3 Days in Banff National Park: A Bucket-List Weekend Itinerary

Welcome to the Canadian Rockies and a blog post that is basically a journal entry. I just turned 25 and September has been a dreamy month - from visiting people who make my heart feel full in Sea Island and Little Rock, to my best friends visiting me in Dallas to experience more belly laughter in one weekend than I have all month, to flying off to Canada to celebrate my mom- life is a wonderful gift and I am deeply grateful. I am also experiencing a bit of unsettled fear - my job feels unstable and uncertain, my world has infinite possibilities yet I feel paralyzed by the decision making. Journaling, meditating, movement, and connection help but there is something so personal and real about being 25, living in a studio apartment and feeling lost before I close my eyes at night. Am I in the right career, right city, am I doing the right things, enough, too much? I think we all are experiencing some type of similar questions swirling around in our thoughts sometimes and that is okay. Let’s go see the world and give ourselves some grace.

Maybe, just maybe, there is a perfect plan for each of us and we are going to exceed our wildest dreams.

Maybe we surprise ourselves with the courage it takes to make change, book the ticket.

We flew into Calgary late on Thursday night and woke up early Friday morning for a full day of excitement. A weekend in Canada for mom’s birthday - a perfect 3 days to explore, connect, and recharge. We laughed so hard we cried, we ate so well we could not help but do a happy dance at the table, and we explored lands so beautiful we were left speechless.

Friday morning: let the fun begin! We headed back to the Calgary airport for the rental car pick up. I am so glad I was able to reserve one ahead of time as this is a busy summer season and there were only 2 cars available the day before arriving. I took the day off while Madeline had morning meetings- mom and I took the opportunity to map out the day over a Calgary coffee in the sunshine.

First stop: Canmore. Second stop: Banff. Third stop: Lake Louise. && we are off. 

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Just an hour and 15 minutes outside of Calgary, the tiny town of Canmore is sure to capture your heart. We drove through but soon realized we needed to walk the streets and shop away. We had our 2nd coffee of the day at Eclipse - a local shop with multiple locations around town. I recommend the location on main street as it gives great views and people watching. The patio is quaint and inviting. Book stores, tourist shops, and galleries are scattered around main street and the people in Canmore were so welcoming. Needless to say, we had a hard time leaving. After walking the main street and enjoying the lovely town, we headed back to the car for another 20 minute drive to Banff.

Banff: the dream town in Alberta. The one you have probably heard quite a bit about. Well, what they say is true, you must go. This whole road trip is packed with views, shops, and food that will fuel your soul. We were ready for lunch and UNA Pizza + Wine bar came highly recommended to us (there is also a Calgary location). The patio was bustling with laughter and the weather was too good not to join in. Ordering aperol spritz, veggie pizza, a garden salad, and the bolognese rigatoni, we had the time of our lives. The flavors within each dish made it so much more than your everyday pizza joint. A must try. 10/10 recommend.

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We explored the town and even had to stop in the Banff Sweet Shoppe for some extra road trip snacks. There are tons of shops and restaurants which could allow for a whole week stay just in Banff. Off to our next location though… Lake Louise.

With it being mom’s birthday, I knew we needed a stunning surprise - the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise was calling. 45 minutes outside of Banff, this location is so exceptional I can not believe I was living in a real scene. We were giddy as we pulled up to the Fairmont as it towers over the teal lake - a fairytale. Arriving at 2:50pm (just before 3pm check in time), we were able to have a crowd free experience and connect with the hotel concierge before the buses of travelers arrived. 

Quick hike recommendations from the Fairmont Lake Louise: 

• Little BeeHive Hike - 90 minute hike with the sun facing East, Lake Agnes Tea House and Junction Trail on the way back   

• Moraine Lake Rockpile Trail and Lakeshore Trail Hike (buses and Fairmont guest shuttles run daily)

• Takakkaw Falls Hike (about 30 minutes to base of falls)

• Emerald Lake Lodge Trail Hike (40 minute drive from Fairmont)

I knew our weekend would go by very quickly so I wanted to make sure we made the most of our time together at Lake Louise. After checking in and dropping our things in the room (and some time to scream when we saw the views, of course), we ran straight to the Boat House for an afternoon canoe. I must be dreaming. This water, this moment, the laughter, the joy, even the weather was showing off for us. When you are a guest at the Fairmont, there is a discounted price and priority line for canoe rentals. Opting in for the hour-long rental (30 minutes or hour options), we all 3 hopped in and paddled across the lake. 10000 selfies, pictures, videos later - we were still not ready to go in. The staff at the Boat House were so entertained by our dancing, they let us go back out there for an extended lap - one last moment of soaking in all the beauty.

The Fairmont back patio has live music in the evenings so we sat to enjoy the sunset before heading in for dinner. The shock that this feeling and sight is real has still not set in just yet.  

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Mom’s birthday calls for a cheese fondue dinner. There are 6 restaurants within the Fairmont which all offer unique dining experiences.

Wallister Stube’s set fondue dinner menu was calling our names… hellooo Swiss Chalet in the Canadian Rockies. Adore you.

Cozy dining room, chilled pinot grigio, unreal cheese fondue, filet, and chocolate fondue for dessert -

let’s stay a while.

Day 2 at Lake Louise: an adventure begins. We woke up early and headed to the breakfast buffet at Louiza. This morning was rainy but the sunrise still showed through and the light reflecting off the mountains was extraordinary. Had to take a quick moment outside to soak it up before sitting down to eggs benedict, coffee, orange juice, french toast, fresh fruit, and all the pastries a girl could dream of. Yep, I am happy.

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At check in, we reserved the early shuttle to Moraine Lake leaving the hotel lobby at 9am. The amazing staff at Louiza will even give you a coffee and pastry bag to-go for all of the days exploring ahead… I love it here. 

Moraine Lake is a 20 minute drive from Lake Louise and no personal vehicles are allowed inside the park limits. Therefore, make sure to reserve a bus or the guest shuttle at the Fairmont before visiting. Our return shuttle was booked for 11:40 am so we had 2 hours and 40 minutes to hike the lake before heading back. Moraine Rockpile Trail offers 180 degree views of the lake and is considered an easy to moderate hike - it did not take us long and was incredibly enjoyable for all 3 of us. The surprise we experienced at the top was pretty special - Moraine Lake is famous for a reason. The blues, the reflections, the never ending beauty - exceptional. I have no words. We finished up the morning with the Moraine Lakeshore Trail around the shore of the water. A lil change in perspective… wow. 

There is a small gift shop and coffee shop at Moraine Lake so if you need anything at all, they got you.

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The 11:40am shuttle was right on time and we were off. Back to the Fairmont just in time for afternoon tea time at Fairview. Every room and corner of the Fairmont is filled with windows offering the most amazing views… it never gets old. A champagne toast and Earl Gray, pls.

Tea cakes, pastries, and scones for dayssss.

We enjoyed the afternoon at the hotel then hit the road for Takakkaw Falls - the second tallest falls in all of Canada. This waterfall is an easy 30 minute drive from Lake Louise but the last 10 minutes are switchbacks… I am so glad we had a rental car as it really made the trip. The flexibility to drive throughout the widespread region is fantastic. 

There is a trail hike that takes you to the bottom of the falls in about 20-30 minutes.

Driving another 30 minutes to Emerald Lake is a MUST. It was pouring rain as we sang in the car but then we arrived to a sunshine covered rainbow over Emerald Lake. Again, the colors of this place are so vibrant and pure magic.

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We stopped at Emerald Lake Lodge for a quick break and walked the Emerald Lake Lodge Trail. Absolutely stunning. A true highlight. This might just be one of my favorite moments of the whole trip.

Back on the road again for Calgary - we wanted to try for the 6am flight back to Dallas so what better place to stay than in the terminal. The Marriott Calgary can be seen from the tarmac - that is just how close it is. The perfect way to close out our weekend. Road trip snacks, carpool karaoke, and we were back in Calgary 3 hours later. Exhausted and smiling.

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Banff National Park is a dream come true. A perfect weekend trip that was made possible in the most exceptional way all because of the rental car, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, the stunning views and weather, but really the best part… the company. I am so grateful to have built-in best friends for life in my mom, sister and my brother (we missed you all weekend, Conner).

I have to say, one of my favorite parts of leaving each weekend is coming home. My sometimes messy studio apartment, my Aussie coffee date whose healing love is a dream come true, and the friends who make this city feel like home for the first time in 2 years. The challenging job that allows me to fly around the world, the questions that every 20 something is asking, and the joyful, daily little chaos that often clouds my list making head and color coded calendar. The gym that brings the community I have always wanted to build, the routine that fuels my mind, body, soul. I think this is what it means to live on purpose. To go far deeper than the human eye can see, to explore, be kind to strangers and believe in the softness of the world. Refusing to hide but rather be fully seen. Following dreams that might feel silly to begin but dancing in the beauty of being open and untethered. Feeling lost in the decision making and job applications, thankful beyond words for tiny moments that become the big memories. Simply refusing to live narrowed. We are all the same. Cling to courage.

We can not control what happens, only how we respond. Let’s go make this world a little bit better, in small ways or big, just where your feet are.

Overwhelmed with gratitude. This world is so beautiful, painful, joyful, filled with so much love.

Book the ticket to Calgary and rent the car. You will never regret it.