You will likely have heard of most of the great activities on offer in the Canadian Rockies like rafting, horseback riding and kayaking but one you may not know so much about is cave tours. There aren’t many of these kind of tours in the world so it really is a unique chance to physically get into the Canadian Rockies! Based just outside the gates to Banff National Park is Canmore Cave Tours.

The hike up to the canyon where you begin your adventure!

Unlike many seasonal activities around Banff, caving is a year round experience. Despite the name, the Rat’s Nest Cave is something special. It is wild, undeveloped cave under Grotto Mountain. Wild really means wild here with no interior lighting, no handrails, no walkways – it is basically the same as it was when first formed. As well as being fun, it is an educational tour. You will discover how caves form, find out how both humans and animals have used these caves and also all about the geology of the beautiful Bow Valley area.

As well as having one of the best natural surrounds for cave tours, Canmore Cave Tours also has a great staff. The knowledgeable guides start you off with a natural history tour of the exciting underground world through unpredictable twists and turns and passages and chambers full of stalactites and stalagmites. When you reappear into the fresh Rockies‘ mountain air and make your way back towards Banff or Canmore, you will have some of the best memories of your vacation with you.

Canmore, Alberta

Some hotels are just on the ball when it comes to keeping people coming back again and again to their properties. The Falcon Crest is one of these. Located in beautiful Canmore, only 20 minutes from Banff, it constantly has specials to keep people interested. Whether it be midweek specials or long term discounts, there is always something to make it most economical and fun to stay here. One such special is the Dinner Show and Float Package.

The Falcon Crest is equally beautiful inside and out.

This package costs $239 per person and you get a lot of value for your money. You will get two nights of accommodation in a Deluxe room, two adult tickets to the Cornerstone Dinner Theatre Production of “Oh, Canada Eh!” featuring a 3 course family style dinner. If all this wasn’t enough for you, you also get a relaxing nature float tour down the Bow River. Considering a lot of lesser hotels charge a nightly fee around the same region as this, you realize just how good value this offer is.

If you don’t know too much about Canmore, you should. It is just outside the gates to Banff National Park. Though it started off as just a little brother to Banff, it has come a long way since then. It has a ton of cafes and bars that are totally unique and if possible you are surrounded even closer by the Rockies on all sides. Canmore is the perfect location for a family holiday or a romantic getaway and the Falcon Crest is the perfect host.

Book the Falcon Crest

Banff National Park, Alberta

Banff is well renowned as a place brimming with fun and activities. In winter, there is snow shoeing, skiing, snow boarding and ice skating. In summer, it can be as simple as a beautiful hike, bike trip or for something a little more adventurous – canoeing. Canoeing and Canada go together like McDonalds and obesity. Long before the white man landed, canoes have been the preferred form of transport and there are few better places to do it than right in the centre of Banff on the Bow River.

Banff is a beautiful place to take a spin in a canoe.

Blue Canoes are based right down on the river. If you are coming from town, walk down Caribou Street until you hit the beautiful emeraldy turquoise (not a professional description) coloured water. You will see a little hut and you can just walk up here to rent a canoe either hourly or for the day. The price is $34 for the first hour and $20 for every additional hour after that.

It really is one of the most peaceful and serene experiences you will have in Banff National Park and a great way to see wildlife without disturbing them. You will get to glide along the waterways of the Bow Valley including 40 Mile Creek and Vermillion Lakes. The scenery is stunning and if you trust yourself not to get your camera wet, you will get back to dry land with some of the most serene and beautiful photos of the Canadian Rockies.

Book a canoe online with Banff Tours

Canmore, Alberta

Though this blog is titled ‘Best breakfast in Canmore’, frankly the breakfast in Chez Francois is one of the best in the Rockies. It is really quite surprising as well as it doesn’t appear to be anything other than a cheap restaurant attached to a hotel. However once you get inside and are immediately served by a real French waitress – you feel like there might be something about this place. The place is lit with beautiful natural sunlight with massive windows offering great views of the Rocky Mountains.

Chez Francois in Canmore has one of the best tasting and best value breakfasts in the Rockies.

The breakfast choices are immense. So much so, in fact, that it can become a burden to try and choose. The eggs Benedict are renowned amongst locals with a ton of different options to choose from. The traditional breakfast is absolutely huge. Eggs as you like them, bacon or sausages, home fries, buttered toast and a constant flow of coffee is what you get and you probably won’t need to eat again for a long time! To sweeten the deal, it is only $8.95!

If you are coming from Banff and you are driving on the Bow Valley Trail, you can’t really miss it. Once you enter the town of Canmore, you will see it on your left hand side. The smoothies are sensational and better again breakfast is served until 2pm so you can enjoy those long lazy mornings and perhaps a long walk before tackling the huge breakfasts. Banff and the Rockies is the kind of place where you can work up a hefty appetite so for a cheap and excellent breakfast, Chez Francois in Canmore is the best choice around.

See the Menu

Banff National Park, Alberta

After living in Banff for quite some time and dining in almost every single restaurant, the choice really should be a little harder than this. Nourish Bistro, hidden away upstairs in the Sundance Mall, is not just the best dining experience in Banff but in all the Rockies’ including Calgary and Edmonton. It is a strange sort of place where you really feel like you are in a different world. It feels like some sort of Buddhist den tucked away in the Canadian Rockies and the atmosphere is only the start of it.

Nourish Bistro is the best dining experience you will have all the way down to Vancouver from Banff.

The chefs in Nourish Bistro must be geniuses. Remember that this is actually a vegetarian restaurant but rather than limit the options, it does the opposite. Furthermore, it definitely dismisses the old rumour that vegetarian food doesn’t fill you up. I pretty much wobbled out of the place. Thank goodness it was all down the stairs on the way back. The food comes out one by one so the general consensus is that everyone shares everything. The Nachos arrived first with a ton of flavour and strange ingredients such as lychee and pineapple that worked perfectly. This was closely followed by the Paneer Cheese Curry which was one of the best meals I have ever had. The shepherds Pie, stuffed pepper and burrito were absolutely stunning and by the time the plates were cleared, the thought of ingesting more food was enough to make me run to the toilet.

The drinks menu is as unique and delicious as the food menu. It is a very small restaurant and the server gave us the most personal attention so a comfortable situation was made even more perfect. His advice on which foods to choose was flawless and despite the intricacy it must take to arrange these dishes, we really didn’t have to wait too long at all. Banff National Park is the kind of place that can make you feel extremely healthy with the fresh mountain air, skiing, hiking, etc. Nourish is the perfect way to finish a healthy day and prepare for the next. Do not miss this place when in Banff.

Nourish Bistro

Banff National Park, Alberta

There are a ton of options for eating lunch in Banff that cater for every taste and budget. The Wildflour falls into the relaxed, relatively cheap, damn delicious and healthy option! Located on Bear Street, it is a great place to sit and people watch out of the huge bright windows. The coffee has been voted (by me) the best in Banff and the general setup is quite refreshing from the other coffee shacks in town. Also refreshing is the menu. It is big, it is varied, it is different and it is delicious.

Wildflours - both beautiful and delcious!

The focaccia’s are well renowned as one of the best snacks in town but keep in mind these are never ready before midday. The sandwich selection is excellent with something for everyone’s taste. One of my personal favourites is the toasted smoked ham sandwich with an assortment of delicious additions. Add this to a large cup of the best latte in the Bow Valley area and you are onto a winner.

Nearly everything in Wildflour is organically made and it is all made as healthy as possible. You walk away from the coffee shop full but not the same full you would have had after a greasy burger and chips for example. Aside from the lunch options, Wildflour has the perfect setup for something quick to eat in the morning in Banff. If you manage to make it in there between 7-8am, you will also get a half-priced latte. You will probably need this if you are up this early!

211 Bear Street

Banff, AB

(403) 760-5074

Fernie, BC

Fernie is a really beautiful quaint little town. It is often perceived as ‘just a ski resort town’ but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, a lot of people come for the winter and end up staying for the summer. It is the kind of place that you can fall in love with set high in the Canadian Rockies. The protective mountains completely encircle the small, charismatic town and once you arrive, you are immediately comfortable. It is a four hour drive from Banff and interestingly only 8 hours from Seattle. You can fly into Cranbrook Canadian Rockies International Airport and you will only have an 80 minute drive from here.

The hiking in Fernie is amongst the best in Canada during summer.

It was the discovery of coal that led to the formation of Fernie but things have changed a lot since then. Over the years, it evolved into a Canadian Rockies vacation destination attracting people from all over the world for golf, skiing, mountain biking and whatever else tickles the fancy. The reason Fernie is such a great winter ski resort is the same reason; it becomes so good for nature enthusiasts during summer. Once that snow melts, you are faced with some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain in the world.

Fernie is quite different to the Alberta towns like Banff and Jasper. It is much quainter and has an undiscovered feel about it. The summers are warm and consistent so you can organize a hike followed by a picnic among stunning surrounds. The possibilities really are endless up in this beautiful Canadian Rockies town. A visit to Fernie simply must be considered!

Tourism Fernie

Banff National Park, Alberta

Though well known, I still think that Minnewanka Lake is one of the hidden gems of Banff National Park. I just find it hard to believe that something this big and naturally stunning hasn’t been mentioned as a potential for a natural wonder of the world! After living in Banff for quite a while, you can grow quite accustomed to waking up to jaw dropping mountain views and deer grazing on your doorstep but Minnewanka Lake still has the power to make me stop and just stare in awe. This goes doubly when the weather is warm, the water unfrozen and the sky – blue.

Lake Minnewanka is big, beautiful and right beside the town of Banff.

You will be glad to know that yes indeed there are interpretive tours so you can do more than just admire it from a distance. There are several different options. You can fish in a “fisherman’s paradise” and try to catch the fish that will earn you bragging rights over all your friends and vegetarians. You can also rent a boat and just venture out yourself to explore everything in your own time. This is a personal recommendation – you really have to breathe in the serenity.

The season starts on May 14th this year. The Lake Cruise will cost an adult $44 while renting a boat is $45 or for better value $100 for half the day. If it is fish you are after, the basic price will be $375 for half day, though the more people you have, the more economical it is going to be. Banff really is a paradise in the Canadian Rockies especially during the summer months when there is so much to do in so little time. At the very least, take a drive out to admire Minnewanka Lake. It is only a beautiful 5 minute drive outside the town of Banff.

More Info

Banff National Park, Alberta

Ahh good old consistent, cheap, laid back Tommy’s! It is one of the only bars in Banff that feels quite normal. No disrespect meant but it is also one of the only bars that doesn’t have beautiful young ladies serving. I never thought I would say it but it is actually refreshing to be served by a normal person! Tommy’s is darkish, slightly underground and has some excellent food and drinks specials. If this is not what you are after for dining in Banff – stop reading now!

Tommy's is located right in the heart of beautiful Banff Avenue.

Every day there is a different food special for less than $10 including great hamburgers, BLT’s and turkey wraps. Every day, however, is steak special day. You get a steak sandwich (though technically only one piece of bread doesn’t make it a sandwich) with fries and salad for $8 and while you at it why not grab a bottle of the special beer for $3.75. The steak is delicious and extremely filling. You are served fast and in a nice relaxed manner.

The biggest problem with going for a steak in Tommy’s is that you may never leave. The plasma TV screens are always showing live sports and I think I mentioned the drinks are cheap! There are two dart boards down the back where you can get worse and worse as you drink. Tommy’s really is quite unique to Banff and anybody looking for a relaxing beer and delicious steak could do a lot worse!

Tommy’s – 120 Banff Avenue

More Dining in Banff

Banff National Park, Alberta

Looking for something a little different to do at night-time in Banff? On Thursday nights, there are plenty of cool choices. The Legion has Bingo which is fast-paced and a lot of fun. Bruno’s on Caribou Street is always pumping with great live music on a Thursday. However, if you feel like challenging your brain – and I do mean challenging – then the Paddock (attached to the Mount Royal Hotel) is the place to go for Trivia.

After a day working the body in Banff, it's time to work the mind in the Paddock for Trivia Night.

Kicking off at 8pm, the Quiz Master (he is that good I have used capital letters) uses all sorts of tools to test the fast decreasing grey matter of the contestants brains as we drink delicious beers. Music, still images, clips from movies and traditional questions make up this quiz. It is always hard to rate a quiz on its difficulty when you finish second from last. Especially when last was a guy who left after round 2. Everybody else seemed to have the knack of it.

The Paddock as a venue is actually a great and underrated place to go in town. It has a good menu and drinks specials all the time. Whether you want to sit in the ‘oh so comfortable chairs’ and watch some live music or play a game of pool around the bar, there is a ton of things to do to keep you entertained. It is an ideal venue to rent out for private celebrations such as a birthday from Calgary for example or a staff party. The Paddock on a Thursday is the place to test your brain in Banff!

138 Banff Avenue, P.O Box 550, Banff, Alberta T1L 1A7

Toll Free: 1-877-442-2623 Telephone: (403) 762-3331 Fax: (403) 762-8938