Get the Ultimate Family Weekend in Banff with This Itinerary
Plan the perfect Banff family getaway with Banff Adventures. Discover family friendly tours, scenic lake cruises, e bike tours, wildlife safaris, and unforgettable Rocky Mountain experiences.
Banff is one of the best places to spend a long weekend, especially for Albertans who can get here and back in a short road trip! If your family is looking for a fun weekend getaway, there’s so much you can enjoy in Banff, from townsite tours to boating excursions to great food. But with so much to do, how can you possibly narrow it down?
We’ve come up with a few ideas for your family to fill an entire weekend, including several Banff family vacation packages offered through Banff Adventures. Keep reading to get the perfect itinerary for your family trip!
Friday
If you’re driving up to Banff on Friday after work or school, you’ll probably want a more relaxed evening to prepare for your jam-packed weekend of activity!
Here’s a sample list of things you can do Friday night:
- Check into your hotel, have a quick rest, and freshen up!
- Take a walk through Banff’s main downtown area and visit the shops and art galleries.
- Have dinner at a family restaurant! Some fun places include High Rollers Bowling & Pizza, Magpie & Stump Mexican, and the Banff Park Ranch
If you’re taking a long weekend and have more time to kill on Friday, here are a couple of activities you can enjoy during the day, or early evening, where you can also grab a bite!
- After 4 PM- Horseback Ride + Cowboy Cookout: Enjoy a cowboy-led horseback ride along the Bow River and a filling steak dinner at 3-Mile! No prior riding experience required.
- 10 am to 8 pm- Banff Gondola + Sky Bistro: Start your weekend in Banff off with a life-changing view from Sulphur Mountain! Book tickets for the Banff Gondola to ride up the mountain, and enjoy a walk, take photos, and try to spot wildlife. You can also enjoy a delicious meal at one of the mountain-top restaurants, like the famous Sky Bistro!
Saturday
This will likely be the day when you have the most time to fit things in, so why not go all out on Saturday? At Banff Adventures, we offer several Banff tour packages that combine sightseeing with sports and other activities. Here are a few fun things we think you’ll enjoy on a sunny Saturday:
- First, get some fuel. Fill up on waffles and eggs Benedict at Tooloulou’s, and then grab the best coffee in town at the Whitebark Cafe (they even have vegan and gluten-free snack options for those with food sensitivities!)
- Take one of our Banff E-Bike Tours! Banff Highlights is our most popular tour that departs at 10 am and 2pm. The tour starts downtown and includes stops at Cave & Basin, Cascade Gardens, Tunnel Mountain, and more.
- Go on a nighttime safari. If your kids love animals, the Evening Wildlife Safari offers the perfect opportunity to spot some iconic Rockies’ critters, including bears, elk, and bighorn sheep. This safari departs at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 pm and runs for 2 hours.
Sunday
Even if you don’t have time for a full day of activities on Sunday, there are still plenty of things you can do to fill the time before you make the drive home. Some morning and early afternoon activities include:
- Discover Lake Louise & Moraine Lake: This tour departs at 8 am and 2 pm, and runs for around 4.25 hours, perfect for a final day in Banff! After a complimentary hotel pick-up, you will get to see all the highlights of Lake Louise, including the Fairmont Chateau Hotel, the Valley of the Ten Peaks in Moraine Lake, and more.
- Banff Lake Cruise on Lake Minnewanka: If you want to end your trip in a more relaxed, low-key way, spend your morning on a motorboat on Lake Minnewanka! Our Banff Lake Cruise is perfect for families with kids of all ages, and offers some of the best views of our national park’s valleys.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you need help narrowing down your list of things to do in Banff, try out some of our recommendations on this itinerary! You can also visit our Family Friendly section for more adventure-filled fun in the Rockies.
Once you have your activities lined up, contact us to book your trip!
