Christmas in Banff, Canada

Experiencing Christmas in Banff, Canada, was one of the most memorable things I’ve ever done! Banff is the most magical town, with guaranteed snow it’s the perfect winter wonderland setting. Despite this blog post being 6 months later than initially planned, I thought this would be the perfect time to revisit. It’s six months until December, so this is the perfect time to plan a magical Christmas in Banff, Canada!  – Providing it’s safe of course.

If you’re like me and grew up in a country with very little snow this is the place for you! I guarantee you won’t stop smiling. The most simple thing like walking to dinner, turns a mundane activity into a moment you never want to end. Cheesy but it’s so true! This is definitely an experience to do at least once in your life if you can. Particularly if you have a family, we saw so many kids having the best time (myself included!) So read on to find out what to do, what to pack and where to eat.

fairmont-at-christmas

The Journey

banff-national-park

Flying into Calgary is definitely the easiest and most straightforward route into Banff National Park. The drive from Calgary International Airport, to Banff is 1 hour and 30 minutes. I’ve never gone this way personally, however it’s definitely less complex than coming from Vancouver. Driving from Vancouver to Banff is around 9 hours, and not for the faint hearted. Highway 1 is the most challenging aspect when heading from Vancouver, if you’re hiring a car definitely make sure it’s an all wheel drive.

The mountains are incredibly beautiful but they can be very unpredictable. We drove past a few people struggling to get up some of the steep sections. Not to mention getting caught in two snow blizzards, it can be pretty extreme. Plus if you’re from the UK, like me, you may not be used to driving on the opposite side of the road and the car. It sounds scary but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives for an unforgettable Christmas in Banff, Canada. 

Banff Village

Imagine being inside a snow globe and wandering around the cutest shops, and being surrounded by snowy mountains. Banff was actually the first ever mountainous town I’ve been to. I’m aware this means my standards are now pretty high but I’m okay with that. Be sure to check out the Banff Christmas Store – it is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit! The bow river flows through the town, which is completely frozen over usually by December. The average temperature in Banff at this time of year can be anywhere from -4 to -15. Be sure to dress very warmly and bring lots of layers. Though this may sound very cold, you’ll be toasty in thick socks, a proper winter jacket and thermals. 

When you first arrive in Banff I’d highly suggest checking out the Visitor Centre. They are super friendly and there to give you help or answer any questions you may have. It’s worth chatting to them even if you know what you’d like to do just in case there are any restrictions or warnings in place.

What to Wear

The winter coat I have and that kept me alive in two Canadian Winter’s is from Eddie Bauer. Any decent jacket will say on the tag what temperature it will go down to. So if you’re shopping around for one when you arrive in Canada be sure to look for this! There are a few stores in Banff Village where you can pick one up if you don’t already have one. Places such as Patagonia, Atmosphere, Monod Sports, or Hudson’s Bay, will all sell winter jackets at this time of year.

What to Eat

My two food must-do’s in Banff are; Beavertails and Eddie’s burger bar.

 

If you’re a foodie and you’ve never tried Bison or Elk, this is the place to try a specialty burger! Be sure to order a side of Poutine here too, I’ll be upset if you don’t eat Poutine at least once on your trip. For anyone that’s not heard of Poutine before it’s essentially fries with gravy and cheese curds. A lot of places will offer a variety of toppings but this is the most classic version! Apparently Montreal is the best place in Canada for Poutine, however since I’m yet to go, to be confirmed.

Where to Stay

Since you’re already interested in a Christmas in Banff, staying at Fairmont Lake Louise is the icing on the cake. This hotel is absolutely stunning. They really go all out during the festive period and the whole place is decorated beautifully. There is a huge Christmas tree when you enter the reception area and gingerbread baking slots available whenever you fancy!

There’s also always a winter activity going on you can join in with. Whether that be making S’mores outside over the fire, a snowshoe walk, ice skating or a ride on the horse around the property, there is always something going on. We booked a deluxe room with a lake view, and I will honestly say the room was perfect. I wish we could have stayed longer! 



dog-sledding
johnson-lake-skating

Activities

Snow-shoeing

Snow-shoeing can be done through Fairmont Lake Louise, you can pick up the snow-shoes at the hotel if you’re staying there. Alternatively you can hire them too. We didn’t want to go too far so we walked to the Fairmont lookout point, towards Fairview Mountain. The staff can make recommendations depending on how far you’d like to go.

Skiing

Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine and Mt Norquay are some of the biggest ski resorts in Canada. We didn’t have time for this on our trip but you could easily base your whole experience around skiing or snowboarding. Ski Big 3 is an offer which you can purchase and allows you a 3 day pass for all mountains. Banff Hot Springs is included too which I’ve heard is definitely worth checking out!

Cross Country Skiing

If you’ve never skied before and you’re wanting to get into it, this looked like a lot of fun! Again, unfortunately we didn’t have time to try this on our trip. Nonetheless we saw lots of cross country skiers when we were dog sledding and it looked perfect! I’ve just started skiing last season for the first time, however this would have been a perfect activity to try first.

Ice-Skating

Lake Louise is completely frozen over in December so if you’re looking to skate on the world’s most beautiful ice rink then this is a must! They carve a huge ice castle in the middle or alternatively you could bring along a hockey stick. You can hire the skates from the hotel at a cost of $20 for 2 hours for adults or $30 all day. Kids is half of this price I believe. You can also rent a hockey stick for $5. (Prices accurate for 2020.) If you happen to have your own skates you can venture out to Johnson Lake which isn’t nearly as busy.

Dog-Sledding

The company we went with for Dog-sledding was Kingmik Dog Sledding Tours. In my opinion, this activity truly made road tripping through Banff at Christmas the best. Kingmik is a great local company, they are also one of the companies the Fairmont promote at the hotel. The route they take you sledding is so stunning, and it just happened to start snowing as soon as we set off! It was even more magical than I could have hoped for. More than likely you’ll head down the Great Divide Trail towards the Kicking Horse Pass at the Continental divide. The trail is 16km and takes roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes. Bring lots of layers, a thick hat, and possibly some ski goggles because the snow gets everywhere! It is 2 people per sled and you get a lovely thick blanket, so enjoy snuggling with whoever you’re with! I’d suggest getting there a bit early so you can spend extra time with the huskies, they’re the cutest! 

kingsmil-dog-sledding

Please comment below what your top activity to do would be! (I think you can guess my favourite…)

New Year's Eve in Banff

We actually spent New Years in Calgary but chatted with the locals about what would be good incase we ended up being in Banff last minute. The Torchilit Parade is one of the most popular ways to spend New Years. This takes place at Mt Norquay at 7pm, the best viewing point is from downtown Banff. 

Alternatively, both the Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Lake Louise both have events going on which you can book in advance.

Onwards to Winnipeg

The point of road tripping through Banff at Christmas, was to break up the 25 hour journey to Winnipeg. This is the reason we were only here for such a short amount of time. It’s not the cheapest place, so staying longer would be a lot more costly. If you’re looking to come for an experience of a lifetime though, it’s completely worth it. Definitely not the sort of holiday you’d book year on year only due to cost, so adding in some of these extra activities makes the journey from wherever you are in the world worth it.

However, If you’re looking to settle in Alberta or British Columbia, check out my blog post about finding design work in Vancouver. This approach has been spot on for a lot of people in the creative industry.

Please let me know if you book to experience a Christmas in Banff, Canada, I’d love to hear about your plans!

Love Chrissy x

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