The next stop after Radium Hot Springs was Banff.  Only 85 miles or 135 kilometers since we were in Canada.  A nice short drive but very spectacular.  We were last here in 2004 (14 years) and a lot has changed.  We were able to camp in the full hookup campground at Tunnel Mountain:

We were able to show the Chen’s some old spots we went to and some new ones also!  Bow Falls and the Cave and Basin Historical site:

The above shot was in one of the displays promoting Canadian National Parks.  Looks like an Airstream to me!

One day we took a drive up to Lake Louise, a requirement for anyone in the area as the parking lot bore out.  The lot said full but we drove around and found one but it might have been illegal parking.  No ticket in the end!  Lake Louise is amazing but you cannot go into the hotel there anymore unless you are a guest (staying or eating I guess).  We could not even drive to the Moraine Lake parking as they close the road when it is full.  We have to suffice with Lake Louise:

Another day we stayed around the Banff area and drove by Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka.  We also saw some wildlife, mangy and otherwise, you guess which.

I had seen photographs of the Banff valley from an elevated position and I wanted to go there.  There was one possibility, the Mt Norquay ski area.  Actually, there is a viewpoint before you get there and it was the place.  The parks in Canada have a ‘red chair’ promotion going where they place two Adirondack (ironic) chairs in scenic locations and encourage people to find them and sit in them.  There was one here:

One of the days we decided to take a hike.   It had to meet everyone’s criteria.  The kids wanted long and strenuous but we like short an easy.  A compromise was had with the Johnston Canyon hike.  It was listed as not too long and a moderate hike.  They lie!!  We must have a different definition of moderate.  We did the hike but it kicked our butts!  There were numerous waterfalls all along the river along with some ingenious ways to construct the trail:

Our time in Banff was very enjoyable.  The weather was great for the most part.  It was interesting to see the changes.  Banff is still the touristy town it was 14 years ago, just a bit bigger and busier.  But it was time to move on.