Come help us celebrate Banff National Park‘s 125th anniversary this summer in the Canadian Rockies.
It all got started 125 years ago when a few railway workers stumbled onto some hot pools that eventually led to the creation of not only Banff National Park but the Canadian National Parks system.
Here’s a couple things you can do to discover just what it was that made this the epicenter of Canada’s park system, and one of the highlights of any Rockies vacation.
Soak up Banff history
Go right to the root of what caused Banff to become a National Park, the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Kick back, relax and take in the scenery and springs that have inspired people to come here since aboriginal times.
The Icefields Parkway
Take a scenic Canadian Rockies drive down the Icefields Parkway, one of the most renowned drives in the world. Along the way, you can do some sightseeing, get some great vacation photos, go hiking and see Rockies wildlife. The route between Lake Louise near the town of Banff to the town of Jasper is 230 km/142 mi. A definite must-see is the Columbia Icefield, one of the largest icefields south of the arctic circle.
Sound of Banff Music
Check out the Banff Centre for anything from small jazz shows, to big country and rock concerts, and line dancing lessons. A great way to spend a night out on your Canadian Rockies vacation.
Eat it up
Banff has lots of great restaurants. Everything from ethnic food, to pizza joints, fine dining to pub food. No belly should growl in this fine grubbing town, at least not for too long after you’ve gotten off of the trail.
Hike Banff
This may seem like one of the most obvious Banff activities to engage in, but hey, we don’t want you to miss the opportunity to hike Banff. One great trail near the town of Banff is Tunnel Mountain. It’s a trail that you can take slow if you want to conserve some energy, or hike fast if you want to burn some. The hike is a 3 mi/4.3 km round trip. Make it to the top and you’ll get great views of the town and park.
