Banff Blog - Day 1
An Awesome 3 Day Itinerary for Visiting Banff
Written by Natasha Alden
Day One: Drive the Lake Minnewanka Loop Road
When you wake up on your first morning in Banff, you'll probably be in awe of how beautiful it is. We recommend strolling down Banff Avenue with a morning coffee from Whitebark Coffee. There are plenty of fun shops to walk into, including Little Blue House! A great breakfast spot is Touloulous, and we highly suggest sitting outside if the weather is nice. Fuel up on breakfast in Banff because there are plenty of things to do today! Here's what we recommend for the day! Vermilion Lakes Vermilion Lakes (or Lake Vermilion) are some of the closest lakes to Banff and are where you can get great views of the iconic Mount Rundle. The series of three lakes are situated west of Banff. Vermilion Lakes is one of the most instagrammable places in all of Banff, and photographers flock here during the sunrise and sunset to catch a surreal scene. There are a few docks to sit out on and benches nearby. If you want to spend some time on the lake, it's a fantastic place to stand up the canoe.
Cascade Ponds
Hop in the car and drive to nearby Lake Minnewanka Loop Road, just five minutes away from the Town of Banff. There are some great stops on this road, the first being Cascade Ponds. Cascade Ponds are a series of ponds that lie under Cascade Mountain. There are plenty of picnic benches and firepits to enjoy a picnic with friends. They are accessible year-round and one of my favorite places to head on a warm summer day.
Johnson Lake
Continuing on Lake Minnewanka Loop Road, you'll notice a turn-off for Johnson Lake. Turn here to see a beautiful lake that locals adore. There's a loop trail around the lake if you're up for a walk. If it's a hot summer day, you can take a quick dip in the water!
Two Jack Lake
Two Jack Lake is a beautiful lake in Banff with the most majestic view of Mount Rundle. It's a great lake to visit in any season. You can enjoy kayaking or stand-up paddling on the lake in the summer. While in the winter, I love to camp out in the Parks Canada red chairs on the shore.
Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in the area. If you catch it at the right time in the winter, you can enjoy ice skating on it, while in the summer a popular activity is a boat cruise with Pursuit or rent a small motorboat with a group of friends (this is one of the only lakes you can do this at in the Rockies!)
Cascade of Time Gardens
After driving Lake Minnewanka Loop Rd, head back to Downtown Banff. If you have a little more energy in you, we recommend strolling through the Cascade of Time Gardens and seeing the beautiful Bow Falls. All within walking distance to most of the hotels in Downtown Banff!
Eat at The Bison
We hope you saved room for a great meal at one of the best Banff restaurants! Make reservations at The Bison on Bear Street for a delicious meal from some of the best chefs in the Rockies.
An Awesome 3 Day Itinerary for Visiting Banff
Written by Natasha Alden
Day One: Drive the Lake Minnewanka Loop Road
When you wake up on your first morning in Banff, you'll probably be in awe of how beautiful it is. We recommend strolling down Banff Avenue with a morning coffee from Whitebark Coffee. There are plenty of fun shops to walk into, including Little Blue House! A great breakfast spot is Touloulous, and we highly suggest sitting outside if the weather is nice. Fuel up on breakfast in Banff because there are plenty of things to do today! Here's what we recommend for the day! Vermilion Lakes Vermilion Lakes (or Lake Vermilion) are some of the closest lakes to Banff and are where you can get great views of the iconic Mount Rundle. The series of three lakes are situated west of Banff. Vermilion Lakes is one of the most instagrammable places in all of Banff, and photographers flock here during the sunrise and sunset to catch a surreal scene. There are a few docks to sit out on and benches nearby. If you want to spend some time on the lake, it's a fantastic place to stand up the canoe.
Cascade Ponds
Hop in the car and drive to nearby Lake Minnewanka Loop Road, just five minutes away from the Town of Banff. There are some great stops on this road, the first being Cascade Ponds. Cascade Ponds are a series of ponds that lie under Cascade Mountain. There are plenty of picnic benches and firepits to enjoy a picnic with friends. They are accessible year-round and one of my favorite places to head on a warm summer day.
Johnson Lake
Continuing on Lake Minnewanka Loop Road, you'll notice a turn-off for Johnson Lake. Turn here to see a beautiful lake that locals adore. There's a loop trail around the lake if you're up for a walk. If it's a hot summer day, you can take a quick dip in the water!
Two Jack Lake
Two Jack Lake is a beautiful lake in Banff with the most majestic view of Mount Rundle. It's a great lake to visit in any season. You can enjoy kayaking or stand-up paddling on the lake in the summer. While in the winter, I love to camp out in the Parks Canada red chairs on the shore.
Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in the area. If you catch it at the right time in the winter, you can enjoy ice skating on it, while in the summer a popular activity is a boat cruise with Pursuit or rent a small motorboat with a group of friends (this is one of the only lakes you can do this at in the Rockies!)
Cascade of Time Gardens
After driving Lake Minnewanka Loop Rd, head back to Downtown Banff. If you have a little more energy in you, we recommend strolling through the Cascade of Time Gardens and seeing the beautiful Bow Falls. All within walking distance to most of the hotels in Downtown Banff!
Eat at The Bison
We hope you saved room for a great meal at one of the best Banff restaurants! Make reservations at The Bison on Bear Street for a delicious meal from some of the best chefs in the Rockies.