If you're heading to Banff for the day and are short on time and in need of a few suggestions, you've come to the right place. I visited the park at the beginning of summer, and have compiled a short-list of my favourite spots and activities.
1. The Gondola
For starters, you should definitely take the gondola to the summit of Sulphur mountain to experience the breath-taking views of the city. To purchase your tickets, you can either:
- wait in line and buy them at the Gondola site;
- buy them at the front desk of the Elk + Avenue Hotel; or,
- purchase them online (48 hours in advance), which will save you from standing in line for thirty-minutes.
In order to get there, I highly suggest taking the shuttle bus because it is free and comes every twenty minutes. One thing to be aware of; there is a time-limit on your gondola ride. Meaning that you only have two hours to explore the mountain before heading back down. You can, however, choose to stay up there for a longer period of time, but at an extra cost. With that being said, there is more than enough time to see everything, but just be conscious about how you divide your time. I spent half of my time exploring the boardwalk and Sanson's Peak, and the other half enjoying the three-floors of the Gondola Summit, which has an interactive museum, an art gallery, a gift store, and a restaurant.
Temperatures on the mountain vary, even in the summer months. So dress in layers, bring some mitts and a hat, and wear warm (closed toe) shoes.
2. Hiking
A morning jaunt up a mountain does the body and mind some good. Depending on the layout of the mountain's trail and switchbacks, it can be an intense incline. Be sure to pack enough water and snacks - the air in Banff and Calgary is really dry, so take breaks when necessary.
3. High Tea at the Fairmont Lake Louise
High tea has been a favourite of mine for years. My friends and I have made it a tradition to meet up for high tea at the Fairmont hotel in different cities (i.e., Ottawa, Toronto, Banff). The Fairmont Lake Louise offers an incredible English tea menu that is fit for a queen. Literally. They serve the late Princess Diana's favourite sandwich, which is the roast beef with golden beetroot & horseradish crème. We meet up here because the tea is incredible. But why do we keep going back to the same hotel? The service is always wonderful. They seem to have mastered the art of keeping a watchful eye on you while giving you just enough time and space to catch up, share good news, and enjoy the view from the window in peace and quiet.
4. Downtown
Here are a few honourable mentions for stores and activities near Downtown Banff:
- Ice cream at COWS Inc.: a super cute, handmade ice cream store that is based in P.E.I.
- The Rocky Mountain Soap Company: 100% natural products that you can smell from a mile away.
- Cave and Basin National Historic Site: a surreal cave with turquoise blue water that is believed to be the birthplace of Banff national park. It's a 2km walk from downtown Banff, but is worth the trouble. For a more enjoyable experience, you can also walk along a scenic trail that is parallel to the roadway.
