Banff: Welcome to the Rockies
Due to the devastating fires in Jasper, our original itinerary was altered, and we were allocated additional nights in Banff. Our first hotel was the newly constructed Hotel Canoe and Suites on Banff Avenue. The recently completed rooms were fabulous. Ours featured a spacious bedroom/sitting area with a gas fireplace, a good-sized balcony facing the rear, a well-equipped kitchenette, and a large bathroom with a walk-in shower.
We dined at Sudden Sally, the excellent onsite restaurant, and enjoyed both breakfasts and dinners there. The hotel staff were fantastic, continuing the warm Canadian hospitality we’d come to appreciate.
After two long days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, we decided to take it easy, explore Banff town, and breathe in the fresh Rocky Mountain air. After breakfast, we caught the brilliant Roam Transit local bus service. A free pass was kindly provided by the hotel for the duration of our stay. These small buses are frequent, punctual, and very convenient. A stop was located directly outside the hotel, and the journey into the town centre took around five minutes, with multiple stops en-route.
I use the Transit app on my iPhone (which has worked well for me in other countries), and I think it’s brilliant to check bus times and how long until the next bus arrives. At the time of our visit, a local bus day pass was just $5. You can find more info on Roam Transit online. We hopped off in the town centre and browsed around the varied shops for a while, bumping into several of our travel companions from the Rocky Mountaineer. From there, we wandered over to the Banff National Park Administration Building, located at the end of Banff Avenue across the Bow River.
It was a beautiful morning, and I was still pinching myself that we were actually in Banff. It’s a stunning town with jaw-dropping mountain scenery and sits at an elevation of 4,537 feet (1,383m). As it was getting late in the morning, we took a break at Evelyn’s, a fantastic coffee bar on Banff Avenue that we’d found recommended on social media, and it didn’t disappoint. We ended up staying for lunch as well. Social media travel groups were really helpful in our planning stages, and much of the advice we followed led us to great food spots and practical travel tips.
After our pit stop, we took a walk along the Bow River, heading first to Bow Falls. It was the third week of September, and relatively busy, but Banff never felt overrun during our stay. The weather was ideal: sunny, crisp, and autumnal, perfect for a walk along the river. The falls themselves aren’t especially tall or dramatic, but they’re still a beautiful and peaceful spot, and a lovely place to sit and listen to the water as it rushed past.
One thing to always keep in mind in this part of Canada is the wildlife. Bears and other animals are known to wander into town, so it’s important to stay alert. With the number of people walking to Bow Falls that day, the human presence likely deterred wildlife, but that shouldn’t be relied upon. A few days later, we walked a much quieter stretch of the Bow River, and it became clear we weren’t alone. Our hotel had loaned us a can of bear spray, and when we came across large, fresh paw prints in the mud near the river, it certainly sharpened our awareness. Thankfully, we returned the bear spray unused that evening, but it was a valuable reminder to stay cautious and be respectful of the natural environment.
We rounded off our first full day in Banff with a visit to COWS, a fantastic ice cream store on Banff Avenue, offering delicious flavours. We couldn’t resist going back several times during our stay. That evening, we had dinner back at Sudden Sally’s and enjoyed the relaxed, welcoming vibe around the hotel after a day full of walking, exploring, and mountain air.
Tips:
- Pack clothing for all weathers. Layers always work best and comfortable footwear with good gripping soles is a must for hiking.
- The Roam Transit pass is excellent and for $5 per day. Its worth looking into other routes further a field, such as Lake Louise.
- Walk the Bow River to the Bow River falls. Its wonderful.
- Ask your hotel for some bear spray- Be prepared and listen to the advice from the experts on what to do if you come across a bear or other wildlife.
- Evelyns for coffee is highly recommended.
Western Canada Grand Tour 