Weekend in Banff

Last weekend, my family went to Banff for, as my husband put it, "fab 40" weekend with my two oldest and bestest girlfriends and their families. We all turned 40 in the last few week and were also celebrating over 30 years of friendship. To commemorate the event, we came to Banff and got matching friendship tattoos!

The weather was phenomenal. I cannot recall a more enjoyable time in Banff than this trip, and I have been there quite a few times. 

On Saturday morning we went for Timmies and met up with a cowboy who worked at one of the trail rides. My 14 year old son is obsessed with horses and has never been on a horse before. While my friends and I were out getting our tattoos and enjoying a beer on a patio, my husband took the kids horseback riding:

We all walk around the townsite multiple times, bought too much (but not enough) fudge and took in the scenery. It was perfect.

 

On our last day, after saying goodbye to my wonderful friends and their precious families, my husband and I took our boys for a ride up the gondola on Sulfur Mountain. 

Mark did not like the gondola! He is a little bit afraid of heights.

Are you going to puke, Marky??















Look at the view from the top of the mountain. Incredible!!

You can see the townsite and Bow River snaking it's way through the valley. In the back you can see Lake Minnewanka.

On top of the mountain, there is a boardwalk that leads to the top of Sanson Peek, where the Cosmic Ray Station, built in 1903, still stands.

Just a few pictures of the view up there.

Looking up at the cosmic ray station:

Looking back towards the observation deck when you get off the gondola.































Looking down the valley from the ray station.

Me and my boys with Banff in the background:

That hike is only a few Kms (both ways) but the climb up the mountain is pretty steep, so you are doing a LOT of steps. My calves hurt for days afterwards!

Such a fantastic weekend. I never wanted to leave.