5 Top Things To Do in Banff National Park

A Hiker’s and Photographer’s Paradise

My husband and I visited Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada during the summer of 2022 for our honeymoon. We wanted a location where we could enjoy activities that we love doing together – hiking – while also enjoying some peace and quiet. Banff was the perfect location for us. We stayed in a cozy cabin inside the park, just minutes from all of the main trailheads. It was close to local restaurants and an easy drive to the town of Banff. During our time in the park, we explored so many epic trails and soaked in the most beautiful views. Our daily routine was to wake up early to hit the trails, hike until our feet hurt, come back to town to enjoy a delicious dinner, and sit out on the cabin deck in the evening to enjoy the crisp air and sunsets. It was truly a trip that we will cherish forever.

One of my favorite things about the trip was the endless opportunities for photos. I had recently purchased a 35mm film camera before our trip, and was snapping away at all of the beautiful views. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, film cameras are your old school camera where you have to load a roll of film to capture photos. Once you finish a roll of film, you have to develop the film and scan each frame to see a digital image of your photo. Sounds like a lot of work, right? Yes – but the payoff is SO worth it. There is just something so nostalgic and timeless about the photos produced on film. The colors, the light, the intentional shots and anticipation of receiving the film scans back make for a beautiful process that is worth the time and effort. With that being said, I also enjoyed using my digital camera to capture the stunning landscapes in order to cherish those photos right away in the moment.

Here were our top 5 favorite things we did during our time in Banff National Park!

1. Hiking
   • So many beautiful trails to explore!
2. Visited multiple tea houses on the trails
   • Yes, there are actual tea houses that serve you tea and snacks on the trail. Such a neat experience. Oh also, these tea houses don’t have any electricity!
3. Tea time at the Lake Louise Fairmont Château
   • Since it was our honeymoon, we wanted to splurge a little on a unique dining experience. So we had tea time and enjoyed yummy pastries/finger foods with tea as we took in the beautiful views the Fairmont had to offer. They take reservations – highly recommend reserving your time slot in advance!
4. Exploring the town of Banff and Canmore
   • Lovely mountain towns to explore, dine, and shop around.
5. Driving down the Icefields Parkway
   • Probably one of the most beautiful highways we’ve ever driven down. Every bend is a beautiful vista point that you will want to stop at and take in the views!

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Katie is an intimate wedding, elopement, and portrait photographer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Inspired by nature’s beauty and film photography, Katie documents love stories for couples who love the outdoors and want to preserve their most treasured memories with timeless imagery.

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