Bucket list trip complete!! Come along our week filled with mountains, lakes and endless hikes as we visit Banff National Park, Yoho National Park and Kootenay National Park. Can't wait to come back again, there's still so much to explore :)

Hikes:
* Grotto Canyon Creek Trail - like the Narrows at Zion National Park without the water element. Lots of butterflies, bugs and mosquitos. Continue past the mineral processing plant in the beginning and try and find the petroglyphs!
* Big Beehive Trail at Lake Louise then Plain of the Glaciers and Highline Trail down to form a loop! Definitely stop at the Tea House for the Mountain Bark. Fun facts... they boil water from Lake Agnes for the tea and bake the goods at the tea house in a barbecue.
* C-Level Cirque - first 2 miles are well covered and shaded. Constant uphill with a steep ending, definitely slippery on the way down. Proper hiking boots and even hiking sticks would be helpful!
* West Wind Pass - you have to drive over a mile on gravel so prepare yourself for uneven terrain. Definitely doable in most cars! Not well marked at all lol, when you come to the forks on the trail, bear right!
* Stanley Glacier - went counterclockwise at the unmaintained loop. Explored the waterfall and cave on the way up and then took a break at the summit meadow at lunch.
* Lakefront Trail at Emerald Lake - plenty of parking along the street leading up to the parking lot. A good alternative to canoeing at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake at $90/hr.
* Rockpile and Lakefront Trail at Moraine Lake - so many great vantage points on the Rockpile you can't go wrong. Pricey to canoe ($130/hr) but worth seeing the blue water up close and feeling the chilling glacial water. You have to arrive EARLY for sunrise... good luck!

Grub:
* Uprising Bake Shop and Espresso Bar - Banff - Pastries are super yummy. Coffee is good and strong. Don't recommend the "local" lemonades.
* Peyto's Bar and Grill - Banff - Burgers and beer
* Roaring Rolls - Canmore - Very flavorful and well spiced but not spicy. So many choices on the menu.
* 1888 Chophouse - Banff - don't go if you're vegan lolol
* Balkan Greek - Banff - get the lamb chops!!
* Mountain Juice Cafe - Canmore - Watermelon strawberry juice 10/10
* Sauvage - Canmore - Yummy food and drinks (definitely recommend the Pimms carafe) but since it's a tasting menu the portions are small. Don't recommend after a day full of hiking.
* Sky Bistro - Banff - DELICIOUS!!! Gondola ride is $80 roundtrip for adults which is a rip off but unless you want to hike up there's no other way.
* Banff Happy Hour - from 4-5pm daily with great deals such as 50% off drinks and food, even sushi!

We stayed in Canmore which is ~20 minutes from Banff National Park. The downtown is more chill and laid back with plenty of places to shop and eat. Banff is much more touristy with difficult parking.

Trip took place in August 2022.

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