banff Town exceeded my expectations. It has a cute upscale feel to it, with several shops, restaurants, bars and art galleries. There’s a golf course not far from downtown near the Banff Springs Hotel if you happen to be there in the summer. And if you really want to be basic, they have the Banff Yoga Festival in May.
Enjoy the food scene
The food in Banff is awesome. Any place with that much fondue is sure to please, and a great dinner is the best way to cap off a day of sightseeing.
If for some reason eating elk and venison are your thing, you’ll be very happy in Banff.
The Grizzly House has been around for decades and even has a funny backstory. Apparently it used to be a popular destination for swingers in the 70s, which is the real reason the tables have phones on them. Take a look at the TripAdvisor reviews for all the funny comments coming from diners who have no idea why the phones are there (but are very amused by them).
They serve all sorts of exotic meats, from alligator to ostrich. You cook your own meat to your liking on a hot granite slab, which adds a fun DIY feel.
Some other great restaurants in Banff Town are Ticino for Swiss-Italian cuisine (fondue, check) and Melissa’s Missteak. You can tell the latter is an old-school pillar in Banff history, the kind where the menu hasn’t changed and neither has the quality.
One of my favorite “meals” was at the Chateau Fairmont Lake Louise, where me and my mom enjoyed afternoon tea with one of the best views on the planet. Je ne regrette rien, merci.
If you’re traveling to Banff during peak season, I recommend calling ahead to reserve a table. Each tea sitting comes with a three-tier stack of scones and sandwiches – and unlimited access to the dessert table. Keep your lunch light on the day that you do tea at the Fairmont.
Activities Outside Your Car
Banff Gondola
The Banff Gondola is a great activity to do early in your trip. It’ll give you a great, holistic view of the park. The weather tends to be about ten degrees chillier up top, so bring your jacket or some hand warmers if you’re a real pro.
Once you get to the top of the Banff Gondola, you can hang out for a few hours. There are some educational film screenings and exhibits. There’s also food. Tres important.
“Hot Springs”
Why the quotations? Because the truth is, the hot springs are just a warm, crowded swimming pool. Even the park employees call it a tourist trap. But it’s a nice way to take a break from sightseeing and relax.
Hotel Gawking
Between the Fairmont hotels, the Rimrock Resort, and all the nice spots around Banff Town, there’s plenty of hotel gawking to do. Eat at the hotel restaurants or just warm yourself up in the lobbies.
Lake Louise Canoes
The cost of this is going to hurt a bit, but by the time you get to Lake Louise you’ll have to remind yourself that you’ve come this far, dammit. Only drive up to Lake Louise if you have insane parking karma.
Your alternative options are to stay at the Fairmont there, or park at the shopping center and take the bus. If you take the bus, be very careful about its running times so you don’t find yourself stranded in the dark 5 kilometers away from your car.
Lake Louise is some distance (give or take an hour) from Banff Town. For convenience’s sake, I recommend staying nearby if you plan to see Lake Louise and then keep heading west. If the Fairmont is too rich for your blood, Paradise Bungalows and Deer Lodge looked cute, affordable and conveniently close by.
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is molto bella, but it’s not easy to see. People actually drive there at 5 AM to secure parking and just wait in the dark until the sun rises and they can actually see the lake.
Your alternative is to buy a bus ticket to see it. On a popular day, these can sell out in the morning. Moraine Lake is the kind of thing that you either plan well or get lucky with. The park clearly restricts access so much so that it can seem like you’ve won a lottery ticket if you get to see the lake.
If you really want to see this lake conveniently, you should probably suck it up and just pay the cost of staying at the Lake Moraine Lodge. They’re open open June-October and located right on the lake. They also rent out canoes to their guests, so you’ll really get to soak in the fun of staying nearby.
I didn’t get to do everything in Banff, like see the Icefield Parkway, Peyto Lake, and make it all the way to Jasper. That said, I would like to head back for another trip someday…and produce Lazy Girl’s Guide to Banff, Part Deux.
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