Banff Travel Forum

I am working on finalizing honeymoon plans for Banff in early July. We will arrive on Monday and leave the following Monday. What is there that we CANNOT miss while we're there? How long should I plan for various activities and what kind of clothes should we pack and weather to prepare for? I've seen that there is so much to do it's overwhelming. Can anybody help narrow it down?

You must dine at the Banff Spring Hotel, I can't remember the name of the dining room but it is very elelgant and you must dress for dinner, no blue jeans, no running shoes. The view is spectacular at the hotel, so it is a MUST DO on your list. Avoid the carriage rides!!! The prices are outrageous and the college kids working the rides at not friendly!! Go to the top of the mountain for the view again simply wonderful and then take a nice walk down the hill side. There will be plenty of snow at the top so bring a warm sweater or jacket!
Enjoy,
CSB

The Sunday buffet is amazing at the Banff Springs -- however Saturday lunch is almost the same and is cheaper ;o) Ask for a table by the window, you'll get a beautiful view.

DON'T stay there, though. Tired rooms and overpriced. I suggest you stay in Lake Louise at the Post Hotel. Small, intimate and gourmet food. We try to stay once a year. Go all out and book the cabin by the Pipestone river. Pricey, but very romantic.

http://www.posthotel.com/posthotel/index.html

Do you like hiking? try to book a bus to Lake O'Hara -- stunningly beautiful. Here's all the info:

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/7c361/#TL

What I would suggest you do is write down what you want to do/see and what your interests are. Then get a guidebook or look at the Banff pages here on VT, and narrow your list down to what your time/budget will allow. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

You could go to the Grizzly House for a fondue dinner. A little pricey, but old Banff at it's best. I have been eating there since I was three years old. Thirty years and never disappointed. Best to go early or late in the evening to avoid crowds (though summer shouldn't be too bad.)

Will you have a car? Do you have a hotel yet? If not Storm Mountain Lodge, though slightly out of the way is a VERY romantic place to stay, little cabins and totally re-done. Wonderful. Then you could do a day hike down Johnston Canyon.

And I totally second the brunch at Banff Springs worth every penny, and DEMAND a table at the window... or at least make sure they know you don't mind what time it is, as long as it looks down Bow Valley!

http://www.stormmountainlodge.com/
http://www.banffgrizzlyhouse.com/

Are you an outdoorsy type?
There are tons of things to do in Banff, but I think a week is enough. I would recommend the Gondola ride. It is a little pricey, but it is a spectacular view from the top, unless you want to hike up the mountain :) Of course go to the Hot Springs as well. I also agree with the Johnston Canyon day hike. I have done it and it is very nice, but not strenuous. I've been to Banff a couple of times, and even going there without set plans is easy. There are tons of brochures and tons of things to do, so even if you just drive/walk around you will be busy all the time.

Johnston Canyon is nice, and easy to do. However, it gets extremely crowded -- try to go early in the morning or around 6:00 pm. The sun sets very late in July here, so don't worry about being in the dark.

If you end up at Storm Mountain Lodge, just a stone's throw away is the trail for Stanley Glacier. An easy hike right up to a glacier. As Karlie said, don't worry about "preparing" too much; there's lots of info in Banff on hikes and things to do. Have a great time!