• Home
  • About Rebecca
  • SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER
  • @RebeccaOver60 on YouTube
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Me

Baby Boomster

Active Women Over 50

Shop with me - My product recommendations

  • Recipes
  • Travel Planning for Seniors
  • Old Lady Product Reviews
  • Visit My Amazon Storefront
You are here: Home / Senior Women Travel / World Travel for Baby Boomers / Canada / Explore Banff. Canada in One Day
Privacy Policy This post may contain Amazon and other affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Explore Banff. Canada in One Day

by Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski 4 Comments

Banff is a picturesque resort village that sits at the foot of the breathtaking Banff National Forest, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. The peaks of the majestic Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade can be seen from the town center. It’s the main hub for tourists coming to the Canadian Rockies and the starting point for every sort of adventure tour.

During the high season, (May – September) crowds of tourists file into bistros, coffeehouses, and Alpine-style boutiques. To avoid the crowds and take advantage of cheaper rates, you may want to consider visiting during the shoulder season that runs from mid-September – mid-October.

Find a local guide in Banff, here.

Our hotel

My daughter and I stayed at the Canalta Lodge, a trendy chalet with wood beams. Amenities include a complimentary Deluxe breakfast, outdoor hot tubs, a sauna, a coffee shop, community firepits, and even a Glacier Plunge tub.  You can also rent bikes, store your skis, and bring your pet along.

Check on current pricing for the Canalta Lodge here.

We stayed at the Canalta Lodge - #Banff, #Canada #Hotel
Canalta Lodge

A stroll and dinner in town

The evening we arrived, we had dinner at the Bison Restaurant and Terrace, an upstairs farm-to-table eatery with a view of the breathtaking alpine peaks that rise above the town. We shared a plate of Bison Ribeye along with their Rocket Salad. After all the hiking we did on our visit to the Canadian Rockies, we were hungry and the bison was cooked to perfection!

Bison Restaurant and Terrace, Banff, Canada
Bison Restaurant and Terrace – Bison Ribeye

We also stopped at Kate King Jewellery, a gem and crystal shop that features vibrational rocks that are said to help you harmonize and empower your spirit.  Our saleslady was quite intuitive and helped us pick out just the right ones to add to my collection at home.

A quick exploration of Banff

The next morning, we took a long walk to see as much as we could of Banff before we had to leave for the airport.

I was itching to visit the historic Banff Springs Hotel, which was 2 miles from our hotel, so we set off in that direction.  

A view of the Bow River from the Bow River Bridge Banff
A view of the Bow River from the Bow River Bridge

Cascades of Time Gardens

At the end of Mountain Ave is the Parks Canada Administration Building and it has a small magical garden behind it called The Cascades of Time.

Banff National Park Administration Building - Cascade Garden
National Park Administration Building and Garden

We were lucky to see it during the peak blooming period and it was bursting with color. You can’t help but feel tranquil and at peace walking through it.

Take a walk through the Cascade Garden of Timenext to the National Park Administration Office
The Cascades of Time Garden

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

After taking a few photos in the garden we headed up the boulevard toward the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Unlike the Chateau at Lake Louise, it wasn’t overrun with tourists and we could walk around freely.

Check on current pricing for the Banff Springs Hotel here.

A view from the back of the Fairmont Banff Springs Canada
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

The hotel is known as Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies” and has been serving guests since 1888. Its original Scottish Baronial architectural style was replaced in 1911 with the present Canadian Chateau style and was designed by American architect Walter S. Painter.

A magnificent view of Banff National Park from the Fairmont Hotel
The view of Banff National Park from the Banff Springs Hotel

You may see a ghost or two at the hotel

There have been several ghostly sightings at the hotel. One apparition is a bride who died in the 1930s when she tripped on her wedding gown and fell down a marble staircase. We walked by the alleged staircase but I didn’t feel a chilly presence. I guess she was haunting someone else that day.

One of the corridors of the Banff Springs Hotel with a ghostly painting
A ghostly corridor at the hotel

Another ghost is an elderly Scotsman named Sam who worked at the hotel as head bellman during the 1960s and ’70s.  He was helpful in life and is apparently helpful in the afterlife. People have reported that an elderly bellman unlocked their room door when their key didn’t work.

A parlor with Buffalo head over the fireplace at the Banff Springs Hotel
A parlor with Buffalo Head

There are also some rooms that may be haunted. Pillows have been pulled from under sleeping guests and bloody handprints have been seen in mirrors. We were spared a scare while we were there but it’s always fun to hear about ghosts who haunt historic hotels. A mischievous spirit always seems to turn up.

The Outer Courtyard of the Banff Springs Hotel and entrance for guests
Outer courtyard of the hotel

Next time . . .

Sadly, we didn’t have time to see more of Banff before we had to head back to Calgary Airport. Even if you spend weeks in the Canadian Rockies you’ll never see it all, because there are so many amazing things to do. But it gives me a great excuse to come back and I hope it’s very soon.

Find more things to do in the Canadian Rockies here.

Banff, Canada

Read my other posts about the Canadian Rockies here:

  • Yoho National Park
  • Lake Louise
  • Moraine Lake and Johnston Canyon

Have you been to the Canadian Rockies? Or are you planning to visit in the future? Please leave a comment below.

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn

Filed Under: Canada Tagged With: Baby Boomer Travel, garden, hotel, restaurant

Join my newsletter and receive new posts weekly

About Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski

Rebecca Olkowski is a travel/lifestyle blogger and founder of BabyBoomster.com, for active older women over 50. She is a purveyor of all things fun, loves to venture out in the world, is a foodie, and lives in Los Angeles.

Comments

  1. Diane says

    August 5, 2018 at 6:58 am

    Love this! So glad you got to at least have a peek at my favourite place on earth! We spend weeks in Banff every year. I wish I could have come along to point out our favourite hikes and haunts, but actually, you did really, really well on your own! 🙂

    Reply
    • Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says

      August 5, 2018 at 9:22 am

      I wish you could have come along too, Diane. How wonderful that you get to spend so much time in Banff. We loved it and I would love to go back.

      Reply
  2. Merna says

    August 9, 2018 at 5:52 pm

    Your photos make me miss it too! I got the chills just reading about pillows pulled and bloody handprints from a ghost at the Banff Springs Hotel. I stayed there once and glad I didn’t know this then (and especially glad I experienced no hauntings!) 🙂
    Nothing beats the fresh mountain air on those hikes!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says

      August 28, 2018 at 8:05 am

      That would have been so cool to stay there. Glad you didn’t see any ghosts. The fresh air of Canada was amazing and then after we left everything was covered in smoke from recent fires. Glad we missed that.

      Reply

Leave a comment and tell us what you think Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Contact Info

  • About Baby Boomster
  • Send a message
  • Media Kit
  • Writer’s Guidelines

…………………………………………..

Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski
rebecca@babyboomster.com
Los Angeles,  CA 91001

Honors and Awards

Top 100 Baby Boomer blogs

Intellifluence Trusted Blogger

Search for a topic

Legal Stuff You Need to Know

  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosure
  • Please read my Privacy and Cookie Policy

Amazon Program Info

Rebecca Olkowski is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program, and the Amazon Influencer Program. She earns commissions from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Other affiliations are listed HERE.

INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN |  PINTEREST |  THREADS |  YOUTUBE |  FACEBOOK |  AMAZON


BabyBoomster.com is a travel, fashion, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle blog for Baby Boomer women over 50. | Los Angeles, California

Copyright Ⓒ 2025  | BabyBoomster.com  |  All Rights Reserved

Privacy and Cookie Policy