VISIT TO BANFF - A RESORT TOWN INSIDE THE BANFF NATIONAL PARK, IN A...

Last summer I crossed off my bucket list visiting Banff, a favourite destination for all those passing through Alberta.
Being located only 126 km away from Calgary, we decided that it was worth taking a day trip to Banff. I am glad we did because this was not an ordinary town, it was a resort town that reminded me of the European ski resorts in the Alps.

Banff lures visitors with its irresistible mix of luxury lodges, snow, restaurants, spas, year round slopes and proximity to Banff National Park, Lake Louise and Lake Moraine.

First stop: Visitors' centre.

Once you grabbed a map, you can stroll down on Banff avenue and enjoy the city. That's what we did!

We were lucky to see a bride walking down the street.

You can have a drink on one of the restaurants or simply have a seat and relax.

Or you can walk around the city, exploring it at your own pace.

At the Visitors centre you can ask for a map and details on what you can do in the city or what trips you can take.

My little man was fascinated by the wolf on the sewer's lids on Wolf street.

We headed towards the gondola because it was already late afternoon.

The scenic view made me forget that I had a problem with heights.

Within less than ten minutes, the 360 degrees view gondola car took us up to Sulphur Mountain to an elevation of 2281 meters (7486ft) above sea level.

There we were stunned to see the incredible views into the valley.

As the altitude was high, there was a big difference in temperature. We needed to put a hoodie on.

We stood on the boardwalk and took in the views of the Banff townsite gazing at Cascade and Rundle mountains, the Bow River, Lake Minnewanka and the Fairmont hotel.

Walking down on this slope here was a jaw-dropping mountaintop experience.

Half an hour after we got up, the wind picked up.

We decided to go back towards the Banff Gondola complex and have a coffee and treat.

We have seen on our way up inside the complex of the Banff Gondola the full-service Sky Bistro, self-serve Northern Lights Café or grab-and-go Castle Mountain Coffee.

We stopped a bit to read a few lines about all of the mountains around us.

The city of Banff is flanked on all sides by the Rockies.

While going down on the boardwalk, my son fell down and got hurt on one of his knees. He refused to walk, thus I had to carry him on my shoulders.

I carried him from the peak you see in the image above all the way to the pole where the Canadian flag was raised.

A hot chocolate did wonders on him because shortly after he was having enough energy to run around the glass platform.

This little chipmunk followed us for close to hundred meters. My son fed him a biscuit.

When we were about to leave I overheard someone saying that Aya Stark (If you watched Game of thrones you know who I am talking about.) was up there. I turned around and saw someone who looked like her, but I am not convinced it was Maisie Williams. What do you think?