Why Banff Alberta Has to be on Your Trip List
Having lived in Calgary, Alberta for 10 years, and continuing to visit when I can, I can recommend Banff as an epic vacation adventure.
Banff is more than just mountain tops although that’s often enough for sightseeing visitors here.
You’ve been captivated by the images of the Rocky Mountains, turquoise blue lakes, the Banff Springs Hotel, and waterfall canyons for sure. And the Canadian wildlife including Elk, deer, mountain goats, Bighorn sheep, hawks, bears, and marmots are a big draw. And the town of Banff itself is a treat in every way. I brought a nephew and niece to see the splendor of the Banff region, and it’s quite an experience for any child that hasn’t experienced 12,000′ high mountain ranges and its wildlife. Your kids will find the hikes, views, culture, and fresh air exciting.
What will you discover, experience, and surprise you and leave you with warm memories for a lifetime?
Will it be the views at Lake Louise or the skywalk on Sulphur mountain that is etched in your mind? Will it be getting close to a giant Elk or a mountain sheep, or seeing a Grizzly Bear? Or will it be the rushing, cascading rivers and waterfalls in Johnston Canyon, or will it be a visit to Banff Springs Hotel, the castle of Banff.
From pristine nature to good food to celebrating the lifestyle with the people of Banff, design your Banff vacation so you get the richest experience possible. You might design a trip on your own, or look for OTA in Alberta to help.
Why Procrastinate? You’re Not Getting Younger!
If you’ve been on the fence for a while and are still hunting for reasons and motivations for a Banff Trip, then I hope you’ll find some here. From nature hiking trips to strolling Banff Avenue shops to visiting the spectacular Banff Springs Hotel, attending the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, or driving along the Bow Valley parkway, this is the best place to immerse yourself deeply into Canadian Rocky mountain culture.
You could arrange this whole Banff, Canada trip yourself, but why suffer? A travel agent is a great resource to help you pack in some great experiences.
I mean, if there’s no one to inspire you, give you first hand insights into Banff’s lifestyle and attractions, nor help guide your itinerary, then your travel agent is here to make his vacation/trip process super easy. And if you’re a Brit, Aussie, Vietnamese, South Korean, or French person, having someone knowledgeable in Alberta to rely on when there’s issues is comforting and time saving.
Let’s keep saving for your trip and get over anything else that might be blocking you from this epic adventure in Canada.
I’ve had great experiences in Banff, such as white water rafting, hiking Lake Louise and Johnson Canyon with family, staying at the Banff Springs Hotel, playing golf, mountain biking, skiing, and soaking in the Banff Hot Springs.
In fact, part of my ritual is to grab an early morning coffee at a Evelyn’s Coffee Bar in downtown Banff and sit in a chair outside and just let the mountain air and people seep into my soul. And walking around talking with shop owners, taking hiking tours, and attending cultural events is a way to learn more about this unique place.
However, I haven’t done everything I want to do, including parasailing, horseback riding, canoeing on Moraine Lake, Via Ferrata group mountain climb, and a long summer hike at 7500 feet above sea level in Sunshine Mountain meadows (where I’ve skiid).
Travel agents know where to start, where the good stuff is, who’s running excellent guided tours, and how you can get connected to activities, attractions and some fun experiences so you’ll feel like you got the most from this world class destination.
And there’s lots to do in Banff National Park, Canada’s greatest treasure. Let’s begin your exploration!
What You Should Visit in Banff
What you can and should visit depends on your health and interests.
I like hiking and so do a lot of people visiting Banff.
Active Adventures in Banff
Active adventurers will want to go white water rafting in Canmore. It’s a thrill and safe too. Climbing the Sulphur mountain trail (8041 feet alt), having a bite to eat at, and then taking the Gondola back down (my must do activity). And walking the Johnson’s Canyon catwalk is truly fantastic with its rugged, colorful character canyon walls and waterfalls, with some peaceful forest trail walks.
The new thrills are the Via Ferrata hiking trails up high on Mt Norquay. They’re an exciting addition to the Banff experience giving you heart pounding thrills and epic views of Banff village. Similar to Via Ferrata hiking is canyoning. If you’re fit and up for it, it looks like an invigorating adventure too.
Yes, You Can Golf Here!
Won’t go anywhere, where you can’t golf? Well, then you’ve got no excuses. Because there are two world class golf courses with unparalleled views of the Rockies.
Playing golf at Banff Springs Hotel’s course is epic too with the towering peaks surrounding you and you’ll have to play around the Elk that rest and eat the grass. And 30 km south, Canmore’s Silvertip Resort Golf Course has incredible and distracting views of towering peaks nearby. I haven’t played at Silvertip in decades, however, I still remember that day. That’s as good as golf gets.
With heli-hiking, you can go anywhere you want up there in the high country, but just be sure to be in a group tour (bears). I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never visited Lake O’hara to the north, but is something you must see on your trip. If you’re very fit and energetic as I am, you will enjoy the long hike in Lake Louise over the Beehive and then down across the plain of six glaciers to the second tea house. You can stop for a tea and biscuit and learn about the family who operated the tea house and lived there summer and winter. Incredible story.
You’ll enjoy a nice ride around Banff town too but you’ll need to give the Elk their room. They’re all over the golf course and it’s amazing to get so close to these huge animals.
Leisurely Activities in Banff Area
For the more leisurely crowd, which I’m included within too, a visit to Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise are musts. You’ll really enjoy learning about the history of these castles and about mountain climbing here, which has a strong Swiss note, since Swiss guides were brought in to conduct tours and help build Banff. Moraine Lake is too awesome to describe with turquoise water and surrounding mountain peaks (once pictured on our $20 bills).
The Whyte Museum in downtown Banff is not pricey and offers a brief look at the history of the area, and includes art collections, wildlife displays, and other exhibits.
Banff’s Many Eateries are an Authentic Canadian Experience Too
Of course, food is a key highlight for many visitors to Banff. because you want to eat the local food and enjoy being spoiled by an epic Canadian chef. Viator offers 3 different Banff cuisine tours including the delightful Banff Springs hotel food tour.
MiCaleb on YouTube offer their appreciation of Banff’s best restaurants:
And you can try elk burgers down in the village like I do at the Bison Restaurant on Bear Street (great views) or at the Maple Leaf for a Saskatoon Bison Burger with gouda cheese and saskatoon bacon jam or 3 Bears for its excellent, lively ambience and a Kale/Elk styled meal. You can have a Bison burrito and the Magpie and Stump too! And at SkyBistro atop Sulphur Mountain you might enjoy more than just awesome views of Banff village below such as the Brisket Burger and the Smoked salmon.
Relaxing in a Mountain Hot Springs
After a day of hiking, climbing or walking, you’ll want to soothe your tired body, so a trip to the Banff Hot Springs is a great option. It’s a natural water fed pool and it’s warm. Try to go when it’s less busy, and if you’re visiting during cooler days, the experience is excellent. I typically last more than a hour there.
If wellness spas and massages are something you’d enjoy, there’s a number of businesses that offer such experiences. including the Fairmont Lake Louise Spa, Rimrock Spa, Willow Stream Spa, and the Banff Springs Hotel spa.
Need a Special Wellness Spa Pass?
Resort Pass offers inexpensive day passes for a spa experience at the Banff Springs Hotel! Go ahead pamper yourself!
As you might now realize, Banff and Lake Louise are a superb vacation destination, one of the best destinations on the planet and a trip of a lifetime. That’s why you’ll want to do it right so you get to experience the best activities in the right order. You’ll have no regrets as you’ve immersed yourself in Rocky Mountain panoramas and culture.
Read more the best travel destinations you might visit in 2025/2026.
