Our Trip to Lake Louise & Banff
+ where we stayed and what we would change
Good morning and Happy 4th of July weekend!
If I’m being honest, I truly can’t believe it’s already July. This summer has seemed to fly by and I’m sure it’s because a lot of our summer travel was packed into June. We still have a Chicago trip this month which I can not wait for but I think it will be a more mellow month.
I know many of you wanted more details on our trip so I will try to break everything down here and if you have any additional questions just leave them here or send me a DM.
Outfit details here — I packed these same leggings in 4 colors
Because of the travel times from Louisville i.e. no direct flights and the drive time to Lake Louise Trevor actually came up with the idea to fly in the night before our trip was set to start and it worked out really well. We booked a night at a hotel by the Calgary airport and arrived around 11pm, showered and got a good night’s rest.
We rented a car through Turo for the first time and had a great experience! We really wanted something that would be comfortable, spacious and offer a top down since we knew we would be driving a bit. The car was about 5 minutes from the airport so we were able to wake up, grab breakfast in Calgary, pick up the car and head out on the 2 hour drive.
I live in this sweatshirt and it’s over half off!
We decided to split our time between Lake Louise and Banff and I highly recommend that if you have the time. Lake Louise is unbelievably gorgeous and breathtaking but it was nice to also explore the town of Banff and have some options for food.
Our first two nights were spent at the Fairmont Lake Louise and I highly recommend! Our room had a breathtaking view, the hotel was updated and gorgeous and the food options were quite diverse and delicious.
They have so many outdoor spaces to take advantage of and I greatly appreciated the 24 hour coffee shop and snack bar. We never left the property and enjoyed the lake being right outside our door! We hiked both days and rented canoes on the last day before we checked out and recommend spending as much time outside as you can.
This blue dress & chore jacket were the MVP’s of my trip!
We did a few hikes but our favorite here had to be the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse Trail. It’s about 8 miles out and back and took us about 3.5 hours but climbing those views is stunning and taking a break at the quaint Teahouse in the mountains is such a cool experience. Be aware, they only accept cash and you need to pack your trash back down.
After we checked out of Lake Louise we headed into Banff which took about an hour and a half. We stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs for two nights and I probably wouldn’t recommend this property. I wish I had done more research but I thought the same property in two places would be convenient. This property felt very different from the lake Louise spot — it’s very large, they seem to have lots of conventions and events happening, it’s much older and not nearly as charming.
There is no Lyft or Uber in Banff but they have a local bus that runs in and out of downtown however I was thankful we had a car. We wandered around town and popped in and out of shops. Our first stop was Three Bears Brewery which I think is quite popular — it’s a great location and if you can make a reservation for the patio it’s fun people watching. The food isn’t anything magical but it’s a nice vibe and the beer was refreshing.
The one plus to the Fairmont Banff is their outdoor pool and sauna that feels nestled in the mountains. We spent both evenings out there and they have a poolside bar that’s open all evening. The pool was heated like a hot tub and it was the perfect place to relax after a day of hiking.
We spent our last day on a hike locals told us about called Corey Pass Loop and they warned us the start was very vertical and I am now warning you ;) It’s a beautiful sight but was quite challenging and around 6 miles. After the hike we stumbled upon Waldhaus which is on the Fairmont property but tucked away down in the mountains and has such a pretty view. We were able to sit outside and have lunch and then play bocce ball on the property.
All outfit details here
For our last night in Banff we went back into town for dinner and if you enjoy Indian food and/or Indo Chinese food — make a reservation! Zyka was packed solid and so delicious; casual and perfect.
Outfit details here
This was a trip that had been on our list for a while and it didn’t disappoint! Hiking, reading and having a casual drink is our dream way to vacation and this was exactly that. Highly recommend!
Travel outfit — I lived in these jeans!
If you have any other questions just let me know!