Banff Mountain Film Festival

Nov 1-9 - one of the highlights of the Banff cultural calendar. Film makers and viewers come from all over the world to share their passion for mountain culture. The 33rd annual Banff Mountain Film Festival starts on the weekend of November 1st and 2nd with several feature length films each day. The main weekend of the festival is from November 7th-9th and includes 3 evenings, and 2 full days of films inspired by the mountains and other natural places. Speakers such as Peter Habeler and Jim Donini will preceed the screenings on Nov 7th and 8th.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an event not to be missed, and more information can be found on the Banff Centre website.

Nixie Barton & Grant Leier

Oct 4th 1-3pm at the Canada House Gallery. One of the main events of the Fall exhibition schedule, Canada House presents Nixie Barton and Grant Leier from Vancouver Island. Find out more about the artists and their work at the Canada House Gallery website.

Songs Above the Treeline

Sept 26 & 27th - A rare performance from five female aboriginal musical artists, performing various types of music, all with influence from Canada’s north.
7.30pm Rolston Recital Hall, the Banff Centre, adults $16
For further details, visit the Banff Centre website.

Banff on a Budget

A visit to Banff doesn’t have to break the bank. Following these local’s tips will guarantee you a fun day while still leaving enough money left over for an after dinner treat.
For a hearty breakfast, why not try Phil’s Diner where you can order eggs any style plus all the trimmings. For a fun and free activity in the mountains, you can’t beat hiking. The Tunnel Mountain and Marsh Loop trails are strongly recommended and are just a short walk from town. For shopping at reasonable prices you can’t beat the Great Canadian Dollar Store or OK Gifts, and you’ll find them both downtown. A well priced lunch can be found at the Sushi Train, Subway, or at the food court in Cascade Mall. If you still have the energy, why not try an afternoon hike on the C Level Cirque trail, or if you just want to relax, then a visit to Johnson Lake may be in order. For an Italian style dinner you could try the Old Spaghetti Factory or Athena Pizza and the Homestead Inn is the perfect place for a well priced night’s sleep, or you could camp at Tunnel Mountain Campground.

Have fun!

First Time to Banff?

Must See & Do

Take a stroll along the Bow River interpretive trail to the Bow Falls. Visit the Whyte Museum (current exhibition is outstanding - Group of Seven to Tako Tanabe). Ride up the Banff Gondola to see spectacular scenery and wildlife. Take a wander around the historical Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, don’t miss the medieval Mount Stephan hall.

Try to See & Do

Walk along the short Marsh Trail at the Cave and Basin, a winding boardwalk though a unique and sensitive hot springs ecosystem, great bird watching. Take in a performance at the world class arts venue the Banff Centre, book yourself onto a Banff Tour with Brewster, a fantastic way to see the area with experienced guides. Go for a dip at the Banff Upper Hot Springs or visit the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, a great look into the native cultures of the area, they have a wonderful gift shop.

Outside Banff

Hike in the high alpine at Sunshine Meadows to see a plethora of stunning wildflowers. Take a rafting tour, hike up Johnston Canyon, a gorgeous deep canyon with an excellent interpretive trail – grab an ice cream from the little hut at the start of the trail. Visit the famous hamlet of Lake Louise, wander around the lake trail to the trail head for the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House - a very rewarding hike with some of the best scenery in the Rockies. An absolute must is a ride on Brewster’s Ice Explorer on the Icefields Parkway half way to Jasper, this is a once in a life time experience.

Banff Sightseeing Tours

Brewster excursions offer some of the best tours available in Banff and Banff National Park. Whether you would like to go on a tour of Banff and its immediate surroundings, or you would like to explore Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefield, or Jasper, you are sure to find a tour to suit your itinerary.
Brewster have been showing visitors the Canadian Rockies for over 100 years, and still today offer an ideal combination of tours and must-see attractions that should form a part of any visitor’s itinerary.

Banff Gondola and Hot Springs

The Banff Gondola is one of Banff’s ‘must do’ activities and it gives you the best mountain view in the Banff area, a view normally reserved for mountaineers. Access to the gondola is from the base of Sulphur Mountain, which is a 5 minute drive from downtown Banff, and is serviced by Banff’s transit bus. Also in the vicinity are the Banff Upper Hot Springs, a naturally heated spring-fed outdoor pool, where you can ‘take the waters’ and admire the view year round. A ride on the gondola and a visit to the hot springs is a great way to spend half a day. You could also include the gondola ride as part of a Banff sightseeing tour.

Ice Explorer

No trip to Banff National Park is complete without visiting the Columbia Icefield and taking a tour on Brewster’s Ice Explorer. This once in a lifetime experience takes you out onto 400 year old ice with an interpretive guide on a 5km round trip journey. The Columbia Icefield is located on the border of Banff and Jasper National Parks, and is an ideal place to stop while travelling between Banff and Jasper. You could also visit the Icefield on a day trip from Banff, either in your own car or on a guided tour.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

When looking for a Banff hotel, you can’t fail to come across some mention of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The “Castle in the Rockies” has been welcoming visitors from all over the world since 1888. William Cornelius Van Horne, general manager of Canadian Pacific Railway, was responsible for its construction and famously said ‘Since we can’t export the scenery, we’ll have to import the tourists.’ The hotel boasts grand public rooms, a variety of excellent restaurants, a championship golf course and a world class spa. There are almost 800 guest rooms and many visitors to Banff choose to stay here, but even if you stay in a different hotel in Banff, you should make time in your itinerary for a visit to this impressive historic building.

The B&B Option

Staying at a Banff bed and breakfast is a great way to save some money while enjoying the more intimate surroundings a B&B can offer. B&Bs are perfect for those who like to experience a ‘home away from home’ and meet and share travel stories with like-minded people. Breakfast is usually included, and the restaurants of downtown Banff are never very far away for lunch and dinner options. There are several Banff B&Bs to choose from, usually run by long-time locals who can be the best people to advise you on how to make the most of your vacation in Banff.

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