The Real Banff Blog

Sometimes it's nice to sit back, relax & enjoy the sounds of the Rockies. This past week I hiked up to the Lake Agnes Teahouse & stopped by the Tea Cottage at the Lake Louise Inn for a little breather & a taste of culture.

Tea time is something that has been a part of the Lake Louise experience since people first started wandering around the Rocky Mountains. Lake Louise offers you a few different settings in which to sip your tea... whether you make the hike to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, wander by the Tea Cottage at the Lake Louise Inn or enjoy afternoon tea at The Chateau Lake Louise. Do you have an Altitude for tea? If so, be sure to stop by... time is running out this summer.

We're in the home stretch of the Banff Summer Arts Festival with plenty of events to check out if you haven't been able to make it up to the Banff Centre yet.

This weekend is the Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival which takes place mostly out at Lake Minnewanka (recently made famous by the photo crashing squirrel), but if you can't make it out to the lake there are some cultural performances going on in downtown Banff... check out the schedule of events to make the most of your weekend visit!

Everybody wants a piece of us... including the U.S. government!

The U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee website played host to a classic mountain shot of the Rocky Mountains... the Canadian Rocky Mountains... Lake Louise specifically.

Their original intended use of the photo was as a place holder while the Republicans worked on a website redesign... then when the Democrats took control of the Senate (and the websites management) many of the photos where replaced. Whoever did that job must have loved the look of the Lake Louise vista so much that they couldn't bring themselves to remove it. Great news for Banff National Park.

Lori Bayne, our Director of Communications, says "We thank the Senate committee for the promotion, and we welcome all U.S. visitors to Banff National Park."

P.S. want to see more photos? check out our image gallery

I have been canoeing for as long as I can remember, with my grandparents, my family, my friends & sometimes just myself. I've paddled on lakes, rivers, ponds and even whitewater, but never on anything as mind-blowing as the mountain lakes & rivers that surround me now.

The mountains that hug these shores are definitely a part of what makes the experience so awe-inspiring, but what really gets to me is the colour of these glacial fed waters... they are full on, no other way to describe them, turquoise blue. "When you paddle... when it's calm, it just feels like you're paddling on glass" says Ryan in the video below. Could you imagine what that feels like? Can I tease you a little? (be sure to click on the HQ button for better viewing quality)

Canoeing has always been a way for me to slow down & get away from it all... to see my surroundings from a different vantage point & to feel a little more connected to the eco-system I'm sharing at the moment. From gliding past elk on shore, or crossing paths with a beaver swimming in the river, it's a perfect way to experience a little wilderness but still be close to civilization!

If you aren't comfortable in a canoe you could also join one of the many gentle float tours, or if you want something a little more extreme there is always whitewater rafting... either way, if you want to get out on the water, you have plenty of opportunities right here in Banff National Park.

Last night a bunch of local ladies (oddly... no guys showed up) got together to watch The Bachelorette at The Fairmont Banff Springs ... the location at which Jillian had to make her heart breaking decisions in that evenings Rose Ceremony.

Not only was this the first time a Bachelorette has been Canadian, but this was also the first time the show has come thru the romantic Canadian Rockies.

If you're looking to follow in Jillian's footsteps & create some romantic memories of your own with someone special, this is what you need to know.

She arrived in Lake Louise on the Rocky Mountaineer & as you saw, it's a tour thru the Rockies that needs to be on your bucket list if you have one!

The Bachelorette took her date to what she said was 'her happy place' - snowboarding at The Lake Louise Ski Area. Did you see that ice patio they sat on? First of all... WOW It was created by a local ice carver whom you can check out at our annual Ice Magic Festival in Lake Louise in January. Of course the ice patio isn't a regular item to be found on the ski hill, but really, it would just get in the way of all the riding/skiing to be done! From many of the ski trails you can spot The Bachelorette and Reid's next stop.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise sits on the shores of the famous Lake Louise and has played host to royalty, celebrities, and even me on occasion. Last night it was the setting of a romantic dinner of fondue & Reid earned himself a rose.

Banff was the next stop for Canada's Sweetheart & her beau's... a final stop for two of the guys since The Fairmonth Banff Springs was the scene of the infamous Rose Ceremony. One thought I (& I believe the other ladies in the theatre) had was... what was she thinking getting rid of Jake, and thank goodness he's not backing away without a fight! I heard Jillian Harris did a little shopping along Banff Avenue while she was in town. Something to take her mind off of the ceremony perhaps?!

If the winter months don't inspire you to travel to The World's Finest National Park, then I'd bet the summer will. The Rocky Mountaineer tours the Rockies all summer long, The Lake Louise Ski Area runs a chairlift/gondola throughout the summer over Grizzly bear grazing grounds to an interpretation centre, and The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise & The Fairmont Banff Springs are fabulous to visit in any season for whatever reason.

If you would like to see what other experiences are waiting for your arrival check out my YouTube channel for summer & winter adventures and weekly updates, follow me on Twitter.com/Reality_in_Banff or join our Facebook page. I tour around Banff & Lake Louise regularly and would love to share the stories of Banff National Park with you!

PS. Here's the page where you can always find special offers and packages for your trip planning.

The Bachelorette has been filmed at romantic locations all over the world and they finally made it to the most romantic - The World's Finest National Park.

Fans of the show should tune into ABC or CityTv Monday June 22 and watch as the Alberta-born bachelorette Jillian Harris goes on a breathtaking ski date at The Lake Louise Ski Area. The views from the top of each run are enough to make anyone giddy. Throw in a hot date and you've got a day you won't easily forget! Her date continues and things warm up at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise where they share a romantic dinner in a setting that has seen more then a few hearts flutter over the decades.

The following day, the bachelorette climbs aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to continue her journey into Banff where she wanders through the stores and attractions along Banff Avenue. She has a tough decision to make... who will stay and who will go at the evening's Rose Ceremony to be held in The Fairmont Banff Spring majestic Cascade Ballroom?

Banff and Lake Louise played host to The Bachelorette in late April 2009... if you're looking to take your own romantic holiday in Banff National Park, check out the rest of BanffLakeLouise.com.

With three weeks until Banff National Park Bike Fest June 18-21, 16 teams have already registered. Many of last year's racers have chosen to return, along with several new teams including the Lenovo Racing Team from Washington State.

The big news in this year's stage race is the addition of 2 new events - the 93 Hill Climb and the 1A Sprint near Lake Louise. Added to the Individual Time Trial, the Criterium, and the Tunnel Mountain Road Race, these events make up 4 days of high-adrenaline racing through some of Canada's most gorgeous scenery. As I heard one racer comment last year while watching her teammates compete, "It feels like such an honour to be able to race here in the National Park."

The spectacular setting makes for ideal race-watching opportunities for spectators. We've compiled a Spectator's Guide if you'd like hints on great locations to watch the different events. Be sure to catch the criterium starting at 4 pm downtown on Saturday, June 20. Tight packs of riders at blistering speeds through tight corners on a short 1km loop show off the incredible athletic prowess and just plain guts of the athletes.

And when it comes to guts, the Individual Time Trial (ITT) really lays it on the line. Twenty-one kilometres of hilly road course one-on-one against the clock and against each rider's own pain threshold. The spectators on the course can enjoy the beautiful lansdape the route travels, but the racers won't have much time to appreciate it until crossing the finish.

This video of last year's Time Trial will give you a good idea of what bike racing in The World's Finest National Park looks like. (We've got lots of specials and weekend packages to take advantage of during your visit!)

With May long weekend in 3 days, it's time to start talking canoes, horse rides, and family picnics (pdf 649.46 kB) amongst the multitude of things happening throughout Banff & Lake Louise.

This long weekend marks the opening of many of your summer adventures... adventures such as whitewater rafting & peaceful float trips, or walking on a glacier with the Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience. Sticking with the water theme our fishing guides are excited to take you out on the fly or spin to catch some trout in the mountain lakes & rivers you see in movies.

Maybe you're more keen to stick to the dry land while exploring the park. The golf course is open and ready for some putts. Or maybe you prefer to get out on a mountain bike or road bike to explore the park at a more intimate pace. One activity that lets you sit back & enjoy the tour is the carriage rides along the Bow River or maybe even get in the saddle & take hold of the reins on a trail ride.

Now that I think about it some of you might even be keen on exploring the park with the birds... up high. The Banff Gondola is open year round on Sulphur Mountain, but the Lake Louise Gondola & Interpretive Centre opens May 15... this is the same gondola that takes skiers up to the top of the mountain all winter long. The panoramic views from both of these attractions is something that'll take your breath away... I guarantee it.

I have only touched on a few of the summer adventures waiting for you & your family here in the World's Finest National Park... for more information contact the Banff Lake Louise Tourism Information Centre

See you around... on the trails, the roads & the mountains!

Talk about experiencing summer & winter both in one day... or 5 minutes. Last weekend I was up at Lake Louise where people were hanging out on the patio tanning one minute & putting on the ski goggles to keep the big fat flakes out of their eyes the next. What a great day!

There was some big air, big flips, big twists and switch riding going on... not to mention some slipping and sliding on the mountain bike course & a rockin' band on stage. Keep in mind this whole video was shot on the same day... sun, snow, sun, snow, sun sun sun, fat flurries!

Spring events at the ski areas have something for everyone... races & concerts, plus the sun is warm, the snow is soft & great runs are abundant.

This weekend coming up is the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival, I'll be there volunteering & my mom is making the drive from Calgary for a visit. This tantalizing event will temp your taste buds with local cuisine and specialty wines... this is also your chance to sample that expensive bourbon or scotch you've always wanted to try... or even retry. Looking to escape from the city for the weekend... check out these packages & show up at work on Monday with that twinkle back in your eye ;-)

It's official, spring skiing is in the Rockies! When I was on the chairlifts chatting with families who have chosen to spend their March Break in Banff National Park one lady told me "it's the most reliable spring skiing in Canada".

A liftie at the Lake Louise gondola wrote "Freshie Monday & more on the way" on a sandwich board... and as you'll see in this video more was on the way! The day was warm & beautiful with random flurries of snow thru out, more did fall over night so I can only image how fantastic Tuesday would have been!

Soon enough (1.5 months) the snow will start melting... so get your snow fix while you can. Check out all the winter adventures waiting to be had at BanffLakeLouise.com and let's not forget about all the live music and events taking place.

If you have some great photos of your trip to Banff & Lake Louise don't forget that you can upload them to our website, or if you're on Facebook you can link them to our Banff Lake Louise Tourism Page

When was the last time you jumped into the snow or laid back & made a snow angel? Until last week it had been more then a few years for me also, then I went out snowshoeing near Lake Louise with this group of women from Alberta & Saskatchewan. I couldn't stop myself from giggling during most of the filming of this weeks real Banff video.

These women shared with me how much they loved doing something different, being out in the wilderness & "enjoying our country.... Canada!" as we sipped on hot chocolate & ate homemade granola bars provided by our guide Joel.

With the fresh snow, blue skies & warm temps I certainly wouldn't have wanted to spend my day any other way... I know I keep saying this, but I love where I live & play, & Banff National Park has abundant adventures waiting to be had... so get your butts out here & experience what I'm talking about!

Let your inner child out... visit the World's Finest National Park.