Hello, we’re Audrey and Jack. Welcome to BanffandBeyond.com
We consider ourselves privileged to be able to work and live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Banff National Park. We have created this site to share our photography and personal experiences of the park and the rest of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
We have never taken for granted that we live in one of the world’s top travel destinations. We can literally step out of our front door and experience what people pay thousands of dollars to come from around the world to see.
Year round our spare time is spent exploring our beautiful surroundings. This website will cover all the usual tourist attractions, but present them with a locals perspective. Believe it or not, even in the bustling summer months if you step just slightly off the beaten path you can find places of solitude. Our other focus is to show that the Rocky Mountains have so much more to offer beyond Banff, hence our title. There are many treasures that often get overlooked.
As locals we have our favorite places to eat, and can find a modestly priced meal. We know the best times to visit areas and what places offer the best chance of wildlife spotting. If you are planning a trip to the Rockies or just love experiencing them through photography check back often as we continue to showcase the magnificent area we live in.
We are private individuals blogging about our personal experiences in the Rocky Mountains, we don’t have any affiliation with tourism companies, nor do we sell anything.
We don’t mind helping out people who have an inquiry about the area, but we can get quite a few people contacting us so please take a look through our website first. You’ll find answers to many of your questions. We provided information for the majority of the popular sights to see in Banff National Park and other areas of the Rocky Mountains. If you have any further inquiries we don’t mind answering a question or two.
By Email: contact(@)banffandbeyond.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/banffandbeyond
Twitter www.twitter.com/banffandbeyond
If you have interest in other world travel and photography check out our other site at www.travelfootprints.ca
Cheers,
Audrey and Jack
Congratulations! What a wonderful site for a wonderful place, by wonderful people!
My favorite childhood memories have always been the Rockies. 😀
Yoho is breathtaking!!!
Thank you.
Thanks Patti. We love Yoho too, it’s so beautiful and often people coming to the Rockies don’t get to see much of that area. We’ll have some posts coming up soon of hikes and attractions we have seen in Yoho.
Just wanted to say what a wonderful resource the Banff & Beyond photo journal is for those of us planning a visit. The photography is top-notch and serves as an inspiration and incentive to explore all the nooks and crannies of the Canadian Rockies! Thanks for sharing your talent, time, and effort with the viewers.
Thank you for you kind compliment! We’re so glad our site can help and inspire people.
Audrey and Jack,
You have put together a great resource for those visiting the Canadian Rockies.
I visited Banff in November 2014 and due to restrictions and road closures, I was not able to see Moraine Lake and other places. Reading about Icefields Parkway, I decided to stay away from it since my rental car did not have snow tires. Nevertheless, I still got to see a lot – Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, Vermillion Lakes, Lake Minnewanka, et cetera – and I promised myself that I would be back for Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway.
Well here I am, a little more than two weeks away from my second trip to Banff. Reading all the information you have provided has better prepared me for this second trip and I cannot thank you enough for it. You should see my notepad – yes I am taking notes from your website 🙂
Thank you, we’re glad our website has been so helpful.
I have lived in Canmore for years but just discovered this site while looking for a guide to 93N to show out-of-towners. I’m really impressed that you’re not trying to sell anything, so I just wanted to offer my thanks for the time you’ve put into this without any material reward! Thanks, y’all!
Thanks! We love the Rocky Mountains and enjoying sharing our photography and the experiences we have in them.
Hi Audrey, I was planning a trip to see Moraine lake late June. I just wanted to ask about the roads that take you to the lakes, I am a little scared of heights but love the scenery. I have to been to Colorado on some roads that go around mountains with dropoffs and although I’m terrified it was worth the beautiful places I got to experience but I like to be mentally prepared, are the roads going to the lake anything like those I described?
I’m also afraid of heights. No worries on Moraine Lake Road, I can’t think of any sections that give you that feeling of dropping off. I’ve been on some white knuckle mountain roads and I really can’t think of anything like that in the most visited areas here. The road to Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper would be an exception, it’s definitely got some sketchy spots.
Ridiculously excited about visiting the wonderful Rockies next year from Australia! Had planned to use Field as a base so was reassured to read that this seems to be a good decision. Roll on May 2017!
Thank you for creating this most insightful website! The info is so helpful! It’s help us to create our itinerary for our upcoming trip to Banff/Canmore later this month. We have visited Jasper/Banff in 1994 when our kids were younger but now we wanted to go back to enjoy the scenery again and also to play on a few golf courses! You both are so lucky to be living in such beautiful breathtaking surroundings!
Glad our site was helpful to you. Enjoy your visit and the golf courses!
Very informative site – thank you 🙂
You’re welcome 🙂
Love your blog. Thank you so very much for taking the time to share your knowledge of the area. Just read where you said you are afraid of heights. I am also, a little bit. My family of 6 adults will be visiting the Rockies in September. I have been reading about a particular hike to a place called Grassi Lakes. Supposedly the trail that is harder is pretty steep in places. I was wondering if you would consider it scary steep or if you think it would doable for a 60 yr old that is in fairly good shape. Please give your insight if you have done this trail. Sounds amazing. Also, we will be staying in Canmore and visiting the surrounding area as well as one day in Jasper. Any ideas for trails that should not be missed would be appreciated.
I think you would be able to do the harder trail to Grassi Lakes. It’s not that difficult. It has some steeper grades, but nothing scary. There’s sets of stairs that are kind of big for short legs and do tax your breath, but just take your time. You can always do a loop using both trails. If coming down is hard on your knees use the easier one to descend, or use the easier one to ascend if you’re concerned about going up on it. Not knowing what elevation gain or length of trail you would like it’s hard to recommend trails. If you take a look through our site there will be photos posted and descriptions for trails we have personally done. Plain of Six Glaciers in Lake Louise is a favourite but it’s minimum 4 hours and 370 meters of elevation gain. Tunnel Mountain in Banff is a nice trail that’s not too long and offers great views. We always recommend to head to the visitor center in what ever place you are going to and ask the parks staff about trails. They are very helpful. Give them the length of time you want and elevation gain you are comfortable with and they will give you a bunch of options.
Cheers,
Audrey
I had been planning our trip to the Jasper/Banff/Yoho National Parks for weeks when I found your website. It has THE most helpful information and spectacular photos of anything else I have found. Thanks so very much for offering such a great resource for travelers; you can’t imagine how thankful I am for it. We leave in 4 days and can’t wait to use the many excellent suggestions you have made. THANK YOU!!
You’re welcome. Glad to hear our site was so helpful in planning your trip.
hi Audrey, hi Jack,
thank you for your wonderful site. Unfortunately I found it late oder too late (?), because I booked already. We start our roundtrip in Vancouver at the 9th of April, and would like to go East (Kelowna, Revelstoke, Banff, Jasper, …),
now I am completly confused and think about cancellations….is it worth to go there in April or not.
Hello, we loved your site, thank you for all the information!! Never been to Canada, but we will be visiting Banff and other areas well-prepared thanks to all the information on your website. Looking forward to it! Kind regards, Hanneke & family from the Netherlands
This site is fantastic! I have been west several times but this year – at the end of April – I need to be in Vancouver for business. I thought I would bring my daughter – who has never been west – and drive from Vancouver to Calgary for the rest of my business trip.
A question. I am not concerned about availability of services, etc., we are doing the drive to see a beautiful part of this amazing country. I am more concerned about the actual drive. We want to go to Banff and maybe Jasper and Lake Louise but do you know what the best/safest/less wintery route I should take from Vancouver to Banff? I drive in winter conditions comfortably but through the mountains is, I can imagine, another story entirely. Thanks for any information you can provide.
This website is amazing! Thank you for all the time and effort you’ve put into creating such a great resource!
J.