51°10′40″N 115°34′25″W
Banff, Alberta. Our second sisters’ trip begins in Banff. We flew into Calgary the day before, as it is the closest major airport. For more on our Calgary trip, check out the Calgary blog post. From Calgary, we decided to book a bus tour for a day trip to Banff National Park. Banff is pricey, so staying outside the park area and traveling in for the day was a smart choice for us.
After breakfast at the hotel, we went outside to wait for the tour van. This tour included hotel pick-up, which was so convenient. We met our tour guide, who was very nice, along with seven other guests who would be traveling with us for the day.
We made a few more hotel stops along the way before heading to Banff National Park. Talk about a scenic drive. The entire route was lined with open roads and snow-covered mountains. The landscapes were simply incredible. I immediately knew this was going to be a day to remember.
It took about an hour to reach the park. Our first stop was at a welcome center inside the park, where we took a short break before heading to Lake Minnewanka.
Posing at the rest stop
Lake Minnewanka. Oh my goodness, it was beautiful. The serenity of this place was unlike anything I had ever seen or felt. The water glows emerald green when the sun is shining, and by God’s grace, the sun was shining. It was a perfect day. My sister and I stepped out in awe and snapped our first photos.
The view ♡
The park is so well-kempt and clean. It feels almost untouched. Penalties for littering or interfering with wildlife can be as high as $25,000, which helps preserve the park’s pristine condition. Along the way, we saw animals roaming freely in their natural habitat. Thankfully, we didn’t see any bears, but we did spot rams and deer.
Where I live in Georgia, deer roam throughout our neighborhood, especially at night. Our deer are cute and a little skinny, but these guys looked like they could fight lions. The muscles in their necks were very developed. We definitely weren’t in Georgia anymore.
It’s wonderful to see animals thriving in their natural habitat without the constant threat of development encroaching on their home. From the tour van, we spotted a few visitors riding bicycles through the park, and our driver jokingly referred to them as “meals on wheels.” Remind me never to ride a bike in Banff National Park. It’s important to remember that national parks are animal territory first, and visitors should always be mindful, respectful, and aware of their surroundings.
After our first stop, which we didn’t want to leave, we climbed back into the van and headed to downtown Banff. During the summer months, the crowds visiting the area can be significant, but since we traveled during the off-season, or shoulder season, the crowds were much smaller, allowing us to fully enjoy the town.
My sister and I decided to stop for something to eat at a farm-to-table restaurant called Farm & Fire. We weren’t very hungry since we had enjoyed a big breakfast, so we ordered chia seed pudding and fresh fruit. We spent our time sitting and people-watching, which was nice. The temperature changed from mild to cold very quickly, something we experienced several times throughout the day. That’s just the nature of being in the mountains.
On to our final stop: gorgeous Lake Louise.
The lake is about a 45-minute drive from Banff. This is the famous blue lake you see all over Instagram. LOL. Since we visited in May, there was about a 50/50 chance that the lake would still be frozen. We happened to catch it while it was frozen. Our tour guide mentioned that just a week earlier, the lake was fully thawed but re-froze. I guess I’ll just have to visit again. What a pity. 😉
Even frozen, Louise was absolutely amazing. There were small areas where the ice had melted, allowing us to see the brilliant blue water beneath. The color was so clear and beautiful. We spent about an hour there simply taking in the views stretching out before us. Even though the mountains appear close, they are actually miles away.
It’s amazing what God can create, even in a fallen world. Can you imagine what the eternal version of this might be like? One day, by God’s grace, I’ll find out.
Lake Louise was the grand finale of the day. We hopped back into the van and began the journey to Calgary.
What a day. What an incredible experience.
On my next trip, I would love to stay at Lake Louise. There is a hotel situated right on the lake, offering incredible views. It is rather pricey, but I believe that view would be worth every penny. Another experience I’d like to check off my bucket list is swimming in the natural hot springs.
Minnewanka, brava to you.
Louise, stay gorgeous.
Until next visit,
Jennelle