3-day trip to Banff
 

I am planning to go on a 3-day family trip to Banff (around Dec. 22nd) and I was wondering if any members could give me ideas/tips on what to do there.

Theoretically, it will take me 10 hours of driving to get there, that is if I don't stop, which makes me wonder if 3 days enough time for me to enjoy the trip.

I plan on visiting the national park, and skiing for half a day. But besides that, I don't know what else there is to do. I am interested in sight-seeing, but there are so many activities from the website that I have no idea which ones are suitable.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

just spent 3 nights 4 nights there and back

stayed at The Juniper $75 a night via hotels.ca
We did the trip for Photography so basically hit up
-Vermillion lake
-Morants Curve
-Emerald Lake
-lake louise

in three days that should be more then enough to cover if you want to take pretty pics of mountains and stuff like that .

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4855953_n.jpg
thats a shot of emerald lake that i took

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...03_34316_n.jpg
and thats how your car will look like <3 LOLS!!! make sure you have good winter tires. lots of black ice at night . and make sure you make it pass "rogers pass" before night time. it was hell to drive at night especially when we could only see like 15 feet infront of our car....

emerald lake isnt that great imho. you have to check out lake Morraine. It's the less 'well knwn' lake in lake louise. alot prettier than lake louis if you ask me. The view from the top of the rock pile is the image on the old $20 bills.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4668454_n.jpg

and you have to go up to Peyto Lake, if it's open, though i doubt it is.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/...b381137a_b.jpg

and also Simpson Lake
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/...7e48517b_b.jpg

and the Banff Hot Springs Cave and Basin
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/...8c4186e4_b.jpg


and Moraine Lake
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2560/...0f5dd261_b.jpg

and Lake Louise
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/...7b53fca0_b.jpg

fuck, these pictures are amazing....

i been there in the summer time, never had a chance to go down there during winter

lol ur car is dirty as a mofo

Do a day at the spa at the banff springs hotel (I forgot the name) It's just awesome sitting back relaxing all day.

How's the drive from here to Banff during December?

I will be driving a Sienna fitted with winter tires.

-sulfer mountain gondola
-glaciar ice fields (kinda far but you can take a detour while on the way to banff)
-lake moraine (if you're going to lake louise why not)
-can take the 20min drive east and check out canmore. there's a brewery in there that makes their own soda and beer. you can try the beer platter to taste all their stock :thumbsup:

im planning to rent a 4x4, spoke to a friend and he said all wheel drive is a must

Have a look at these websites.

Information regarding Icefields Parkway (Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefield)
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/visit14_E.asp

Brewsters information (Columbia Icefield, Sulphur Mountain)
http://www.explorerockies.com/

I recommend 4 days at a bare minimum during the winter time. The daylight is shorter, and road conditions are treacherous. You should plan for extra time to arrive at each location. On a summer time trip, you can manage for 3 days.

Spend sometime around Banff area, then visit Moraine Lake, and Lake Louise, then drive up highway 93 (Icefield Parkway). From Banff to Lake Louise you should travel Highway 1A (old highway) its more scenic.

I would probably plan it as

Day 1: Drive to Banff; don't forget to add 1 hr since you'll be in mountain time zone. There are tons of other stops along the way (or on the way home). Some places such as Natural Bridge and Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/yoho/visit/visit9.aspx

Day 2: Explore Banff Area, and Lake Louise Area

Day 3: Explore Icefield Parkway

Day 4: Return Home

This is just a rough guide, as an example. Don't forget to buy your National Park Passes if your going to stop in a National Park.

Also I believe if you have car that is in good conditions, with snow tires you should be able to make it up there no problem. Carry chains for added security. A FWD vehicle would suffice, as long as you have four good winter tires (mountain and snowflake logo), carry chains, and drive carefully. From all the winter condition driving up there, There are more AWD and 4X4 vehicle ending up in ditches. It's not the snow that is an issue, rather the ice. All cars stop the same, and handle the same on ice, regardless of what drivetrain you have.