Banff was our first chapter of the year, a belated birthday trip for Tanner and the perfect excuse to get him on a snowboard. He confirmed the slopes were great. I confirmed that working remotely is far better when the backdrop looks like a postcard. It felt like an ideal reset and beginning to the new year.
We stayed at Hotel Canoe & Suites, tucked along the edge of Banff Avenue. With Sudden Sally restaurant and café onsite, mornings felt easy and unhurried. Tanner headed out to snowboard the SkiBig3, his parents spent their days sightseeing around town and I settled in with my laptop and more than a few cups of coffee. It quickly became the perfect home base for each of us. The location, the pricing and the overall feel of it truly made the whole trip worthwhile.
Where I Stayed: Hotel Canoe & Suites
Food & Beverage:
Since we were staying in Banff Village, most of our meals happened nearby and ended up being a highlight of the trip. We left every table happy!
Sky Bistro
Dinner with a view that’s hard to compete with. Sitting above the mountains felt like a scene from a film. We planned our gondola ride around golden hour and it was absolutely worth it. Each level of the space had something to explore, from the art installations to the restaurants. Tanner even grabbed a delicious latte.
Bluebird Wood-Fired Steakhouse
Moody, great cocktails and solid steaks! We managed to get a table without a reservation and it ended up being one of our favorite nights.
LUPO Italian Ristorante
This was my favorite restaurant and the one I was most excited about. What can I say, I love pasta. It was so good I could’ve had it every night.
Farm & Fire
A wholesome, comforting meal. A bowl of potato soup and hot tea was exactly what I needed.
Canada Highlights
We rode the Banff Gondola, wandered Banff Avenue and stopped at Surprise Corner before heading out to Lake Louise and Emerald Lake. There were slow coffee mornings, snowy sidewalks and more mountain views than felt real. The weather was on our side, crisp but manageable. It wasn’t over planned or rushed. Just a few good days, well spent and exactly how I wanted to start the year.
