The Real Banff Blog

In the last post, I wrote about how the rivers are running fast with all the snow melting off the mountains; this also means the water falls are thundering their way down to a basin or river below! I took a walk along Johnston's Canyon this week to the Lower and Upper Falls. It's an easy, paved trail that clings to the canyon walls and meanders through the forest. You can access this trail from the 1A Bow Valley Parkway (pdf 649.46 kB) which is a Sunday driver kind of road between Banff & Lake Louise. The couple I met in this video has one message to everybody: "You have to see the Rockies... that's a must."

The Rocky Mountains inspire artists of all kinds to make Banff National Park their home. The photographer in this video says "it's almost overwhelming how much you have to work with here." So whether you are an amateur or professional photographer, or you simply want to capture memories of your vacation, every single photo will make friends & family back home envious of the time you spent here.

Bike Fest starts today... I'll be heading out at 4pm to watch the Hill Climb racers along Hwy 93 S, then tomorrow is the 1A Sprint along the Bow Valley Parkway starting in Lake Louise at 9:30am. Both of these races are new this year & both of the routes are breathtaking. Don't worry; I'll have my camera with me. Saturday the racers will be flying along Banff Ave & Bear Street, along with the Little Crits & the Cruiser Crit races. Sunday has the racers competing in the Tunnel Mountain Road Race.

If you spot me over the weekend come and say hi... maybe you can be my next video!

I live in 'the most beautiful place on the face of the earth' according to this couple in this weeks video from the State of New York and I have got to agree whole heartedly. If you didn't make it out to Banff National Park for the Ice Magic Festival up at Lake Louise, don't worry.... the carvings stay up until Mother Nature decides to melt them down with one of her Chinook winds.

What is a Chinook wind? I was once told that it means "snow-eater" because it is a warm wind that can melt up to a foot of snow in one day. But Wikipedia says that that is just a popular mythology here in Alberta... I don't know though... I kind of like it, so I think I'll stick with that story!

With Valentines day coming up in 2.5 weeks (this is your gentle reminder) I've decided to poll the rest of my team at Banff Lake Louise Tourism to come up with a list of the most romantic spots in the Park... so stop by next Wednesday for some ideas on where to take your loved one for a little smooch session with a view.

If you still haven't gotten around to signing up for our text message alerts I've got another reason for you to do so now... I got a message last week to 'get 10% off food' when I showed the received message at one of our local restaurants. Text 'snow' to 1-778-997-9723 or visit www.banfflakelouise.com/text

See you next week.

As far back as I can remember, I have been ice skating on outdoor rinks & frozen lakes. I remember my mom strapping double bladed skates (essentially training wheels for skates) to my boots when I was 2 years old then tugging me around the rink... cute memory hey?!

In December a group of us from work went out for a skate during our lunch hour, there were probably 50 locals out on the frozen lake laughing, playing, and feeling alive. I would suggest that ice skating outdoors is one experience to be had while you're here to get that true Canadian feel.

Natural outdoor locations: (use at your own risk)

• Bow River - near the canoe docks
• Lake Louise - in front of The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - lit at night

Man made outdoor locations:

• The Fairmont Banff Springs rink
• Banff Recreation Centre - lit at night

If you need to rent ice skates you can ask at the Information Centre; they'll point you in the right direction.

You'll walk away from this with rosy cheeks and a smile on your face... bring your camera, you're going to be ice skating in the Canadian Rockies and you'll want something to show people while you're bragging about it back at home!

On August 22, Banff National Park will have 22 Buddhist Monks from Calgary's Avatamsaka Monastery visiting the shores of Lake Minnewanka to bless the dragon boats that are being used in the weekend's races.

The Eye Dotting Ceremony (the blessing) is an ancient ritual of "awakening the dragon" in which the Monks paint the eyes on each of the dragon boat figureheads to call forth their spirits. Chinese culture will be celebrated with traditional Chinese dancers and various other activities through out the festival.

Community spirit runs rampant in Banff National Park with 8 local teams entered (none of whom have ever paddled a dragon boat before I might add) and 7 'more experienced' teams from out of town competing in the races.

Banff Lake Louise Tourism, Town of Banff, Brewster Inc., local firefighters, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Banff Caribou Properties, Home Wise Renovations, and Henry's Electric will all be vying for local bragging rights throughout the weekend and once the boat wakes have calmed and the races are finished on Sunday August 24 the awards ceremony will take place.

Here's a little teaser video we created during the first ever paddle of the Banff Lake Louise Tourism team!

Join us in cheering on each of the teams on Saturday August 23 & Sunday August 24, and watch history in the making for the inaugural year of the Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival!

We might be a small mountain town, but we know how to throw a party!

The Town of Banff has invited 4 of Canada's top acts to take the stage on Thursday August 21 for an "all day music extravaganza" to celebrate the refreshing our beautiful Banff Avenue underwent last summer.

Ron Sexsmith, Joel Plaskett Emergency, K-OS and Theory of a Deadman will be taking the stage in the middle of our redesigned, pedestrian friendly downtown from 1:00PM - 9:00PM.

Banff Live is free (here we are offering yet another free day of activities... we just can't help ourselves!) and will be an experience you won't want to miss... so come on out, join us and enjoy!

Looking for something to do with the family once the Stampede has left town?

On Saturday July 19th all of the National Parks across Canada will be hosting events and activities in celebration of Canada's treasures.

This years events within Banff National Park will be taking place at the Banff Community High School, which if you're unfamiliar with the town is close to downtown, 330 Banff Ave... ask a local, they'll point you in the right direction!

From 11am - 3pm you and your family could learn what the difference is between horns and antlers, watch a Parks Canada Fire Crew demonstration, enjoy the theatre with "Faces of Fire", join in a game of Wildlife Hockey and hop on the gigantic Brewster Ice Explorer to learn more about our glaciers.

As if that isn't enough to do, there are also guided walks along trails and up mountains, or enjoy a cup of tea in the historic Cascade of Times gardens or even learn how to take the best photo at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site!

For a full schedule of events and more details check our Calendar of Events

Did I mention all the activities are FREE?! Hope to see you there!