At Short Motivation, we really enjoy being outside and try to mix our trips with adventure. Having recently been to the Swiss Alps and Yosemite national park we’d like to do more in these locations. Banff and the Canadian rockies are a superb combination with one of the most spectacular mountain ranges, including some of the most fantastic scenery in the world, lakes, alpine meadows, glaciers, forests and deep canyons.
In addition to the regular expectations, other highlights include Banff Upper Hot Springs which is a natural hot mineral springs and the Icefields Parkway which is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Throw in the fact that the air is so clean and clear, it is being bottled up and sold in a polluted China and you get the many reasons why we want to visit Banff.
We want to stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs
Located close to the hot springs, The Fairmont Banff Springs is a beautiful and at the same time imposing hotel, dubbed “Canada’s Castle in the Rockies”, this hotel has been open since the late 1800’s. Comprised of 764 guest rooms and suites offering views of the forest, courtyard our mountains the hotel also has 10 restaurants and the world class rated – Willow Stream Spa. Activities at the hotel also involve golfing, skiing, hiking and horseback riding.
We want to eat and drink at the Grizzly House and Whitebark Cafe
The Grizzly House serves up revered fondue dinners in a retro decor. The interior features a disco ball, bearskin rugs and other retro furnishing. It used to be an old night club which started serving fondue to comply with state alcohol laws. It also serves up Alberta beef steaks and wild game, all of which we’d like to try!
Considering it is in a mountain park, there are surprisingly number of coffee shops in Banff. There is the Second Cup located in Aspen Lodge which looks like it has decent coffee. But the most enticing one looks like the Whitebark Cafe who serve up fair-trade organic coffee from Moja and it is roasted in their facility in Vancouver.
We want to workout at Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation
Hiking and outdoor working out aside, we want to workout at Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation, this place has it all: Swim, Spin, climbing gym and yoga classes, so we can keep our equilibrium and maintain our zen in the mountains.
We want to visit Lake Minnewanka
There will be so much to do in Banff, including all the sights mentioned in the introduction, we are excited to do the drive from Banff to Jasper which is meant to be very scenic. We also would like to visit Lake Minnewanka. This beautiful lake provides plenty of scenery like the rest of Banff and is the only lake to allow motorised boats on it in the national park.
Are you a Canadian living in the Banff region? What locations would you recommend we visit? We’d love your feedback. Let us know in the comments below.
