There are places I dream about, and places I don’t yet know to dream about. Banff was the former.

Every year, my best friend since childhood, Mofi, and I try to see each other in person at least once, crossing continents in exchange for quality time that doesn’t feature FaceTime calls and endless message threads. We’ve met in Canada, the U.S., Nigeria, and in third countries neither of us calls home. This year, as part of our annual tradition and in fulfillment of a shared travel dream, we chose to meet in Banff.

Spoiler: Two days was not nearly enough. I could have stayed a week, waking up to majestic mountain views, spotting deer outside our cabin, eating our way through town, and basking in the kind of camaraderie that’s fueled by mutual enjoyment.

Banff

Banff Town

At the heart of Banff sits a small, postcard-worthy town ringed by mountains. Shops and restaurants line the streets, their historic facades carefully preserved so that even the chain stores blend in, the local Starbucks recognizable only in text. The scenery also seems intentionally protected. Everywhere we look, the mountain range frames our view, unobstructed by skyscraping buildings.

Banff Hot Springs

We traded our layers for bathing suits and stepped into a steaming outdoor hot pool that was the perfect antidote to the icy spring air. It’s only in Canada that I’ve found myself wearing a bathing suit in snowy weather––from Bota Bota in Montreal to Nordik Spa in Chelsea, and now here, in Banff. Each time, I’ve enjoyed the experience, partly because it feels therapeutic, but also it’s exciting to feel like I’m defying the cold.

Lake Louise

On our last day in town, we caught the local commuter bus from Banff to Lake Louise, the storied turquoise lake cradled at the base of majestic granite peaks, surrounded by dense green pines.

The day was overcast and the lake half-frozen, but that did nothing to dampen my awe at finally seeing this place. It looked like a scene from a storybook, a world imagined rather than real. And then it started to hail –tiny icy droplets falling with surprising gentleness from the sky–adding texture to an already beautiful picture.

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I’ve witnessed some truly unbelievable scenes during my travels, and Banff, with its surreal views, was a dreamscape brought to life.

Good to Know

You can read more of my stories from Canada starting here: Summer Break: Toronto

How I got there: I flew United Airlines from San Francisco to Calgary, and then we took the Vivo Green Shuttle from the airport to our hotel in Banff. I recommend booking the shuttle in advance if you can, or renting a car to drive yourself.

I use Google Flights to track and book all my flights.

Where we stayed: Banff Rocky Mountain Resort. I liked its location (about 10 minutes from town by car) and the rustic, woodsy aesthetic, but if I visit again, I’ll opt for somewhere within walking distance of town as the taxi fares add up. There are no rideshare services in Banff.

My favorite food spots: Mary’s Popcorn Shop, Tooloulou’s, Juniper Bistro, and Shoku Izakaya. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of food in Banff.

How we got around: We walked and took the town’s yellow taxis as needed. Since there’s no rideshare app, you can collect a driver’s card to call them when you’re in town, and when you’re leaving your hotel, you can ask the concierge to call you a taxi.

As always,

Thank you for reading!

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Same Footprints, Different Sands