After living in different countries for over 2 years, my childhood best friend finally came to visit me in Banff! This video is the part 2 to her visit so make sure to check out the first video to see more of what we got up to!
For some back story, Madi and I planned to visit Banff together back in 2020. As with everything else that year, our trip was cancelled and we never got to visit Canada together as planned. By the end of 2021, I was itching to leave Australia (thanks to all the lockdowns) so my partner and I moved to Canada instead. 2 years later Madi has now moved over to Canada as well but for the time being we are living on different sides of the country! This week she came over for a quick visit before starting her new job. While I didn't film her whole stay, I have put the itinerary down below, should you need inspiration for your quick trip to Banff as well!
In this daily vlog, we head out to explore some of Banff's most popular attractions! We started our day by heading out to the lake loop just outside of town. Our first stop of the day was Lake Minnewanka! After visiting we moved on to Two Jack Lake and then Johnston Lake. Around noon we made our way into town and did some errands before visiting the Banff Gondola!
The Banff Gondola is one of my favourite stops in Banff and something I recommend to everyone. The gondola is an amazing way to see Banff from the top of a mountain without having to spend hours hiking up. Now... you can totally hike Sulphur Mountain and get the same experience for free as well! But since that isn't in everyone's capability or time limit, the gondola is great no matter how you get there! While at the top you can spend time walking the mountain-top boardwalk, dining in Sky Bistro or Northern Lights and viewing the interactive exhibits. Sky Bistro is my choice of restaurant but the food is great at either!
We wrapped up our day at the St James Gate for Irish night. This is a live music event every Thursday and it is so much fun. Definitely check it out next time you are in Banff!
FULL 4-5 DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1 (half day):
- Arrive in Banff
- Scenic drive around the golf course
- Explore town
- Dinner at Hello Sunshine
- Drinks in town
Day 2:
- Grassi Lakes
- Lunch in Canmore
- Afternoon exploring Banff
Day 3:
- Icefields Parkway (until Peyto Lake)
- Natural Bridge
- Emerald Lake
- Lake Louise (Fairview Lookout Hike)
- Dinner at Lupo
Day 4:
- Kananaskis Nordic Spa
- Halloween crafts at home
- Movie night
Day 5:
- Lake Minnewanka
- Two Jack Lake
- Johnston Lake
- Banff Gondola
- Dinner at home
- St James Gate for Irish Night (on Thursday's)
Day 6:
- Fly home
⏰ Make sure to turn on notifications to make sure you are notified for part 2!
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00:00 Intro
00:17 Lake Minnewanka
02:09 Two Jack Lake
03:05 Johnston Lake
03:15 Town of Banff
04:33 Banff Gondola
07:56 Banff Springs Golf Course
10:54 St James Gate