The cave inside which is a natural hot spring is peaceful to look at…read more The boardwalk trails are a very easy stroll but really allows you to enjoy the landscape perfect for forest bathing. You can check out the exhibits inside which are interactive and educational in a fun way. I could spend hours at the Cave and Basin just enjoying the scenery and is a must visit for me to experience the true magic of Banff magic

Located in the outskirts of Banff and it's not within walking distance. When we went, it was free…read moreso we didn't have to pay for anything. Even though it was free, the place was pretty much empty. The first building you see right off of the parking lot is the gift shop. You'll want to walk up the hill if you have questions about the place and this is where the cave and other parts of the experience is. You can probably do this all within 30 minutes. It's not very big, but there are other trails you can explore if you want. It's pretty neat that these snails are exist here and they are so tiny that you will have a hard time seeing them. Overall, it's a nice clean place, but doesn't really add much of an experience IMO. I would have been upset if I had to pay for entrance.

I visited Banff for the second time recently, and I finally made it to the gondola for their…read moreChristmas event. My entire family had a blast-this was the highlight of our trip to Canada this year. Everything was so well organized and thoughtfully arranged. My kids got to complete so many creative activities: cookie decorating, meeting Santa, crafting a gondola themed ornament, roasting marshmallows, etc. as a plus, everyone was very friendly and cheerful. The views are stunning, and while I didn't get to walk through boardwalk (not stroller friendly and I have a child in a stroller), I hope to next time!

I recently visited Banff with my running group and they planned a whole week of activities for us…read more We had a free day to pick our own activity on our last day here. Out of the options that they presented to us, I chose the Banff Gondola. We spent the whole week running and hiking and I wanted something relaxing to do. The Banff Gondola takes you 2,292 feet up a steep mountainside to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. The ride itself is eight minutes long. After buying my ticket, I chilled at the Starbucks that is at ground level and watched the gondola take people up the mountain. There is also a gift shop next to it. Each gondola cabin is designed to hold up to four people and offers a 360-degree view as you ascend up the mountain. Once you arrive at the Banff Gondola Upper Terminal on Sulphur Mountain, you have four levels to explore. The fourth level is the rooftop observation deck where you get amazing panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. You can see the entire town of Banff from up here. There is also an outdoor boardwalk that leads to Sanson Peak. I spent a few hours up here exploring the different levels. There is a coffee shop and a couple of restaurants at the top. I did the walk from the observation deck to Sanson Peak and back. The views are just stunning. The observation deck can get crowded and it can get a little windy at times. I spent my time taking photographs and relaxing on the benches. I then grabbed a coffee before heading back down. The Banff Gondola is a little pricey, but I am glad I picked this activity. It was a nice way to close out my trip to Banff.

Located just downstream of Banff; Canmore is a more affordable option for tourists who don't want…read moreto pay the Banff premium. There's a grocery store in the form of Safeway in the area, which is great. There is also a fairly low key / sad town center area which pales in comparison to Banff; 10% of the visitors and not much to do. Canmore isn't cheap either; for a week long Air BnB, the daily costs were still $300-400 CAD for something fairly basic. There's also limited nature options in the area that you can explore for "free", most of the hikes require an additional paid pass for visitors outside of the town. The parking situation for any hikes in the immediate Canmore area requires another pass in addition to the Canada National Parks pass; this is a pain for non-locals. We pretty much drove to Banff daily for activities and just came back to Canmore to sleep.

I can't be the first one to say it: I like the Town of Canmore better than the Disney-ish town in…read morethe Banff National Park, just 1/2 hour away to the west. I found the Town of Canmore more friendly, far less stuffy, more organic, less expensive, more fun and open to adventure than is the overcrowded neighbor to the west. Just saying. Five stars.

I would not listen to the other reviews that say Ha Ling Peak "is for everyone!" or that it's…read more"easy". This trail is definitely difficult for a multitude of reasons -- and yes, there are families on the trail but to actually complete the whole trail (which is what my review is about) there is a scramble at the summit which can be terrifying for those afraid of heights and/or inexperienced hikers, especially with the wind (and hail, when we hiked it) blowing at you. Regardless of the fact that we did this hike because we saw other reviews saying it was a trail for everybody, beginners included, we were able to complete most of it. We were a group of 5 (with our parents) who needed some breaks along the way and so our total hike time ended up being 4 hours. It was a great workout with some unparalleled views so I'd attempt at least a portion of it if you can. I'd just say to really watch for the weather forecast before you go. We had a 30 percent chance of rain at a time earlier in the day but we ended up being pounded with hailstorms at the top of the summit where there was literally zero cover. As long as you time your hike correctly, in terms of the weather, I think it'd be a very pleasant experience! Even so, the hail made it an experience that I will never forget. We didn't see much wildlife coming up, probably due to the fact that it's a pretty popular hike. It's also super dog friendly which is wonderful!

To get to Ha Ling Peak: - Drive to Canmore, then drive up…read morehighway #742 (the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Lakes Trail) towards Canmore Nordic Centre. - On Highway #742 pass the Nordic Centre and continue on the gravel road until you reach Goat Creek Parking Lot on the right hand side (there is a sign that says Goat Creek Parking Lot). - Park at Goat Creek Parking lot and cross the gravel road, cross the little bridge and you will find the trail head. Labelled as a moderate / Intermediate hike... I'm outta shape so I found it to be more than moderate as the hill is steep ALL the way up and down, plus there is the scramble at the top! but I made it and so can you! Endurance is your best friend here as you will be walking up a mountain on an incline the WHOLE time with not many (if any) flat areas. With that said, there were grandmas and grandpas, kids, dogs, and even parents carrying babies in backpacks on the trail!!! Wow!!! Be sure to wear layers as you will sweat and get hot while in the trees, but once past the tree line it is windy and chilly....so...tank top, t-shirt, wind breaker, grippy gloves (for scrambling), and a toque! (haha - wish I had brought mine!). Bring a backpack with water and lunch and enjoy the view! It took us just under 5 hrs (round trip) to complete (with my MANY stops and VERY leisurely pace!! Plus lunch near the top). The view was spectacular and well worth the hike up. Once at the top you have a view of the town of Canmore, plus a 360 view all around!! My toes and knees did hurt coming down as it is steep... and I even had good shoes on! So definitely wear good shoes (preferably hiking ones) and bring walking sticks if you have them. Highly recommended! p.s. once called "Chinaman's peak"

We came here for an easy rainy day activity…read more You can hike here from Surprise Corner, but there's also a view point you can drive to. There's several viewpoints where you can see the hoodoos a short walk from the parking lot. The second and third ones have the best views. I thought there would be a bunch of the hoodoos, but there's only one small group of them. If you're in the area, is worth stopping at, but I don't think it's worth going out of your way for.

Hoodoo is a column or pinnacle of weathered rock. Tens of thousands of hoodoos in Bryce Canyon…read moreversus 6 hoodoos in Banff. You can see the hoodoos from the across the river at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, if you know where to look. Face the river and look well to your right up at the top of Tunnel Mountain. For you people who want some exercise, you can walk to the hoodoo viewpoint. Walk or drive to the Banff Surprise Corner at the tip of the peninsula facing the Bow River and Bow Falls. From here it is a 2.7 mile straight up the mountain, on the Hoodoo trail. This will take you over an hour according to google maps, although others who have tried it say it can take much of the day. So bring food and water in a daypack, along with hiking boots. For you lazy slobs like myself and the wife, we took the tour bus up Tunnel Mountain road, or a curvy mountain road called Tunnel Mountain drive to the Hoodoos Viewpoint. The Hoodoos Viewpoint is actually about 100 yards away from the 4 hoodoos closer to the river. The hoodoos are not that spectacular themselves, but the view of the Bow River and Mount Rundle in the background can be spectacular. Unfortunately for us, the smoke from the forest fires made the place look like the LA basin on a smoggy day. There is a paved pathway going in a circuitous route up the mountain, with about 3 different viewpoints. I took so long to get to the top, that they were about to send someone to fetch me -last on the bus again! Signs say no going off the pathway. Canadian park rangers can give citations to trespassers. We saw some people, probably teenagers, trying to get down to the hoodoos to take a selfie, while leaning on the fragile limestone. Too many people do this, and the hoodoo will come tumbling down. Another historical natural monument destroyed by people trying to get a selfie! We watched our step the rest of the day, as hoodoo also means something that brings bad luck! To paraphrase Candice, "Who do? You do!"

It was my first time "caving", and what an experience! I must admit it was a bit more intense than…read moreexpected, and I am glad my husband didn't join me, he would not have enjoyed the pulling on ropes, rapelling or squeezing into tight spots (you can opt out though). We were lucky that our group was just four people; I can imagine it would not be as enjoyable in full season with multiple groups of eight (the maximum size) in the cave. I was surprised they run the tours year-round, as the hike to the cave must be a little challenging with snow and ice on the ground. Although they provide all the equipment: knee pads, crampons etc. And believe me, you will need all of it! My upper body was sore the following day; you certainly want to be in good shape to tackle this advendure! You also need your own car to drive first to the office, and then to the start of the hike. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, and I am glad I did this tour. An experience I won't forget!

What can I say other than "WOW!"? Reflecting back on our experience with friends, we realized just…read morehow unique and incredible this adventure truly was. We enjoyed every single moment. Huge shout-out to Brent: thank you for treating us like adults who can make our own choices, without trying to instill fear or hesitation. In many tours, choices are often "suggested" based on perceived ability, but you allowed us to embrace each challenge as it came. The whole experience was educational, fun, and lighthearted--truly unforgettable. I can't recommend this experience enough. I discovered so much about my own limits, all thanks to the supportive, carefree atmosphere you created for our group. The knowledge you shared was invaluable, and your demeanor was perfect. I felt challenged in a way that pushed me to grow without ever feeling afraid. This speaks volumes about the quality of the tour and the guidance you provided. Thank you for an experience we'll never forget--one we'll be talking about for years to come!

Nice park in Canmore. Very close to Canmore downtown. There are lots of green at this park and also…read morethere is a nice kid playground. Cool

Beautiful park in the heart of Canmore. The field is perfect for soccer or throwing a ball around,…read morethere's also a dirt running track and outdoor exercise equipment. The playground for the kids is excellent and has the rubberized soft surface in case anyone falls. Swing sets and a gravel digging station give the kids lots to do. Canmore is lucky to have such a nice park, in such a central location!

Due to the fact that I live in Quebec and Art Country Canada is in Alberta I was lucky enough to…read morepurchase 2 Robert Bateman prints that I am absolutely in love with. I could not say enough about the personal attention and packing detail I received from Art Country Canada. The communication was incredible and extremely courteous. And WOW, they packaged up the prints so well a semi-truck could not push through it. Excellent experience all around.

Amazing manager. The art is some of the most beautiful I've seen, surpassing most of the artwork…read moreI've seen in museums. Come here to get your mind blown!

I can't believe there's only one other review for this beautiful park in the heart of Banff town!…read more Just a few minutes walk from downtown Banff and perfectly situated along the Bow River, Central Park is a huge park for everyone to enjoy! My first time here was actually in summer of 2019 and they happened to have live music one afternoon at the gazebo. So many people were spread out around the park relaxing on the grass, picnic blankets or sitting at one of the many picnic tables just enjoying the sunny day, hanging out and listening to the local artist/band while soaking in the gorgeous views of the mountains and Banff town! More recently, my hubby and I were back in town for the 2023 Banff Marathon/Half Marathon/10K weekend and the race hub was set up at Central Park (race packet pick up, expo, pre-race festivities, and start/finish area). We loved getting to do "Yoga in the Park" here as part of the Banff Marathon festivities and just hang out here before and after the race itself. If I lived in Banff, I'd probably be here everyday! It's just the most picturesque place to go for a run, walk, have a picnic, take your kids to play in the playground or just run around on the grass. They even have a farmers' market and craft market here from time to time (possibly weekly), and a large public washroom/restroom building by the main parking lot. Not to be missed when in Banff!

What a great place to be on Canada Day! Live music, dancing, drums, fireworks, everyone in red -…read morefrom head to toe. Great to see the community to come together to celebrate their country. Shout out to Amelie Patterson. Awesome performer- hope she comes to SF one day.