Spring Awakens in Banff: A Fresh Season of Beauty and Adventure

Banff is a fantastic place to travel as it offers a breathtaking mix of natural beauty, outdoor adventure and serene relaxation. Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, Banff boasts turquoise glacial lakes, mountain peaks and abundant wildlife. It's a dream destination for nature lovers and photographers! The charming town of Banff offers access to world-class skiing and hiking, while offering cozy accommodations, unique shops and excellent dining.

• Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course: If you love to golf, please play a round at this picturesque course. You may even get to share the course with some wildlife. I recommend booking a tee time as soon as you book your stay. This course is very popular.

• Banff Gondola: Take a Gondola up to a rooftop deck for epic snowy views. Make sure to book your visit in advance to avoid the line. We walked here from our hotel at the Rimrock. Once you make it to the top, there are a few gift shops and places to grab a bite to eat. Don't forget to book a reservation at the Sky Bistro for lunch for an unforgettable experience!

• Johnston Canyon: I do recommend taking the shuttle as parking does fill up very quickly. In the spring, you may get lucky with an open parking lot, but the busy season will definitely require utilizing the shuttle. This hike takes roughly two hours and you'll get to see a beautiful waterfall. There is also a super cute gift shop that has a cafe!

• Banff's upper hot springs: A popular spot to relax while overlooking the mountains. This was within walking distance from our stay at the Rimrock Resort Hotel. To be honest, this was my least favorite thing I did while visiting Banff. It felt like a giant hot tub with a ton of people. It was so packed, I couldn't really enjoy it. I do recommend bringing flip-flops or slides for the deck and locker room. If you have sensitive skin, skip this place — I came home with an awful skin rash! I personally would have rather saved the money it cost to get in and just enjoyed the hot tub at our hotel across the street!

• Cave and Basin National Historic Site: We drove here in our rental car and there was plenty of parking. Besides a few people, it wasn't busy at all. Now this is what I call a Hot Spring — lol! In the beginning, you walk through a cave to see the hot spring — smell of sulfur and all! Afterwards, you can walk small trails to see more springs and stand at an overlook with some incredible views. This only took about an hour of our time. Don't feel bad if you skip this because you have other plans, but if you are looking for something to occupy your time, check it out! This would be a great activity for kids!

• Downtown Banff: There are a ton of restaurants and shops to choose from in town. I really enjoyed walking up and down the streets, and exploring the various shops. There are some museums you can check out that have some interesting artifacts, but if you are short on time, you can skip these.

• Rimrock Resort Hotel: My husband and I loved this resort. It was relaxing and we were able to get upgraded to a mountain view, so our room overlooked the extraordinary snow-peaked mountain tops! They have great food, an impressive fitness center and the spa! Oh — don't get me started on the spa! Whew! I love a good massage on a trip and this place definitely excelled in that area! The lobby is a cozy spot to sit and enjoy a cocktail while reading your favorite book.The hotel also has a shuttle stop out front, so it's convenient to get to the shops, restaurants and different hiking areas.
  
  Hotel shuttle service: The shuttle service was extremely convenient. The hotel provided us with the ticket (price was included in our stay!) and the stop was right outside the lobby of the Rimrock, where we stayed. We used it to go back and forth from the shopping and restaurants. It does have various stops to the popular spots, but we just took our rental car and hoped we could find parking. The shuttles will typically have a line as the buses fill up fairly quickly.

Day Trips:

• Lake Louise: You can either drive or take the shuttle offered in town. I do recommend taking the shuttle as parking does fill up very quickly. In the spring, you may get lucky with an open parking lot, but busy seasons will definitely need a shuttle. I recommend walking on the paved pathway to get all the views in — it's fairly easy and takes roughly an hour. There are different paths you can take, like the Plain of Six Glaciers, or Big or Little Beehive. But these hikes can be difficult and still closed in the spring time due to snow and possible avalanches.

• Johnston Canyon: You can either drive or take the shuttle offered in town. I do recommend taking the shuttle as parking does fill up very quickly. In the spring, you may get lucky with an open parking lot, but busy seasons will definitely need a shuttle. This hike takes roughly two hours and you'll get to see a beautiful waterfall.

Breakfast:

• The Primrose: Located inside the Rimrock Hotel, is a classy and elegant spot to enjoy breakfast. I recommend the Creme Brulee French Toast (calories don't count when you're on vacation!

• Wild Flour Bakery: Looking for a quick bite and a coffee before your hike? Check this place out!

Lunch:

• The Sky-Bistro: This restaurant has incredible panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. I recommend making a reservation after taking the Gondola up to the top! (Ask for the table by the floor-to-ceiling windows — trust me!)

• Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant: In the mood for some brews? Check this place out! They distill their own beer on site. They also have some delicious cheesy waffle fries.

Dinner:

• The Grizzly House: This restaurant is famous for its range of exotic meats while cooking over a stone! I recommend the four courses for parties of two or more. It's not just good food, but a fun experience!

• Lupo: In the mood for Italian? Check out this modern restaurant! I highly recommend ordering the Agnolotti (extra truffle, of course) or the spicy rigatoni, alla-vodka.