canada – MLE Travel Diary

The Best Restaurants And Things To Do In Banff

MLE Travel Diary — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Downtown Banff is the cutest little town; I definitely recommend staying here if you come to visit Banff National Park! There are so many good restaurants, shops and things to do downtown during your visit. We stayed at the Moose Hotel & Suites and absolutely loved it.

One important thing to note – the nearest airport is Calgary (YCC), and it is still a 1.5 hour drive from the airport. You can also take a shuttle, which will take ~2-2.5 hours. So just remember to factor this time in when planning your visit.

Keep reading for my favorite restaurants and things to do in downtown Banff. And don’t forget to click the button below to save all these spots and more to your Google Maps!

This post may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you. I make sure to only link products and retailers that I use myself and recommend. Thank you for your support! Learn more.

Things to do

1. Banff Town Sign

The town sign is admittedly very touristy, and I’m a bit embarrassed to admit we waited (twice) in a line for a photo here.😂 But, it’s super unique and I think worth it! There’s a nice trail that goes through the woods you could walk through as well, although make sure you bring bear spray.

2. Cascades of Time Garden

We stumbled upon this hidden gem while walking around downtown, and WOW! Don’t miss out on these gardens; they are so peaceful and especially beautiful in the summer when everything is blooming. Entry is free, and there are a lot of benches and gazebos you can sit on to meditate, journal or hang out.

3. Banff Gondola

This is a must!! The Banff Gondola takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain, with unreal views of Banff National Park. It is one of the more expensive activities, however you can also opt to hike up and/or down the mountain!

When you get to the top, make sure to walk to the top of the building. There’s a really nice observation deck that is almost 360°. Definitely also go on the boardwalk to get to Sanson Peak. From afar it looks intimidating, but it is a lot easier than it looks! You will get stunning views of the entire Park and Bow River from up there.

4. Banff Park Museum National Historic Site

This is a natural history museum with over 5,000 taxidermy animal and plant species. There is a small entry fee to visit, but it goes to support visitor services and facilities. We got to see a Moose, Bison and Black Bear close up, which was pretty cool to see them life size!

5. Bow River

You can walk along the river, which is a very relaxing activity. You can also rent bikes and bike along the river, or the path above. A bit further away from downtown is Bow Falls, which we did not check out but I definitely would if I went back!

Restaurants

1. Wild Flour

Put Wild Flour first because it is number one in my book! This cute bakery has the best freshly-baked pastries, coffee, breakfast and lunch sandwiches. We literally bought like 10 things from here haha, I wish we had come here the first day so we had known to go every day!

I am so sad I didn’t get pics of any of my pastries I had haha but if nothing else, that tells you how good they were! No time for photos.😂 I love too that they offer gluten-free and vegan options; the day we went, they had a peach, blueberry gluten free muffin and OMG. Sooo delicious.

2. Hello Sunshine

Hello Sunshine is a Japanese/sushi restaurant with the best overall vibe. We came here for dinner and I really have nothing but good things to say. The music was at this perfect volume where we could hear each other perfectly, but didn’t hear anyone else’s conversation…

…besides the table of 6 dudes on their bachelor party who did sake bombs halfway through our meal. Also, do NOT sleep on the bao buns – OMG! They’re incredible!

3. Block Kitchen + Bar

We came to Block Kitchen for lunch and it was delicious! This spot is Korean fusion; I got a poke bowl and the dumplings appetizer.

4. Magpie & Stump

This felt like the classic go-to spot for Mexican fare. We came to Magpie & Stump right after all our hiking in Banff National Park, and it really hit the spot.

5. Three Bears Brewery

Three Bears had an INCREDIBLE fried chicken sandwich; we saw someone at another table who had ordered it and we both got one.😂 Is there a better way to pick your meal than scoping out what other people have ordered? They also make a bunch of local beers, so if you are a beer fan, highly advise coming here! There’s a nice rooftop as well; if you make a reservation be sure to add a note you’d like to be seated on the rooftop!

If you’re looking for more information on Banff National Park, including Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, be sure to check out my recent post on why you should add Banff National Park to your bucket list! Follow along on Instagram for more Banff + travel content!

mariss

The post The Best Restaurants And Things To Do In Banff first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

Add Banff National Park To Your Bucket List Now

MLE Travel Diary — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 14:00:00 +0000

If you haven’t yet been to or heard of Banff National Park, you NEED to add it to your bucket list! There are a ton of stunning lakes you can visit, and trails you can hike and explore. I went to the most popular destinations, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and they exceeded my already-high expectations.

I’ll be sharing my experiences at both lakes, including information on how to get there and what you can do when you’re there. Make sure you bring bear spray; our hotel had it for us to rent, or you can buy it at most of the local shops around downtown.

Banff National Park is an absolute must-visit, especially in the summer when the weather is warmer and the lakes are open. I promise you won’t regret it!

Lake Louise

Getting There

I highly recommend taking a shuttle or other group/public transit. There is not a lot of parking for cars, and if you drive your own car, you won’t be able to easily access Moraine Lake.

We opted for the Super Pass Reservation from Roam Transit. The Super Pass gives you the ability to get to Moraine Lake as well.

If the shuttles are fully booked when you look, don’t fret! You are still able to wait in line in person as standby if people do not show up, or the bus isn’t full.

We had booked tickets on the 7am shuttle, and there were maybe 8 other ticketed seats; everyone waiting in line got on the bus easily. Granted, it was also 7am, so I can’t speak for the later shuttles!

Activities

Hiking: I don’t want to say you NEED to hike…but if you want to get these insane views of the water, you will need to hike. Lake Louise Lakeshore is an easy, accessible walk around the lake, with no elevation.

We hiked Fairview Lookout, which was surprisingly challenging, as it is basically just uphill the entire time. The view is SO worth it though. It is an out-and-back trail, however it is not as well maintained, so we just walked back down the way we came up.

Kayaking: The Fairmont has a monopoly on the kayak rentals, which makes it pretty pricey! We did not end up renting a kayak. It looked stunning though, and like a really great way to explore the lake.

You can’t make reservations; it is first come, first serve. So, if you want to do this, I recommend coming early to get in line. Hotel guests have first priority and have their own line.

Food + Facilities

Since the Fairmont is right on Lake Louise, you are able to stop there for food & restrooms. I was pleasantly surprised by their breakfast options and prices; they had breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, pastries, and coffee!

Moraine Lake

Getting There

Again, you are not able to take a personal car here, so you will need to make a bus or shuttle reservation. Transport to Moraine Lake was included with our Super Pass shuttle ticket. It was about 25 minutes from Lake Louise, and was so easy to get on the shuttle. We were definitely ahead of the crowds, but had no issues getting on the shuttle.

Activities

Hiking: The hiking at Moraine Lake is much more relaxed! There is an accessible Moraine Lake Lakeshore trail, which will take you around the lake with no elevation.

We hiked the Rockville trail to get to the top for the views! This was much easier than the Lake Louise hike, and arguably more stunning. The water is sooo blue like Gatorade, it is actually insane!

Kayaking: You can also kayak here, and it is a bit cheaper than at Lake Louise (though not much). This is also first come first serve, but looked to be a lot less crowded than at Lake Louise.

Food + Facilities

There is a lodge with some food options, but I personally did not order anything from here so can’t speak too much to it. We brought protein bars for this part, and only spent about an hour at Moraine Lake.

However, in terms of the restroom…there is no running water, so they are basically fancy port-a-potty’s. They warned us before getting on the shuttle too. Definitely advise going to the restroom at Lake Louise before going to Moraine Lake, but it’s not the worst if you have to go. I used them and am here to tell the tale.😂

Drop any questions you have in the comments below, or send me a DM! And make sure to follow along on Instagram for more Banff + travel content!

mariss

The post Add Banff National Park To Your Bucket List Now first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

The Best Luxury Hotel in Banff: Moose Hotel and Suites

MLE Travel Diary — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Looking for the best luxury hotel in Banff, Canada? Moose Hotel & Suites was amazing and staying here was the perfect way to experience Banff! It was the perfect mix of cozy, cottage vibes and upscale, modern amenities. Plus, all of the staff were so friendly and helpful – I really felt like it was a home away from home while I was here!

I’ll be sharing my experience at the 4 star luxury hotel, from check-in and the room itself, to all the property has to offer. If you’d like to look through my photo gallery of the hotel, scroll to the bottom!

Arrival

Okay first of all this moose statue was so cool! I really wanted to take a pic on top of it but there was a sign not to so I followed the rules.😁 Definitely makes it easy to find the hotel though! Then when you walk in, there’s a beautiful fireplace and lounge where you can hang out.

The front desk staff were so friendly and helpful! We got free shuttle passes that we could use to easily get around downtown Banff. They also had bear spray on hand we were able to rent to take on our hikes, which was so nice. Also, because it was my birthday, they gave us a little birthday card & free wine.🥹

Superior One Bedroom Suite

We stayed in a Superior One Bedroom Suite, which was so incredible! We had a balcony that had a view of the mountains, and was perfect to hang out on. It was also fun to have the extra living room space; this is where I would spend the down time, working on my blog or reading.

There was also a mini-kitchen with a fridge and microwave, fireplace in the living room, and stunning standing shower. I really appreciated their commitment to sustainability; they use local, biodegradable soap, recycle opened amenities, and automate their light dimming to conserve energy.

For the full room tour, check out my Instagram Reel:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MARISSA | Luxury Travel • Wellness • Itineraries (@mletraveldiary)

Dining

There is one Italian restaurant on-site, Pacini, where you can dine-in or get takeout. We did not end up dining here, but it was super convenient and you are able to make reservations in advance! Follow along on Instagram for the restaurants we did go to, and other recs!

Amenities

Moose Hotel has the top-rated Spa in the area, Meadow Spa + Pools, plus an indoor pool, outdoor hot tubs, sauna and gym. If you are not a hotel guest, you could still access the pools if you book a spa treatment! See the Photo Gallery below for an overview!

The rooftop was SO nice to hang out on, especially at the end of the night after dinner! The views are stunning, and there is so much seating and a little fire pit! The whole ambiance is so relaxing – like an upgraded, fancy cabin experience.

Photo Gallery

Would you stay at Moose Hotel & Suites? Drop a comment below! And make sure to follow along on Instagram for more Banff content!

mariss

The post The Best Luxury Hotel in Banff: Moose Hotel and Suites first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.