Travel Like an Influencer: The Rowley Family's 7-Day Itinerary in Banff and Lake Louise

Our lives revolve around the next snow-covered peak. Ready to see why Banff National Park is one of our absolute favorites to explore and snowboard?

We are Rowley Adventures. An adventure travel family that loves all things snowboarding and travel. We love to explore the globe showing our daughter Cashy all the beauty this amazing planet has to offer.

For the past three years, we've been captivated by the wonders that Banff and Lake Louise have to offer.

Our first trip was for Cashy’s 6th birthday in December 2022, and we instantly fell in love with the area, its stunning sights, and the overall vibe.

The following year, we decided to visit a bit later, in January, to experience the Winter Festival. It was an incredibly fun time and definitely something we recommend experiencing!

For our third Banff adventure, we opted for April shred vibes and all that comes with it. Talk about epic fun in the sun!

No matter what time you choose to visit Banff National Park you will not be disappointed.

One awesome resource that helps us plan our trips is the trip builder tool. You can add your dates, add experiences, and plan everything out so you don’t have to worry about finding things to do once you get there. You will be able to plan your exact trip using the trip builder at the end of this blog!

Here is what our 7-day itinerary looked like!

Day 1: Arriving to Banff!

Did you know there's a shuttle service from the Calgary airport directly to Banff? We've used the Banff Airporter every year, and it makes the journey incredibly easy. It's conveniently located right at the airport. They load your luggage, and you can just sit back and relax for the 1.5-hour scenic drive to Banff. No stress, just pure relaxation!

The Airporter dropped us off at the Mount Royal Hotel, located right in downtown Banff. This was the closest we've stayed to the heart of town. It was incredibly convenient to be able to walk to restaurants and have the resort shuttle buses pick us up right outside.

The other places we've stayed in previous years were also epic and provided great opportunities for us to use the public transport and hone our navigation skills, but I love when things are super convenient!

Once settled, we headed to Farm & Fire for dinner. This place is a real treat. They serve simple, wood-fired dishes made with ingredients from local Canadian farmers, and everything tastes beyond delicious. Plus, the upscale decor makes you feel like you're winning on all fronts.

I highly recommend making a reservation at Farm & Fire, as this place is always in high demand – a true testament to how good it is!

Day 2: Radventures Icefields Parkway & Abraham Lake Adventure!

Our first full day was a true adventure. We experienced something completely new, which is exactly what we live for!

We started with breakfast at Brazen, conveniently located in our hotel lobby. We ended up eating there almost every morning because it was just that good and so accessible. Even if you're not staying at the Mount Royal, Brazen is a must-try breakfast spot, so add it to your list!

Following breakfast, we met our guide and the rest of the group for our Radventures tour. These tours involve a fair bit of driving, but for us, it was perfect for catching a few naps and relaxing between hikes.

Our first stop was Peyto Lake, a short, beautiful walk to the lookout. The entire experience was magical. The snow-covered landscape looked like a fairytale, which little Cashy absolutely loved.

At the overlook, we learned a lot about Peyto's history and some other interesting facts! Like, did you know that it is a glacier-fed lake named after Bill Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper from the Banff area. Cool right!

Next up was Abraham Lake, famous for its ice bubble phenomenon, which you might have seen on Tik Tok. You need to time your visit just right to see them, but it's a stunning spot regardless. If the bubbles are a must-see for you, be sure to research the best viewing times.

Our third and final stop was Bow Lake. Absolutely stunning! Walking out onto the frozen lake, surrounded by breathtaking views, was an experience that left us speechless. It was one of those places where everyone instinctively quiets down to soak in the magic.

The tour offers an option to bring your own lunch or have one provided. They brought us some delicious sandwiches from a local shop – the ultimate picnic!

Once we arrived back in Banff, we tried a new dinner spot called Bluebird, and wow, was it good! It’s an upscale steakhouse with incredible quality beef. If you're a steak lover, this is definitely the place for you.

“What about dessert?” little Cashy asked.

We were tipped off to go to Cows for ice cream. We discovered they're rated as some of the best ice cream in the world – and they lived up to the hype! Make sure to stop by Cows for a sweet treat!

Day 3: Riding Sunshine Village!

Following another delicious breakfast at Brazen, we headed to the hotel parking lot to catch the Sunshine Village resort shuttle.

Sunshine Village is a special mountain, offering a big mountain feel with a friendly, accessible layout. The views are incredible, the runs are long, and there's terrain for every skill level. We always have a blast at Sunshine, and this year we discovered some fantastic spots with endless side hits – one of our favorite things!

A good meal is always necessary after an epic day on the slopes at Sunshine. So, we headed straight to Eddie Burger for some of the best burgers I’ve ever had. It was exactly what we needed after a full day of riding.

Eddie Burger has a super chill, sports-bar vibe. It's small but inviting – and did I mention how good those burgers were? Plus, they have giant milkshakes! A win-win for the whole family.

Day 4: Shredding at Lake Louise!

Once again, we ate our breakfast at Brazen before getting on the Lake Louise resort shuttle for the 45-minute ride to the mountain. I may have forgotten to mention that these resort shuttles are free. Yep, that was our reaction too!

Lake Louise is an incredibly special place. Of the 'Big 3' resorts, we'd say this one can be the most challenging. They certainly have runs for all levels, but if you're not paying attention, you might find yourself on a very long run that could be tough if the kids aren't prepared.

However, if everyone in your group can handle long runs, then this mountain is fantastic! Lake Louise is a vast mountain that somehow maintains a cozy, small-mountain vibe. There are charming little lodges dotted around the slopes, all with a great atmosphere and delicious hot chocolate!

At the main lodge, we had lunch at Kuma Yama, and it was fantastic. The ramen was incredibly satisfying after a morning on the snow. Cash, our picky eater, even opted for a California roll and declared it the best she's ever had!

Our adventures weren’t done yet. We had an amazing day on the mountain but wanted more to explore.

We headed to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for a little tour and dinner. Talk about a stunning castle! It's a sight you don't want to miss, and if you're into ghost stories, you're in for a treat!

Day 5: Conquering Mt. Norquay!

For our final day of riding, we visited Mt. Norquay, the closest of the Big 3 resorts to downtown Banff.

This mountain is a bit of a hidden gem. It might be smaller than the others, but it's certainly mighty! Norquay boasts some steep terrain, fast runs, and a fantastic little terrain park.

If you have beginners in your family, this is an excellent place to start. They have a great learning area visible from the lodge, plus tubing for family members who might not want to ski or snowboard. Plus, it’s so close to town that you can easily pop up for a few runs and a lesson, then head back for more exploring.

After our day at Norquay, we made sure to collect our Trifecta Challenge awards at the SkiBig3 Adventure Hub. Don't forget to do this if you ride all three mountains!

Close by the Adventure hub is High Rollers where we topped off our night with some bowling and dinner. What a great spot! There aren't many lanes, which gives it a more personal and exclusive feel – so definitely make a reservation! The food was good, and we all had a blast bowling for a few hours.

Day 6: Our Action-Packed Last Full Day!

Our day kicked off with breakfast at Tooloulou’s. This was our first visit to this spot, and it did not disappoint! It has a fantastic Louisiana bayou vibe, and we were totally here for it. Huge portions of delicious food were exactly what we needed to fuel our big day! This place is a must-try.

The following activities on this jam-packed day we had no idea were even possible without the trip builder tool. The minute Nick saw “Helicopter Tour” he wasn’t asking for second opinions and selected it.

That said, once we finished breakfast, we headed to Alpine Helicopters for their Mt. Assiniboine & Glacier helicopter tour. This experience was pure awe. Getting that close to the mountain peaks is truly unforgettable.

Watching the wind whip snow off the peaks and witnessing the profound silence of the glaciers was incredibly powerful. We even saw an avalanche blast off the backside of one of the Three Sisters peaks. We'd never seen one in person, so witnessing its sheer, raw power from the safety of the air was the best-case scenario.

The best part was hearing little Cashy's reactions through our headphones. I'm pretty sure the pilot was chuckling along to her animated expressions. It was pure childhood wonder, and absolutely beautiful. The tour lasted about 30 minutes, and then we were back on the ground and ready for lunch.

The entire crew at Alpine Helicopters was amazing and so kind. They even made a 'ticket' for Monka Monka, Cashy's stuffed animal who joins every adventure!

Afterwards we headed back to Banff for lunch at Wild Flour Bakery before embarking on a private tour of Johnston Canyon, which turned out to be one of our favorite experiences.

Our guide was not only kind and full of great energy, but also incredibly knowledgeable about the area, its history, and so much more. As a homeschooling family, finding tours that are both fun and educational is a huge win-win for us.

This was probably the most challenging walk of the week for us. If you regularly walk or hike, it's easy, but if you're not accustomed to outdoor activities with inclines and declines, some parts could be tricky.

Pro tip: Make sure you have ice cleats or spikes for your shoes!

We were so grateful our guide brought some for us, as the mud and slush made some trail sections very slippery and difficult to navigate, especially for those with inadequate footwear. This is another reason why having a guide is invaluable – they know the terrain, where to step, and whether you'll need ice spikes!

To cap off the most epic final day of our trip, we revisited our absolute favorite eatery in Banff: Hello Sunshine. We've eaten here every time we've visited Banff. They serve incredible ramen, in particular the Spicy Pork Ramen is a family favorite. Nick always opts for sushi. The Chefs Roll is his go to! However, the ramen is what hooked us from the start and has kept us coming back time and time again!

Plus, they have karaoke rooms in the back (though we haven't tried that yet!). Definitely add Hello Sunshine to your must-eat list!

Day 7: Departure Day

Banff and Lake Louise are always a whirlwind of adventure that will stay with us forever. Now it was time to say au revoir to the Canadian Rockies.

For us, it’s never truly 'goodbye,' but more of a 'see you later.' So, after one last breakfast, we boarded the Banff Airporter and headed back to the Calgary airport for our journey home.

And that was our incredible 7-day adventure in Banff National Park! You can find all our experiences in the trip builder tool at the bottom of this page to help you plan the most magical trip for you and your family.

The 'Big 3' ski resorts initially drew us to this amazing place, but it's the fantastic community vibes, convenient transportation, and incredible food that keeps us coming back year after year.

April might be my new favorite time to visit, mainly because it's a bit warmer, but still has all the winter offerings.

Cheers, until next season!