Page 32 - Explore Magazine Autumn 2018

30

48 HOURS

IN BANFF

Claire Cooper of helloworld Featherston Street,
Wellington soaked up the amazing scenery
of the Canadian Rockies.

Banff is an amazing little resort town in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta many toppings, with the most popular being Nutella or cinnamon and
surrounded by stunning national parks. It’s full of cute boutique shops sugar – totally worth a try!
and good restaurants and the ever-present possibility of spotting
native wildlife like moose and elk roaming its streets! DAY TWO
AM: We got up this morning for a full-day tour with Discover Banff
There is so much to see and do here in any season, which is why it Tours who picked us up from our hotel in a comfortable mini coach.
was top of our list when we went to Canada for a family holiday. Our guide provided a good commentary as we made our way north to
Banff is easy to get to by road and rail or by flying into Calgary Lake Louise, looking for wildlife along the way.
Airport and then taking a Brewster Express transfer, a scenic two and Lake Louise is just as amazing as the photos you see and we were
three-quarter-hour ride northwest. A stay in Calgary to take in its all blown away by its beauty. We had some time to wander around
cosmopolitan culture is also an option before heading to Banff. and explore and have a peek into the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake
DAY ONE Louise hotel and resort. We also chatted to some locals taking their
AM: We arrived at our hotel, Elk + Avenue, which is right on Banff dog for a walk on one of the many trails around the lake and wished
we had a walking spot like it back home.
Avenue just steps from the main street with its boutique shops and
restaurants. The rooms are a decent size with all the amenities you Our next stop was Moraine Lake, which was even more beautiful than
expect in standard hotel rooms. Lake Louise and has the most vibrant turquoise colour. We had a bit
of time here to explore and take a walk around before we jumped
Our first stop was to find our way to the Banff Gondola, which was back on the coach to head back to Banff.
nice and easy. A local bus goes there roughly every 20 minutes and
costs C$2 each way. It also stops at other major tourist spots. PM: This afternoon we walked around the shops again before taking
the bus to Banff Upper Hot Springs to have a relaxing soak while
The gondola is a must-do for soaking up the amazing scenery and the overlooking the stunning mountains. It is only C$8 to enter the pool
walking trails at the top offer even more amazing views.
complex and you can hire towels and lockers should you wish. Then
PM: We spent the afternoon exploring the boutique shops and it was time to head back to Banff for dinner and a good night’s sleep.
stopped in at a BeaverTails pastry shop for an afternoon treat! We’re still dreaming about when we can come back!
BeaverTails is a famous Canadian chain and its namesake product is
a flat doughnut that resembles a beaver’s tail. You can chose from

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