Fall Fabulous In Banff, Canada

Allowing yourself to pause and take in the beauty is it’s own mastery. It’s one of the best skills I’ve learned and now I can’t help but see beauty everywhere!

This is a good skill to have in Alberta, Canada because if you aren’t taking in all the natural beauty, you are doing something wrong. My good friend and I decided to do a four day trip staying two nights in Banff and two nights in Lake Louise. We were hosted by the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts for all four nights. We stayed at their Banff location, Buffalo Mountain Lodge for the first two nights. We had a beautiful fireplace in our room but my favorite thing about this hotel was their food. The food and cocktails were top-notch. I’m still dreaming about the delicious short ribs we had at lunch and their impressive breakfast menu. I tried just about everything on it. Also, Buffalo Mountain Lodge has a prime location. It is a short walking distance from town and just a few minutes from Lake Minnewanka and the Banff Gondola. Two activities that I believe are a must do while staying in the area are taking the Banff Gondola to the top of the mountain and a boat ride on Lake Minnewanka. The Banff Gondola offers timeless views of the Canadian Rockies. You can see six mountain ranges, the Bow Valley and the charming town of Banff from the Sulphur Mountain summit. There is also a restaurant at the top to sit back and take in the view. Lake Minnewanka is incredibly majestic and even if you skip the boat ride, just walking around the lake is enjoyable. For more than 100 centuries, people hunted and camped along the original shores of Lake Minnewanka. The Stoney people called it “Minn-waki” or “Lake of the Spirits”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our last two nights were spent at the charming Post Hotel & Spa in Lake Louise. What a sweet Alpine hotel with an amazing staff. Surrounded by the Canadian Rockies there is also a beautiful creek running through the property. We dined at The Stubli Restaurant in the hotel two nights in a row and it was an incredible experience! The Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List awarded the Post Hotel & Spa “Best Food in the Americas” and I understand why. I can’t rave enough about the 4 course dinner we had two nights in a row. Everything from the barrel aged Negroni aperitif to the beef fondue was jaw droppingly delicious. The hotel also features the biggest wine selection in West Canada. This is the perfect marriage of food and wine in Alberta, Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since we only had one full day to enjoy the area, we spent the day hiking around Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. Parking can be an issue so we parked about a mile from Lake Louise and took the shuttle bus to Lake Louise and then Lake Moraine. The price was only $11 and then you don’t have to worry about finding parking at the lakes which are usually packed. Lake Louise is world famous for its turquoise lakes, the Victoria Glacier, soaring mountain backdrop, and incredible hiking. Moraine Lake is only half the size of Lake Louise, but even more scenic in my option. Both lakes are incredibly beautiful and I recommend spending the day enjoying them. At some point in life, the world’s beauty becomes enough!