By Eera Bhagwat
There’s nothing better than a vacation right after school is out for the summer, time to relax and recover from the insanity of finals. Most people would envision themselves on a beach, soaking up the sun with absolutely no worries. I, however, decided to spend the start of my summer a little differently, in the beautiful Banff National Park.
While this may not look like everyone’s dream vacation, it has certainly become mine after visiting. Banff is right in the middle of the Canadian Rockies, and known for its awe-inspiring lakes, mountains, wildlife, and glaciers. Everywhere you look, there’s something that makes your jaw drop, and pictures don’t do it justice. The feeling of standing at the foot of a mountain that looks like it touches the sky, or at lake so blue it looks fake, is an experience like no other.
One of the first places my family and I visited was Lake Louise, one of the most famous spots in the park, and my personal favorite of the trip. That day, we walked around the lake and hiked a bit. Normally, I’m not much of an outdoorsy person, so the fact that I enjoyed hiking should tell you just how gorgeous Banff is. It’s even prettier than I could have imagined, and even though my feet were killing me by the end of the day, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to top that view.
Although don’t worry, Banff isn’t just about looking at lakes. My family and I spent hours just driving around, stopping here and there, taking in the scenery. It’s also an amazing spot to see wildlife which, luckily, we got the chance to do. Over the course of our trip, we got to see bears, elk, deer, and moose, things you don’t see on the daily in California.
But if you’re really into lakes, Banff has no shortage of them to offer you, like Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, Lake Minnewanka, and more, which are all equally worth the visit. We were able to go to most, and somehow they all have something different to offer. At one point, we started joking about how many we’d seen, but then we’d visit another one and still be just as amazed. It’s definitely hard to complain when there are so many beautiful places to see.
Honestly, what makes this place so special isn’t just the landscape or animals, but it was the feeling of being completely surrounded by nature and with my family. This trip was the perfect break after a stressful school year, and by the end of it, I was definitely tired, but could’ve easily spent another week there. Banff is one of those places where you can never get tired of the view, and I know that I’ll remember the scenery, the wildlife, and the memories I made with my family for a long time.
