Banff Travel Podcast

What makes a Banff hike worth doing? In this more personal episode, Celine Brewer shares how she thinks about hiking in Banff and the Canadian Rockies, and why her idea of a worthwhile hike may be different from someone who only wants huge mountain views. Using recent hikes to Emerald Basin and the Ink Pots, plus thoughts on Taylor Lake, Celine talks about enjoying the entire hiking experience, fr...

Looking for the best Banff viewpoints without doing a big hike? In this episode, Celine Brewer shares some of her favourite viewpoints around Banff National Park, starting with places that require little or no hiking and then moving into a few where the extra effort is absolutely worth it. You’ll hear about viewpoints around the Town of Banff, Vermilion Lakes, Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake, Lake...

You don’t need to hike deep into the mountains to enjoy fall colours around Banff. In this episode, Celine Brewer shares some of the easiest places to enjoy fall colours around Banff, Canmore and Kananaskis, with a focus on beautiful aspen scenery that doesn’t require a big hike.  She also covers a few easier ways to experience larch season if you want those classic golden mountain views without c...

Wondering what time of day is best to visit Banff’s most popular places? In this episode, Celine Brewer shares practical advice for planning around crowds in Banff, including when it’s worth getting an early start, when later in the day can work better, and when you may simply need to accept that a popular place will be busy. Celine covers timing for places like Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, E...

Looking for the best walks in Banff National Park that still deliver incredible mountain scenery? In this episode, Celine Brewer shares 18 beautiful walks in Banff National Park for travellers who don’t want to tackle a long hike, including lakeshore walks, townsite trails, viewpoints, boardwalks and easy stops along the Icefields Parkway. You’ll also hear practical information on distances, stair...

Coming to Banff in September? Will it snow? Are Lake Louise and Moraine Lake still turquoise? Is it really less crowded? And when exactly do the larches turn yellow? In this episode, Celine Brewer (your Banff Travel Planning expert), answers five of the questions she gets all the time about visiting Banff in September. You’ll learn what September weather can actually look like, what to expect at L...

In this episode of The Banff Travel Podcast, Celine Brewer talks about wildfire smoke in Banff National Park and one of the biggest questions travellers have during summer: should you cancel your trip if the forecast looks smoky? She shares what it’s really like dealing with wildfire smoke while living in the Canadian Rockies, why conditions can change quickly with the wind, and why smoke or rain...

Looking to get out on the water during your Banff vacation? In this episode, Celine Brewer shares some of the best water activities around Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Yoho, Kananaskis, and the Canadian Rockies. From iconic canoe rentals at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake to paddleboarding, river floats, whitewater rafting, canyoning, and more, Celine helps you decide which activities are worth adding...

Looking for a fun and unique way to experience Banff beyond the usual sightseeing stops? In this episode, Celine Brewer sits down with Clare, founder and owner of Bikescape, to talk about why exploring Banff by e-bike is one of the best ways to see more, escape the crowds, and discover hidden gems throughout Banff National Park. Whether you've never ridden an e-bike before or you're an e...

Trying to figure out how to get to Moraine Lake? You're not alone. This is a refreshed and updated version of one of the most popular episodes of The Banff Travel Podcast. Instead of comparing every shuttle company and departure time, this episode takes a different approach. We'll start by figuring out what kind of day you want at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, then narrow down the transp...

When planning a trip to Banff and Canmore, it's easy to get caught up trying to see everything. But what if one of the best experiences wasn't about seeing more, but slowing down and connecting with nature? In this episode, Celine Brewer sits down with Scott from Among the Trees to talk about forest bathing (also known as forest therapy), a guided experience that helps visitors unplug, s...

One of the most common questions I hear from travellers planning a trip to Banff National Park is: "How much time do I actually need at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake?" This is a fully updated version of one of the most popular episodes of The Banff Travel Podcast. Celine Brewer helps listeners with how much time to spend at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake with the latest transportation infor...

Did you know one of the most unique adventure experiences in the Canadian Rockies happens entirely underground? In this episode, Celine Brewer chats with Adam Walker, owner of Canmore Cave Tours, about exploring Rat's Nest Cave, one of Canada's longest caves. They talk about what it's really like to go caving, who it's best suited for, common misconceptions, and why so many vis...

In this real Banff travel consultation, Celine Brewer helps first-time visitors sort through their Banff itinerary and make their trip feel more realistic. They discuss how to balance Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Yoho National Park, the Icefields Parkway, Lake Minnewanka, and some easier hiking options without trying to cram too much into each day.  You’ll hear how small itinerary changes can...

Banff is known for its incredible mountain scenery, but it also has a thriving food scene that many visitors overlook. In this episode, I sit down with Joanna from Nibble Tours to talk about Banff's restaurants, food tours, and how visitors can experience the town through its local food and drink offerings. Find out how food tours can help visitors discover Banff beyond the main tourist attra...

Banff may be best known for turquoise lakes and mountain views, but there are still some excellent waterfalls worth adding to your itinerary. In this episode, Celine Brewer shares waterfalls near Banff that are either easy to add to a trip or worth the extra effort if you really love waterfalls. We’ll talk about easy stops like Bow Falls and Tangle Falls, classic walks like Johnston Canyon, big Yo...

In this episode, Celine Brewer shares another real Banff itinerary review from a 30-minute travel consultation. This traveller already had a thoughtful plan for a relaxed Banff trip with easy walks, scenic viewpoints, good meals, drinks, and time to enjoy each day without rushing. We talk through Moraine Lake timing, whether Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise is worth adding, when to book the Banff Gondo...

Trying to decide whether to add Big Beehive or Little Beehive to your Lake Agnes Tea House hike? In this episode, Celine Brewer compares both options so you can choose the best fit for your Lake Louise hiking day. Little Beehive is the shorter, easier add-on from Lake Agnes, with big mountain views and less extra climbing. Big Beehive is more effort, but it gives you a stunning view from Lake Agne...

Planning a family trip to Banff or Jasper and trying to figure out what is actually worth doing with kids? In this episode, Celine Brewer shares how to plan the right Canadian Rockies trip for your family, whether you’re travelling with babies, toddlers, school-aged kids, adventurous teens, or a mix of ages and abilities. We’ll talk about easy wins like playgrounds, gondolas, boat cruises, strolle...

In this episode, I’m sharing what you need to know before bringing your dog to Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Canmore and the surrounding area. Banff is a very dog-friendly place in many ways, but there are important rules, trail restrictions, shuttle limitations and hotel policies to understand before you arrive. I’ll cover the most important dog rules in Banff, including leash requir...

Trying to choose between the Lake Agnes Tea House hike and the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House hike at Lake Louise? In this episode, Celine Brewer compares these two classic Lake Louise hikes from a local perspective, including distance, elevation gain, hiking time, scenery, difficulty, crowds, Beehive add-ons, shuttle logistics, and whether you can still add Moraine Lake on the same day. Links me...

Planning a trip to Banff can get overwhelming fast. You start with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, then suddenly you’re trying to figure out shuttles, Jasper, the Icefields Parkway, hikes, restaurants, weather, crowds, and whether you’re trying to fit in too much.  In this episode, Celine Brewer answers listener questions from the recent podcast giveaway and groups them into the big themes that come...

In this episode, I’m sharing what Kananaskis actually is, why it’s worth a full day of your trip, the best hikes for different ability levels, biking options, and an easy one-day itinerary to help you make the most of your time there. We also cover important practical tips like the Kananaskis Conservation Pass, seasonal road closures, wildlife safety, and why having a backup plan always matters in...

Didn’t get the Moraine Lake shuttle you wanted? In this episode of The Banff Travel Podcast, Celine Brewer walks you through exactly what to do next. She covers the best backup options if you missed out on Parks Canada, what to do if you missed Alpine Start, and answers a few of the most common Lake Louise and Moraine Lake questions.  If your original plan didn’t work out, don’t panic. You still h...

What does a Banff itinerary look like when you only have 2.5 to 3 days and you want to see the highlights without overplanning? In this episode, Celine Brewer shares a real Banff travel consultation with an American couple in their 60s planning their first trip to Banff.  You’ll hear how Celine builds a realistic plan around Lake Louise and Moraine Lake logistics, scenic viewpoints, easy walks, an...