Banff National Park Travel Forum

Hello All
I am planning a trip to Jasper and Banff from Seattle with my husband and my 11 month old baby. I have a few questions and would request inputs as I need to figure out my plan in the next day or so
- Should we go in end of May 2008 or July first week. I know July is overall mroe recommended because of warm weather but is Memorial week in may end a definite no no. what kind of weather variation can I expect and will it prevent us from enjoying our trip/seeing places. Is July a compeltley different experience from May and worth delaying the trip
- we only have 5.5 days max including travel time. Believe that vancouver to Banff drive is abt 10 hrs one way and driving so much in such a short vacation may not be the best idea. So we were thinking of flying to Calgary ( so we could get max time in the rockies) and use that as the starting point to go to Lake Louise, jasper and Banff and fly back from calgary to seattle. is that recommended Do we miss out on any picturesque places
- recommended cities/hotels to stay ( nothing too cheap not too fancy )
- advise activites with a 11 mth old and must see places

Would love to hear back from you avid travellers with any inputs .

thanks

Good call on flying to Calgary, especially with your 5.5 days max. Driving from Banff to Jasper is one of the most spectacular drives in the world, so for that reason, you're going to be seeing a lot of "picturesque".

However, I should mention (since you asked) that the drive between the Rockies and the Pacific coast is a different kind of picturesque that you'll be missing out on. It won't be glaciers, alpine forests, glacial valleys and glacial lakes like the Icefields Parkway (Banff-Jasper highway)... but it's a kind of drive where you drive across very different ecosystems. It's a very diverse drive scenery-wise, and you can't really underestimate that diversity in landscape, climate, geography/vegetation.

As you'd be driving from the jagged alpine mountains of the Rockies, down through the semi-arid rolling hills, long narrow lakes, desert scrub, and vineyards of the Okanagan Valley, through lush farmland in the valleys, up into the volcanic mountains and pine forests of the Cascade Mountains, down to the lush temperate rainforests with massive trees draped in moss, the fern-covered forest floors, and rocky coves full of marine life at the Pacific coast.

There are so many different routes between Seattle and the Rockies with plenty of parks, lakes, cities, towns, historic attractions, wineries, orchards, and whatnot... you could spend weeks exploring this region. The Okanagan Valley, for example, is a destination in itself.

But with 5.5 days, just stick with the Rockies via Calgary and come back to explore British Columbia and Washington when you have the time, when your baby is old enough to swim in the lakes and enjoy fresh fruit at the roadside fruit stands. ;)

The first week of July involves Canada Day so you might find it very busy in the National Parks. End of May will be quieter, but some sites may not be open. Generally by then, most of the lakes will have thawed out, not sure about the ones at higher elevation such as Bow Lake and Peyto Lake. Unfornately, end of May you will still find snow at higher elevations -- so July will be better if you want to go hiking and view some higher sites snow-free. Again, you have to weigh crowds v. maybe being limited in what you see. In May, the odd snow fall is not unusual.

If you can manage it, the best time to come to the Rockies is in mid to late August, and September to October; the days tend to be warm and sunny, and the weather stablizes. After Labor Day, the crowds tend to diminish as well.

If you only have 5.5 days, it is wise to fly from Seattle. The flight is only 1 1/2 hours long so you will save plenty of time.

The first week of July involves Canada Day so you might find it very busy in the National Parks. End of May will be quieter, but some sites may not be open. Generally by then, most of the lakes will have thawed out, not sure about the ones at higher elevation such as Bow Lake and Peyto Lake. Unfornately, end of May you will still find snow at higher elevations -- so July will be better if you want to go hiking and view some higher sites snow-free. Again, you have to weigh crowds v. maybe being limited in what you see. In May, the odd snow fall is not unusual.

If you can manage it, the best time to come to the Rockies is in mid to late August, and September to October; the days tend to be warm and sunny, and the weather stablizes. After Labor Day, the crowds tend to diminish as well.

If you only have 5.5 days, it is wise to fly from Seattle. The flight is only 1 1/2 hours long so you will save plenty of time.