Vacation Ideas

Canadian Rockies

Information and advice from real families to help you plan a better family vacation.

The beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Canada is incredible! This mountain range stretches across British Columbia and Alberta and features jagged mountains dotted with snow, turquoise glacial lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife. There are multiple National Parks, including the popular Banff and Jasper National Parks, as well as many other gorgeous areas to explore! Read more below for ideas and tips from parents who have done this trip with kids.

Age Recommendation: We recommend visiting the Canadian Rockies with kids who are old enough to hike on their own, or small enough to easily carry in a back-pack carrier.

When to visit: June-August for the warmest weather. May or September for fewer crowds.

Flights: The closest major airport is Calgary, which will save you time driving. The second closest is Edmonton. You could fly into Vancouver if the flights are cheaper and you don’t mind driving, or even Seattle if flying into the US enables you to use airline points. But it will be a good 10+ hour drive, no matter how “close” it may look on a map. But we like an excuse to visit the Pacific coast and Vancouver, so if you have time for a 2-week trip, go for it and enjoy more British Columbia!

Car: Yes, you’ll need a car. There are some buses and shuttles from Calgary airport to Banff, but you will be very limited in what you can get out and see if you are reliant on buses for everything. Or you’ll be paying a hefty amount for lots of tours that include transporation and this will make your trip less flexible, which isn’t ideal with kids.
(If you don’t mind, check for rental cars using our affiliate link. The parents working hard to put together this free informational site will appreciate it and it won’t cost you a dime.) Check rental car rates at booking.com and save 10% >

  • Explore Banff National Park by taking a hike and looking for wildlife. Hiking options >
  • Ride the Banff Gondola – Take the gondola up Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views.
  • Explore Moraine Lake – take a shuttle to reach this gorgeous turquoise lake and then explore the shoreline trail.
  • Enjoy a soothing soak in a natural hot spring at Upper Hot Springs. (No online reservations, first-come, first-served.)
  • Enjoy views of Lake Louise and hike some or all of the Lakeshore Trail. You can also check out the Fairmont Chateau (the large, fancy hotel on the lake)
  • Canoe or kayak in beautiful lakes and rivers.
  • Hike to gorgeous waterfalls – like Johnson Canyon to Upper Falls.
  • Drive the Icefields Parkway – This is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. It connects Banff and Jasper National Park. But don’t just drive it quickly! Spend a whole day on this road making stops along the way. Good stops include: Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefield Discovery Center and the Glacier Skywalk, Sunwapta Falls, and Athabasca Falls.
  • Explore the Athabasca Glacier – when you stop at Columbia Icefield Discovery Center, you can also board an ice truck that takes you to the glacier where you can get out and walk around on it. You can buy tickets in advance >
  • Explore Jasper National Park. This park on the north end of the Icefields Parkway has many great hiking trails, waterfalls, and Miette Hot Springs where you can swim in warm water surrounded by mountains.
  • Explore Yoho National Park, including Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls
  • Explore Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks
  • Explore Kootenay National Park and Radium Hot Springs
  • Pick a tour! There are many guided tours available in the area to make your trip easier. Check out tour options >
(Sorry we got a bit broad at the end of this list – there’s just SO much to do in this area, listing everything would take all day! We will get a full itinerary out soon so you can have more details! If you need an itinerary now, send us a message.)
If visiting during the summer (which is the best time for weather), book EARLY! Luxury Splurge (Nice hotels in incredible locations): More Affordable: Tip: You don’t have to stay in the same place the whole time! Do a night or two at a fancy hotel, then switch to something more affordable. You can also stay closer to where you want to explore. Not everything is as close as it seems! (Some of the links above are affiliate links. Affiliate programs DO NOT affect our recommendations. But they are how we help cover the costs of running this site and keeping it free and not covered in ads. We really appreciate it if you use our links, and it doesn’t cost you a thing!)

Flights

Calgary airport is the closest and easiest, but you can compare rates flying into Edmonton, and even Vancouver if you’re willing to drive. We’ve had family members do this trip combined with visiting the Pacific Northwest, and flew into Seattle using airline points (domestic US destinations are often fewer miles/points for my fellow Americans who collect airline miles). This saved a lot on flights, but it makes the overall trip longer, which means more hotels, food, and time off from work/school (we recommend 12-15 days if doing Seattle/Vancouver + Canadian Rockies). It could still be an option to consider if you have a lot of miles banked. General flight tips: Set a google flight alert to be alerted to dips in prices. Look at what days are cheaper to fly in/out – like Tuesdays and Wedesdays. When booking, book in an incognito browser with cookies and location settings turned off. Airline demand pricing is crazy y’all.

Car Rental

Yes, you’ll need a car. There are some buses and shuttles from Calgary airport to Banff, but you will be very limited in what you can get out and see if you are reliant on buses for everything. Or you’ll be paying a hefty amount for lots of tours that include transporation and this will make your trip more expensive and less flexible, which isn’t ideal with kids. (If you don’t mind, check for rental cars using our affiliate link. The parents working hard to put together this free informational site will appreciate it and it won’t cost you a dime.) Check rental car rates at booking.com and save 10% >

Tours

There are a lot of tour groups offering tours that include transportation, but at a hefty price for a family. Like many other things, you can also explore the beauty of the area on your own without the need for tours. There are a few things that require a tour, but they also aren’t essential to a great trip – like the Ice Explorer trucks to the Athabasca Glacier. You can also just see this Glacier from a distance without having to walk on it. You are welcome to look for tours, but some websites are going to make it sound like you HAVE to book a tour to see things, and you don’t. Here’s a link to some good tour options, but again, they aren’t required.

Hotels

You don’t have to stay in a fancy place to have a great trip! But you could splurge on a night or two in a nice hotel (see recommendations in the tab above), then spend the rest of the time in a more affordable hotel. Also keep in mind the travel times. The further from the most popular destinations, the more affordable the lodging (typically). But look up driving time between hotels and the places you will be visiting. You don’t want to waste hours in the car every day.

Length of Trip

Longer trips = more money due to hotel and food costs. But also, how often are you going to visit this incredible place? And how much are you spending on flights? If your trip is too short, you’ll leave feeling like there was so much you didn’t get to see and do. In our opinion, you should plan to spend a full week in this area, even if that means staying at a cheaper hotel to make it fit your budget.
There are plenty of kid-friendly options in the town of Banff, such as: Options in Jasper:
  • When hiking, make sure your kids stay on the trails and stay close. Pack hiking essentials with you like water, first aid kit, and bear spray (this is a spray that can be used to deter wildlife if you come across any on the trail).
  • Break up your trip with variety. Go on a hike, then swim in a hot spring. Drive a beautiful road for scenic views, then do a glacier tour where kids can walk on the ice. Variety will help keep kids engaged and enjoying the trip with less complaining. If it’s too much driving and looking at views, or too much hiking, they could start getting bored and cranky.
  • Babies and toddlers – backpack carriers are the best (not just a typical soft baby-wearing carrier)! Get the kind that can stand up on their own on the ground, have good support, and have compartments to store things. This one is a great option > There are some areas that can work with a stroller if you want to bring a compact stroller, but most of the time the back pack carrier will be best.

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