"On my way to Alaska!" a Province of Alberta Travel Page by Bauchou

My husband and I drove through Medicine Hat and had to go through Calgary before veering north. I had always wanted to go to Banff, so we detoured off our route and headed west on Hwy 1. It's about a two-hour drive, but it is very scenic as you wind your way through the Rocky Mountains! We saw several mule deer and elk along the way as we got closer to Banff. We arrived in Banff just before sunset and paid the $10 entry fee. The town of Banff is very nice: clean, and well-kept. There is a shopping center with lots of nice (expensive) shops selling everything from furs to western wear. Most everything in this little resort town was a bit pricey for a pair of budget travelers, but we enjoyed ourselves. After having a nice Thai dinner, we wandered through some of the streets lined with shops (most were closed by this time).

We went into the Visitor's Center to ask if we would be permitted to camp somewhere off the road, since it was winter and most of the campgrounds were closed. The response was, "Oh sure!" and after a pause, "...if you want to have all your belongings confiscated and hauled off to jail!". So just a forewarning, if you plan to be there overnight during the winter, you'd better plan on paying for a room! We ended up driving outside of Banff, finding a small side-road and sleeping in the car. It was a little inconvenient, but the sunrise we saw the next morning was well worth the trouble!!

After driving back into Banff from the pulloff where we slept, we stopped by the Visitor's Center for some maps and info. We drove further in to Lake Louise, where we hiked a trail about halfway around the lake. It was beautiful! The lake was a deep blue-green, but I would imagine on sunny days the water appears much brighter in color.