Visiting Calgary/Banff
 

I am going to be in Calgary for a conference in April. I am thinking of going to Banff before the conference. I have 3-4 full days that I am planning to take vacation before my conference, which I have tentatively decided to spend in Banff.

Does someone have good recommendations of what to do in Banff or previous experience visiting Banff?

In Calgary, I found some museums and Calgary Zoo. And frankly, they close by 5 pm and I do not know if I will have time to go to those.

Thanks in advance!!

The town of Banff can be downright gaudy with all the tourist crap, but it also has it's charm. April might be the perfect time to go because it's not high tourist season. From Calgary it takes about 90 minutes to drive to Banff. The drive there is half the fun as the scenery through the foothills and then the approach to the mountains is wonderful. I suggest taking the alternate route (Highway 1A) as long as the weather is good. It's a smaller highway and your chances of seeing wildlife are greater.

Once you're there, it really depends on what you like to do. You can ride the gondola up sulphur mountain and the views from the top are spectacular. There's a nice restaurant up there too. You can hike to your hearts content, depending on the weather of course. Drive a bit further past Banff and visit Lake Louise. Or check out the Columbia Icefield. Banff hot springs. Skiing.

For something completely different and if you're into dinosaurs, you could head east out of Calgary to the badlands and check out the Royal Tyrrell museum in Drumheller.

I live here. So take my comments with a grain of salt.

You're pushing it with 3-4 days in Banff, unless you are an avid outdoor sports participant and plan to do some. The options here are fantastic and the terrain is breathtaking in places. Altitudes and the weather in Banff are like Denver too. The items mentioned above are what I would have listed as well. Time estimates are my own. Asterisks beside items indicate a must do IMHO.

-Hot springs in Banff (2 hours)**
-Drive up Highway 93 (3 hours each way)
-Walk up and down both sides Banff Avenue (2 hours)
-Gondola up Sulphur Mountain (2 hours)**
-Walk thru Banff Springs Hotel (1 hour)
-Columbia Ice Fields (2 hours plus some Highway 93 travel time)**

I also live here, and I hate to say it, but I would focus your time on the Banff area, and not Calgary :)

April is a wonderful time to go. It won't be too busy, and it won't be too cold. I am not sure what your budget is, however if it allows, the Fairmont Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise are wonderful properties. As is the Post Hotel in Lake Louise. The spa at Banff Springs is an absolutely wonderful way to spend a day. I think you should be able to still skate and walk on the ice on Lake Louise in April?

Thanks for your suggestions. Very very useful to know people's opinion and help me narrow down my list from the million suggestion that Google throws at you.

So, I have
a) Highway 93/ Highway 1A scenic drives
b) Lake Louis
c) Gondola ride up Sulphur mountain
d) Hot springs
e) Banff Springs Hotel (didn't realize a hotel would be on the list)
f) Dinosaur Drumheller (if I can find a day to go there).

Thanks for your suggestions. I love the outdoors and would happily spend days camping/hiking.

Columbia Ice Fields is the only thing that hadn't made it into my list but is now on the list.

Columbia Ice Fields is really fantastic, IMO, and well worth a visit. The Skywalk is just a little bit ahead as well.

Yes. I am planning to sign up for a tour of the Columbia Ice Fields. I am now deciding if i want to rent a car or sign up for mini-tours where I don't have to worry about transportation.
For Banff Gondola/Hot Springs: I don't necessarily need a car.
However for Lake Louis/Columbia Ice Fields/Surprise point etc - It might be better to have a car or sign up for one of the tours. The hop-on-hop off service doesn;t start until May. So, I cannot use that.

Rent the car !!

The minimal difference in overall cost will be worth having the freedom of your own transportation, and you'll be able to see more and change your plans as you go. You'll also save money by not using taxi's getting around Banff.

Do you think I will need a 4-wheel drive in driving through those mountains? In Denver, there is a rule on the highway that you need to have 4-wheel drive/snow-tires when snowing, but not otherwise.

My feeling is I can get away without a 4-wheel drive and if the weather is too bad, I can think about other options.

Definitely rent a car!

You're from Denver, so you likely know how to drive on snow. It would be nice to have, certainly, but not a must. Just drive a little slower if there is still ice on the roads. Hopefully it is melted, but you never know. A huge storm is possible in April. Like you said, if weather is bad, you can always ask to upgrade to an SUV when you arrive at the car rental shop.

Little tip of advice - look at prices of car rentals at both the Airport, and nearby OFF airport rental companies. Often it is MUCH cheaper off-airport. Just dont tell them you are coming from the airport or they wont rent to you.

Ice Field tours officially opens as early as April 13th but tours around this time will be weather dependent.

RENT THE CAR

You can stop

• wherever you want
• whenever you want
• and for however long you want

We don't have any laws like that here in Alberta. The neighbouring province (BC) requires snow tires by law in winter months and the rental companies always comply. Snow removal from our highways and municipal streets here in Alberta is exceptional (IMHO), if that matters.

FWIW since I have lived here (over 30 years) I have only mounted snow tires on my car once, and that was because they were given to me as part of a new car purchase deal. I drive a FWD hatchback everywhere, but when we have a big dump, as can occur in the mountains, I don't go out there, nor should anyone else, regardless of what they are driving. The next day however, it's game on.

You clearly don't ski! I chase the big dumps! But thats why I have a truck with winter tires :)