Canada: Banff

People who say that there is nothing to do in Canada have never been to Canada’s pride national park.

Next stop in project touring Canada: Banff.

Famous for its snow-capped mountains and lush green, Banff is one of the top destination for locals and tourists alike.

This place is heaven. Although, my Finnish friends were quick to add that this does look like their yearly Christmas season back home. But till I knock on the doors of Santa Claus and ask for a spin in his sleigh, let’s just stick to the itinerary.

Tunnel Mountain.

One can easily figure out why Banff is one of the 1001 places to see before you die.

Banff is gorgeous. It’s hard to contain one’s excitement in this white wonderland.

The air is fresh. So fresh, I truly believed that my lungs were renewed.

Country music - checked. Sports wheels - checked. Here goes the road trip!

The first stop. Lake Minnewanka. It is called the “Lake of the Spirits”.

Nothing truly spooky about this place. Just a sense of calmness.

Along the road, we encountered many animals. This truly is a national park. Big-horned sheep ahead!

Gorgeous coat.

I had hoped that we would have seen more than these sheep - like elks or deers - but no such luck as the weather turned for the worse the following day.

Banff is pretty in all directions. This random shot taken from inside the moving car is proof.

Banff is overgrowing with pine trees. The smell is so refreshing.

The climb is steep and long, but we definitely need to reach the peak of Sulfur Mountain.

See that? Yes, that is where we will be heading towards.

Victory picture with my Finnish friends.

On the way down, we spotted the Brewstar.

How I wished I had the time to visit the polar bears!

And as night falls, what a lovely little castle to live in for the night… Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

There are of course other places that are worthy of a visit in Banff.

On the top of the list is Lake Louise.

A pity it was really snowy. So we couldn’t take a good snap shot of the vast lake.

The town is charming though…

What better way to end the trip then to tuck in to a Wendy’s meal.