re: Canmore/Banff, Alberta

I did a similar vacation last year. We stayed in Golden, BC which is a bit further than Banff and took day trips from there. Be prepared for lots of tourists in places like Banff (the town), Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Athabasca Glacier, etc... but at the same time it's all great to see. I found if you got away from the main tourists traps or did anything that required any effort to get to it was a way better experience. We visited Yoho, Banff, and Kootenay National Parks. They all pretty much run together. All are beautiful. Pretty much everywhere is surrounded by incredible views. Some highlights of our trip were Takkakaw falls, Wapta falls, Emerald Lake, and a few hikes to smaller alpine lakes. Another option is Marble Canyon in Kootenay which was recommended to us by some locals. The drive up the ice field parkway is truly some of the best scenery imaginable. I loved my trip to the Canadian Rockies and hope to go back sooner than later.