Headed to Banff in two weeks--seeking recs

220 Views | 3 Replies | Last: 20 hrs ago by barnacle bob
Txmoe
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AG
We're spending almost a week in Banff in the middle of this month. We are scheduled to do tours of Lake Luise & Morane Lake & Banff Natl Park, plus the gondola ride, and Kananaskis River rafting. My questions are:
  • What other activities should we add?
  • Good restaurants and bars?
  • Any good side trips?
TIA!
Bachelor99
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AG
definitely hit up yoho national park and emerald lake.....arguably just as nice as the banff lakes but with half the people and we also enjoyed driving up the icefields parkway and doing the glacier walk at athabasca glacier....
TXTransplant
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Johnston Canyon and Marble Canyon are both great "hikes" (I use that term loosely because there are boardwalks - it's not really a hike). The hike up to the tea room at Lake Louise is also great, but this is a true hike.

Renting e-bikes and doing a ride is also fun.

I've been 4 times and never had a bad meal. My favorites are the Greek place (The Balkan) and the fondue at the Waldhaus at the Fairmont.
barnacle bob
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AG
Lock down restaurant reservations now, you are approaching peak season.

PARK distillery has solid food, their bird's eye chili vodka is pretty good.

Most of restaurants are a group so pretty similar. I like Chuck's steakhouse. The Greek joint mentioned is good and they do take out. Grizzly is unique. The station in lake Louise is solid. Storm mountain lodge has a small dining room res needed.

Canmore has lots of options. Mount engadine lodge is off beaten path, they do high tea for non-guests, it's a great low key way to spend an afternoon and you can make a loop drive through some great country. This actually may be near depending on where you put in for Kananaskis float. You may want to consider eating in Canmore after the float. They have a main drag like Banff, a lot of some touristy stuff with slightly less crowd.

If you can get a res for high tea at fairmont lake Louise it's pretty nice to look out over lake. Speaking of tea, from lake Louise you can take a hike thorough high country tea house(s), you can loop some together, can be a big day, but also a fun surprise if you are into not saying anything about it.

Early dinner in Banff, then biking or driving out to lake Minnewanka for sunset is pretty nice.

Echo what others said above, the glacier is a cool experience and unique.

It's hard to mess up!


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