This is my fifth post containing photos from my trip through parts of North America’s Rocky Mountains. You can read my previous posts with photos of Glacier National Park, the Cowboy Trail, Lake Louise (the lake), and Lake Louise (the village). In this post, I’ll focus on the town of Banff.
The beautiful Fairmont Banff Springs is the crown jewel of Banff. I was fortunate enough to stay there, which afforded me the opportunity to take quite a few photos.
Banff is really the only town in Banff National Park. There is also Lake Louise, but it doesn’t have anywhere near the same level of offerings of Banff.
Mt. Norquay offers an opportunity to view Banff from above. Above is a wider view, and below I’ve zoomed in to make the Fairmont more prominent.
Above are natural formations called hoodoos.
Even better than the bear I saw in Lake Louise, this grizzly bear was munching on some grass up the hill on the side of the road.
In town, carriage rides evoke a bygone era.
Banff Avenue is where many of the shops and restaurants are located. It’s also where you can get the below view looking towards Cascade Mountain.
In contrast to the many opportunities for nature photography at Banff National Park, the Fairmont is full of opportunities for architectural photography.
Entering the lobby, you are immediately whisked away to a Scottish castle.
The view from the hotel room window wasn’t quite as magnificent as the one in Lake Louise, but it still was gorgeous. You can see the Bow River and the golf course down below.
The Ramsay Lounge was empty, making it a lot easier to photograph.
A walk to the Waldhaus Pub involves going outside and enjoying the beautiful grounds of the hotel.
The Waldhaus Pub and Restaurant are a bit of a departure from the hotel’s Scottish theme.
I had to try a Bloody Caesar, which is Canada’s version of a Bloody Mary, with a clamato juice base.
Taking a tour of the hotel allows you to see some of the gorgeous rooms and halls (which you can also explore by yourself, but you don’t get the historical back story). Above is the Cascade Ballroom.
Above and below is the Spanish Walk, which looks out over the Mount Stephen Hall.
The Parks Canada Administration Building caught my attention for a photograph.
