Exploring Banff National Park + Wild Alberta

11 years ago I was working at a market research firm while attending college full time. I’d never been out of the country and the furthest my travels had taken me were Florida and Colorado to visit family. I distinctly remember chatting with one of the older gentlemen at the company one day about where he’d traveled and all of the amazing places he’d seen. He mentioned a few far-flung exotic destinations but suddenly, his voice became hushed and reverent and he said with absolute conviction, “But then, there’s Banff: the most beautiful place I’ve ever laid eyes on.” This seemed like an amazing assertion to me but he went on to describe a land of searing peaks and water so stunning it stirred up memories of the Caribbean. I wasn’t quite sure where Banff was – or if I’d even heard of it before. I knew a lot about geography but I’d never given any thought to Canadian National Parks. What’s up there anyway? A lot of ice?

He spent the next several minutes conjuring breathless landscapes from his memories and painting them for my hungry ears and I left that conversation vowing that I would make it to Banff one day. 10 years later, Russell and I crossed into Alberta from Montana and set our sights on this now infamous realm of wonder. I’d sense seen countless photos of the epic spots and was hoping (a bit jadedly) the scenery would live up to it’s decade of hype.

We’d planned to spend a week just north of Calgary before heading west to the park and even the area around Airdrie offered stunning farm and field views. One night, as we were driving back to the RV from a day trip, we saw those lovely, familiar flickering lights in the sky and quickly pulled over to be awestruck by the wondrous northern lights.

But nothing could prepare us for Banff in person. We saw Lake Louise and Lake Moraine like any good tourist but were stunned that these beauties were just off the road and highly accessible. Unfortunately, in July, this also meant intense crowds. The line to take these iconic shots was about 3 people deep.

We encountered a few other downsides as well: the RV was too long to take on the roads that led to Jasper National Park. This news, coupled with delays in our travel time and the nearby areas heavily affected by wildfires, we made the tough decision to cut our visit short, leaving us with precious little time to find the less populated areas.
Even though we had to content ourselves with the famous areas this time around, we were still blown away by the colors and textures Banff effortlessly offered up to us and are determined to visit it again soon when time allows for a fuller visit to do it justice.

Perhaps we’ll even book a night of luxury to stay in the Fairmont Chateau that looks over Lake Louise. I’m also angling for an off-season visit in the interests of crowd control and serenity. Either way, our introductory trip will always stand out as a long time goal finally achieved…and proof that some things really are as beautiful as they seem.

lake louise, banff national park, canadian rockies, emerald water, alpinemoraine lake, banff national park, canadian rockies, turquoise water

○ ○ ○

Melody is a full-time nomad who calls an RV home while roaming all over the western US and beyond for couple’s adventure photography in the wilds of nature. Her style is cinematic, romantic and richly colored and she believes that the beauty and chaos of nature, with its twisting paths, coarse landscapes and breath-taking wonder is a poignant analogy for relationships. The Pacific Northwest will always hold a special place in her heart but, life is short and the world is wide so check out the travel schedule to follow along with her adventures.

○ ○ ○

2 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

  • Candy Hightower

    Thank you for taking me on your journey! I am so happy your talent is taking you to places you never imagined or even knew.  The world will discover your creativity and be immersed in the raw beauty you bring to fruition!!  I stop and remember,… I knew you when….ReplyCancel

  • Jeannie stevenson

    Truly this national park in Alberta is a treasure! I’m elated that your love for exploring took you to this gold mine. The last photo is my all-time favorite!!ReplyCancel

Explore More Journal Entries

Menu