Sam & Izzi
Things To Do
Explore Main Street
You can’t go wrong taking a stroll through downtown Canmore. There are mountains on either side and coffee shops, restaurants, art galleries and other stores along the way. Izzi recommends making a stop at Beamer's coffee shop - when she was growing up, her family would drive out to Canmore just to stop for a cup of Beamer's coffee!
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
The Banff Springs is a hotel (but effectively a castle) in the Rockies, an easy walk from the main stretch in the town of Banff. While staying at the hotel is quite pricey, you don't need to be a hotel guest to walk around the hotel and grab a bite, a drink or afternoon tea. The architecture of the hotel, and the views of the mountains that it offers, are absolutely stunning and worth the visit. It is also rumored to be haunted, so enter at your own risk!
Lake Louise
Whether you're here to take in nature or here for the 'gram, Lake Louise is a place you don't want to miss! Located about an hour's drive from Canmore, Lake Louise is a glacial lake that is absolutely stunning. There are plenty of beautiful day hikes that you can take by Lake Louise (we recommend bringing bear spray just in case - you can buy it in town). We recommend the Lake Agnes hike, which is 3.4km (2.1 miles) one way and features a quaint tea house at the top (the tea house is cash only). You can continue on from there to climb the Big Beehive (1.6km or 1 mile one way) for a stunning panorama of Lake Louise. Sam hiked Lake Agnes the first time he went to Canada to visit Izzi's family. He got into a fight with a bird over his lunch but enjoyed the views. You can also stop by the Chateau Lake Louise, which is on the lake, for a drink or a bite. We recommend trying the Iconic Peak at the Fairview bar, followed by fondue at Walliser Stube.
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is another stunning glacial lake in the area, and a very special place to Sam and Izzi - it is where they got engaged. Moraine Lake has become so popular that parking is no longer open to the public, so you will need to find a shuttle if you want to make it up. The best hike to do in September at Moraine Lake is the Larch Valley Trail. It is 8.9km (or 5.5 miles) out and back and offers stunning views of the golden larch trees.
Banff Sunshine Meadows
The gondola brings you up to the Sunshine Upper Village. From there, you can take the Standish Sightseeing Chairlift to the top of Standish Mountain to enjoy the vistas of the Sunshine Meadows and alpine lakes. You can hike back down or take the chairlift. Likely closing September 22. You can drive to the base or take the daily shuttle service from the town of Banff.
Banff Legacy Trail
A 26 km (16 mile) trail from Canmore to Banff, this is an awesome way to take in the mountains. On a bike, it takes about 1.5-2 hours one way. The trail is a moderately challenging bike ride that includes some rolling hills. If the weather is nice, we would highly recommend biking to Banff, stopping for lunch, and biking back. It is one of Izzi's mom's favorite ways to spend a fall day in Banff. No need to bring bikes - they are available to rent in Canmore.
Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary
If you are a fan of dogs or Game of Thrones (or like the bride and groom, both), we highly recommend stopping by the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary on your way to or from Calgary. If you book a tour, you can explore the sanctuary, learn about wolfdogs and the Yamnuska packs, and even spend time in the enclosures feeding the wolfdogs. Fun fact - Quigley, the wolfdog who played Ghost in Game of Thrones, is an Albertan wolfdog! His scenes were filmed just north of Calgary. While he is not at the Yamnuska sanctuary, look for Nova, who bears a striking resemblance.
Other Hikes!
Grassi Links Trail (2.1 miles; 518 ft elevation) Ha Link Peak (4.6 miles; 2477 ft elevation)
Calgary Stuff!
If you are making a pit stop in Calgary, we recommend the following: - dinner at The Coup, Modern Steak, Hayden Block or River Cafe - cocktails at Betty Lou’s Library or Shelter Cocktail Bar - beers and bites at Bitter Sisters - rafting or walking along the Bow River and the Elbow River - visiting the Calgary Zoo - strolling down Stephen Avenue or through Prince's Island Park - skating at the Olympic Oval, one of the sites of the 1988 Olympic games Izzi grew up in Calgary and is happy to share more recommendations on request!