Monday, October 2, 2017
Adventures in Banff
Monday, October 2, 2017
Adventures in Banff
In the spring we took a day trip to Alberta’s
very own Banff. Our trip consisted of
checking out downtown Banff, taking a gondola up to Sulphur Mountain and then,
relaxing in the waters of the Willow Stream Spa of the Banff Springs Hotel.
There is so much to do and see in this beautiful town, so our single day was
jam-packed! Join me as we take a look at some of the cool and exciting things
that Banff has to offer.
The drive from Edmonton to Banff is roughly
about 4 hours, and it was starting to rain on the way there. We hoped that the
weather would clear up by the time we reached Banff and luckily for us it did!
Once we reached Banff, we stopped downtown to explore a bit before hitting the
mountains. It was interesting to see how each street was named after different
animals found in the wilderness of Alberta.
Banff Avenue consisted of many boutiques,
restaurants, chateau-style hotels and souvenir shops. In addition to the
majestic mountains and hot springs that Banff is known for, checking out the
actual town is a must for anyone thinking of visiting this gorgeous place.
After checking out Banff Avenue, we decided
to take a gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, which is about a 10-minute
drive out of Banff itself. It took us around 10 minutes to reach the top of the
mountain and it was definitely worth the ear popping. Once we reached the newly
renovated observatory at the top of the mountain, we headed to the rooftop deck
that offered a 360-degree view of the town of Banff. It was stunning!
We walked the trails on the mountain a bit
and were relieved to find that it was not as cold and windy as it was up at the
observatory. We got some great pictures of the natural beauty that Banff has to
offer. Did you know that other than Lake Louise, Banff is the highest elevation
in Alberta?
There are two dining options on Sulphur
Mountain. The first option is Sky Bistro, which is a formal dining room; with
floor the ceiling windows and a rustic, yet modern atmosphere. It almost
reminded me of a modern cabin, which I loved.
Unfortunately, the Sky Bistro was closed for a private event when we
went, so we were unable to eat there. We settled for the second dining option,
which was called the Northern Lights Café and still had a nice view.
Sky Bistro
Northern Lights Café
Our next stop after Sulphur Mountain was
the Banff Springs Hotel, which upon seeing it, looks like a castle in the
Rockies. The hotel is an iconic staple of Banff, hosting many weddings and
private events each year. This luxury hotel is over 125 years old and really is
a sight to see. We decided to spend the rest of our day enjoying the Willow
Stream Spa located in the hotel. This spa is actually one of the top 5 spas in
Canada, so we were excited to check it out. The spa is home to 3 pulsating
waterfalls and a mineral pool, which is the heart of the spa. Banff is known
for its mineral pools and springs, which have been known to have healing
properties.
The spa was a great way to end our day in
Banff. Our day-trip was filled with mountainous views and relaxation. We left
feeling rejuvenated and can’t wait until we get the opportunity to go back.
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