From stunning mountain views, unique stays and Canadian bucket-list items, there is so much to see and do in the Canadian Rockies. Here are some of the best activities and attractions for your own adventure in the Rockies in Banff, Jasper and Golden.
EXPLORING BANFF
Banff is a charming and picturesque town nestled in the rocky mountains of Alberta. It’s the perfect home base for exploring Banff National Park and enjoying outdoor adventures and sights. You’ll find Banff, about an hour and a half drive from Calgary. Even the views along the way are stunning. Make sure to keep an eye out for wildlife like deer, elk, bears and more. You’ll also notice the wildlife highways that are bridges made for animals to cross overhead.
Things To Do in Banff:
Lake Louise/Moraine Lake
Have a Canadian postcard moment at Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. You’ll quickly see why these lakes are so popular once you arrived. The view is absolutely unreal when you glance upon bright turquoise glacier water surrounded by mountains. For Lake Louise, I recommend walking the path along the edge of it. The farther you go, the less people there are. Although it’s busy, I still loved visiting here. You can also rent a canoe or kayak on location.
Moraine Lake is closed to vehicle traffic, but there is a Parks Canada shuttle that can bring you there. For Lake Louise, there is parking, but it fills up quickly. You can either take the Parks Canada shuttle from the main parking lot or take a Brewster Bus that starts in Calgary and will also bring you to other stops, including Canmore, Icefield Parkway and more.
Explore the Town of Banff
Get the classic Instagram shot on Banff Avenue, open for pedestrian traffic only in the summer. Make sure to check out local shops like Jolene’s Tea House and Rocky Mountain Soap Company.
Banff Gondola
Glide into the mountains for panoramic views from above on the Banff Gondola. The gondola is an 8-minute ride that will bring you 698 metres to the top of Sulphur Mountain.
Admire the views of six mountain ranges, the Bow Valley and the charming town of Banff. Keep an eye out for the family of mountain goats that live at the top. The gondola is also fully accessible.
If the weather cooperates, this would be a great spot for sunset. In the summer, enjoy lively nights on Peak Patio with live music, patio drinks and more. There’s also an award-winning restaurant at the top, Sky Bistro.
You can also spend some time in the discovery centre to learn more about Banff, Alberta wildlife and more. Head over to the paw prints section and compare your hand size to the grizzly print!
Returning in October 2023, you can see the Banff Gondola transformed with digital art installations with Nightrise, created by Moment Factory.
Where to Stay in Banff?
Stay central on picturesque Banff Avenue at Elk+Avenue. This modern hotel provides a contemporary twist on classic mountain accommodation.
The hotel has warm touches inside the rooms that are an ode to Canada. You’ll also find Rocky Mountain Soap Company inside your room that you can use. The in-room Nespresso was a convenient recharge when I arrived.
You’ll be right in downtown Banff with the main shops within walking distance. Elk + Avenue is also home to one of Banff’s best restaurants, Farm & Fire. There is also an adventure centre, gift shop and cafe attached.
Where to Dine in Banff?
Farm & Fire
Farm & Fire can be found inside Elk + Avenue and has a flavourful menu full of fresh ingredients from local farmers. They have a wood-fired pizza oven on site and have lots of creative dishes. I recommend getting a mix of plates to share.
My favourites were the roasted carrots with chickpea dukkah, and skirt steak with chimichurri. You need to try one of their wood-fired pizzas and end the night with their summer s’more dessert. I also recommend their passionfruit sour cocktail. There are plenty of items that are sure to catch your eye.
Farm & Fire also has a great breakfast menu, including a variety of breakfast bowls, strawberry and cream cheese french toast, sun-dried tomato avocado toast and more.
Brazen
You need to dine at Brazen while you’re in Banff. Brazen is a homage to the mavericks who built Banff.
Brazen’s menu has a bold style and taste. Every dish was so creative, and the desserts were works of art. I loved the inventive and flavourful menu.
This is a great spot to get dishes to share and try a mix of dishes. I am still dreaming of the crispy, truffle parmesan potatoes. Brazen has one of the best beef tartare I’ve ever had, and they added their own unique twist by offering crispy potato skins to go with it.
Other dishes I recommend are the ramen eggs, tuna toast, street corn ribs and ginger beef that is seared in front of you. They also have an impressive cocktail menu, including the smokin warden that smokes in front of you.
The desserts were surprising and creative, and I’d never seen anything like them before. They have a unique take on creme brulee that looks like an ashtray.
Brazen also has a creative breakfast menu, including a grilled cheese eggs benedict, Brazen raisin french toast with miso caramel and more. I couldn’t resist their classic breakfast, but it was definitely hard to narrow down to one item.
COLUMBIA ICEFIELD ADVENTURE
2 hours drive from Banff
You’ll drive the Icefield Parkway to get to this adventure, one of Canada’s most beautiful drives. Head onto the Columbia Icefield in an Ice Explorer, walk on the Athabasca Glacier, drink from a Glacier, wake up to glacier views and more on this Canadian bucket-list experience. Read my complete guide, including activities, a unique stay and more.
GOLDEN SKYBRIDGE
2 hours 10 minutes from Columbia Icefield Adventure | 1 hour 33 minutes from Banff
Get your adrenaline pumping at Golden Skybridge in Golden, BC. This adventure park is full of fun activities for kids of all ages 😉 This is a great day trip activity from Banff or the Columbia Icefield Adventure. Find some highlights below.
Suspension Bridge
This is Canada’s highest suspension bridge, where you can walk 426 feet above a canyon. There are two suspension bridges, both offering unique vantage points of the Columbia Valley and the canyon below.
This is where the adventure begins. Truth be told, I am scared of heights but made myself cross them twice! The views are incredible. It’s completely safe, and the signage before you walk on says it can hold the weight of over 100 bears, but it was a mind-over-matter situation.
It does sway a bit as you move along and get closer to other people on the bridge. Personally, I couldn’t stop on the bridge and had to make sure I kept moving, but everyone in my group was totally fine and had no fears.
Railrider Mountain Coaster
This was my favourite activity at Golden Skybridge! Glide along the mountain coaster while soaking in the mountain views. Cruise through the forest, along the canyon edge and down the mountainside. This thrilling mountain coaster can go up to 40 km/hr. There’s even a soundtrack as you cruise along. This experience is sure to have you smiling.
I recommend getting the unlimited pass because you’ll want to do this again. After the mountain coaster, grab a photo at the ‘Touch the Sky’ bench.
Ziplining
Soar through the sky on a 1000-foot zipline 500 feet above the canyon.
Other activities include axe throwing, rock climbing on the 28-foot rock wall, a tree-top circuit and more.
The Village Grill
Fuel up between adventures at The Village Grill. I recommend getting the Nashville chicken and sandwich rings. It was so tasty.
Visit their website for a complete list of activities and to buy tickets in advance (and save). I recommend getting the unlimited pass to do your favourite activities multiple times.
Find more adventures in Alberta, British Colombia
This trip was with Pursuit. They have incredible experiences across the globe, including in Canada. I recommend checking out their other Banff/Jasper experiences to add to this trip. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I hope you enjoy this adventure as much as I did 🙂 Feel free to comment any questions!
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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