Celebrating Our Birthdays In Banff

    Hello, blogging world! It was so wonderful to be able to take a trip to Banff, Alberta, into the mountains, for our really-close-together birthdays. I have been past Banff, but never got to spend any time there. 

We had such beautiful weather for early October, with no snow, which made it that much better. The wind was a bit cold some days, but it was still incredibly gorgeous. The perfect time to go into the mountains - right when the summer season ends, and before the winter season begins. 

Hang onto your hats, because I have so many photos I want to share, and I thought instead of doing several posts, I would just do one large one. Let me know in the comments if you prefer shorter blog posts, or the longer rambly ones that feel like a coffee date! 

Here we are, just arriving on the edge of the mountains. We decided to take the scenic route going there, because it makes the journey so much more enjoyable. 

I really wanted to stop and take some photos of the mountains before we go to Banff, but was assuming we wouldn't be able to find a good spot to pull off the highway. Then we rounded the corner, and there was this perfect little parking lot, with an absolutely stunning view! 

I mean, it cannot get more stunningly gorgeous than this right here! The fall colours were in full swing, and the sun and clouds definitely came out to play. 

One of my favorite photos of the trip is definitely this one. There is something about it that just draws me in and brings out my artistic side. 

Thanks to Raccoon for snapping a bunch of photos of me at this viewpoint. 

What a wonderful welcome to the Rocky Mountains! 

We stayed at a really lovely hotel, right along the main strip. We were able to walk everywhere in Banff, but we also got bus passes with our hotel stay we were able to use. 

See that interesting circle with railings in the center of the courtyard? That is a grotto style pool/hot tub, which we took full advantage of. 

Our suite had a little patio, and the view from is was amazing! Later on, I will share a photo from one of the foggy mornings we woke up to. 

We explored a lot of shops downtown, and it was so empty! I had seen other videos and photos of just how crowded it gets in Banff, and was a bit worried it wouldn't be very enjoyable to explore. But, we picked the perfect time of year to go, apparently, as there was plenty of elbow room. 

The view from the Cascade of Times Gardens that overlooks Banff. Even though there wasn't water running and the grass was turning brown, it was still a really gorgeous spot.

There are lovely trails running all around Banff, and the one that leads along the bridge was enjoyable to wander one of the evenings. 

Check out the incredible view from the bridge!

Our first trip out to Lake Louise, and wow, it really did not disappoint! We arrived early in the morning, not long after the sun came up, as we knew we wanted to do one of the hikes. 

When you arrive, the parking lot is crowded and there are a lot of tourists, but if you leave the main area, it thins out pretty fast. 

The most incredible turquoise waters of Lake Louise, with the iconic cabin on the left. It felt rather surreal, and I am considering turning some of these photos into jigsaw puzzles or prints. Definitely a core memory made.

Heading out on our hike. While it was just  short one, it was made apparent very quickly, that we are both out of shape. Haha! Pretty sure we both thought we may have a heart attack at some point, but the views were worth it.

We saw several mushrooms, and I had to get right down there to take these photos. Also, it smells so amazing in the forest! 

The view of Lake Louise from the landing point. Absolutely worth nearly dying to get here. LOL I highly recommend doing at least one hike if you ever visit!

Speaking of views, here is that foggy morning we woke up to, and the view from our hotel patio! 

We decided to head out to Lake Louise for a second time, because I wanted to do the hike that goes around the lake, and it wasn't a far drive. I really enjoyed spending time at the lake; it was so calming. Prepare yourself for plenty of beautiful views! 

As if it couldn't get more magical, two beautiful humans on horseback, came down the trail, and out onto the sandbars. It felt straight out of a Western movie, or the TV show Heartland. What an absolute dream to witness! 

Also, to the one human telling the story of the city slicker she took for a trail ride, thank you. I was giggling so hard overhearing that, especially the part where he slide off. 

One last parting shot of Lake Louise, because, wow, nature is the best artwork! 

The last fun thing we did, was visit the Mineral Hot Springs for a nice, long soak. It was a really nice way to end our visit, and honestly, we didn't want to leave. It all felt way too short. 

Thank you for coming along on our amazing Mountain Escape! I think it will be some time before we travel again, but I suppose one never knows what the future may bring. I appreciate getting to go on this wonderful road trip!