We have been lucky enough to have visited Banff at least 4 times over the last 20 years. We never get tired of it and always find new places to explore, along with revisiting our favorites!

You never know what Mother Nature will offer you in the weather, will she bestow bright sunshine? Wash and refresh with some rain, or snow? Or cloak the landscape in cloud? Whatever she decides it always looks beautiful!

Our first day we took a drive up the Bow Valley Parkway towards Lake Louise. We had not done that drive for years, always choosing to go along the Trans Canada Hwy instead. We were greeted with clouds and light drizzle that day but not with disappointment!

The next day we returned to one of our favorite places, the Cascade Ponds. Last year, on close to the same date, we were awarded with a light snow and beautiful sunshine…….

This year? What a change!!!

We didn’t notice any other signs of drought in the park but the Ponds were empty!

Next stop was Johnson Lake, a beautiful lake with an easy 3 km trail, beautiful picnic areas, great opportunities for paddle boarding or taking out your canoe or kayak, and a perfect beach for swimming!

and we found more of the beautiful red chairs to relax in at Two Jack Lake!

The next day we discovered a drive around the gold course we had never done before, and encountered the local obstacles  to play around!

Fall is the ‘rutting’ (mating) season for the Elk. The mature bulls compete with each other over the females, creating a harem! I think I would just wait my turn and let them play through, wouldn’t you?!!

Next a quick trip to Bow falls!

and ended the day at Vermillion Lakes! These are iconic views of Banff National Park you can never get enough of!  I found a new ‘spot’ I had never been to for pictures, with Mt Rundle in the distance.

Then we said a sad good-by to Banff and headed north to Lake Louise and my all time FAVORITE place, Moraine Lake, situated in the Valley of the 10 Peaks, 14km (8.7mi) from the Village of lake Louise.

The fall colours were gorgeous on the way!

The view from the Moraine Lake Rd is almost as good as the lake itself!

To get to the prime viewing area for the lake you need to climb up the ‘Tower of Babel’ When we first visited here it was a rough trail with big boulders to climb up but in the last few years they have been working hard on making the access a little easier with the addition of steps!

The views opposite the lake on the way up are quite impressive too!

Then you are presented with what is called the ‘Twenty Dollar view’, as it was featured on the reverse side of the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill. To me it is a ‘priceless’ view!

I am going to leave you for now, with this gorgeous image!

Until next time!