We decided to get away from our anniversary this year and settled on Banff. We're staying at Fairmont Banff Springs so we'll be spending some of our time exploring the hotel and enjoying its amenities. We plan to go to the Banff Craft Beer Festival, the Christmas market, and some snow shoeing, but that's about all we have planned.

Any hidden gem restaurants we need to check out? Any outdoor activities we're missing (I can't ski due to a bad back)? Any cool venues we need to visit? Thank you!

We went last summer, and I'm looking at going back between Christmas and New Years.

The hotel is amazing! Spend some time just walking around and enjoying the architecture. I believe they have guided tours once a day. The spa is also fantastic and worth a visit (there are a bunch of pools and showers to enjoy, even if you don't get a treatment).

We hiked Johnston Canyon, which is beautiful, and they offer ice tours in the winter.

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Lake Louise is also a fabulous experience.

Mt. Norquay has winter activities beside skiing.

https://banffnorquay.com/

If you look on the hotel website, it's got a lot of good ideas, too.

If it's not too snowy to drive, you could hit up the hot springs, or Marble Canyon. I've only seen pictures of the frozen canyons, but they look stunning!

Never been in November, but made three spring/ summer trips. If your budget allows, the gold level is such a great experience and with breakfast included, not as bad of an upcharge. I get having a budget though. The restaurants are fine but I more enjoyed the food at the sushi place in the basement and the German place out at the old golf club than their fancy places.

Do check out the wine shop in the basement. Canada makes more wine than you think and it's not all sweet. Save the Inniskillin for the Asian market and go for the BC stuff.

Norquay meadow was my surefire wildlife sighting.

I like the restaurants in Canmore better. Better food, better prices. I thought Crazyweed was very good. Banff proper is just so touristy. I also liked the Bavarian Inn closer to Calgary, but that's getting too far away from your area.

It's such an amazing place. I'm a little jealous to be honest.

I just booked the bed and breakfast package in a deluxe room with a mountain view on the hotel website, and it was cheaper than the Fairmont gold room (which also included breakfast).

I'm trying to book through the Chase luxury hotels website (their prices are competitive right now - they aren't always), but I keep getting an error message.

Melissa's Missteak has the best breakfast in Banff. For dinner make reservations at Storm Mountain lodge, it's really good with great ambiance in old lodge with wood burning fireplace. And a day trip to Lake Louise is a must.

I may get blasted but we went last summer and food was very average to me. Expensive and bland. It was good, but nothing memorable.

One of my most memorable meals was at the Italian place in the mall off of the main drag. Can't remember the name but it was some type of Canadian chain. Food was very good, portions were big and very affordable.

Banff Brewing company was pretty good as well. I enjoyed their poutine and their beers were excellent.

The fondue at Chateau Lake Louise is very good, too. I would say that and the afternoon tea were the stand-out meals for us.

We did enjoy the Chinese restaurant on the hill, right near the Fairmont Banff Springs. They give you TONS of food.

That's a good option too. Breakfast alone doesn't alone economically justify the gold level. And we've certainly had a wonderful time when we visited and didn't stay on the gold level. In fact at the Paliser I would not recommend it. But if your travel plans involved spending a good chunk of time at the hotel, the lounge and the extra service might be an amenity that you'll take full advantage of. There's something nice about mid afternoon walking out, pouring yourself a beverage, grabbing a bite to eat, and planning your evening like you are in a really nice living room.

We've budgeted around $600/day for food and activities. We're looking to splurge on a few good meals. Our anniversary falls on Thanksgiving, so we'll probably want a nice steak dinner that night.

I definitely want to do tea, so I'll look into doing that at Lake Louise! I like tea, and my husband likes food... so high tea is a husband-approves activity!

We will have a rental car, so we don't mind doing some driving.

I'm liking the idea of the sightseeing chairlift at Mt. Norquay. I did that as a kid in the summer! I think we'd enjoy the views at the Cliffhouse Bistro for a light breakfast or lunch.

I looove the idea of hot springs. Hopefully we'll be able to do that!

Sounds like we need to go to Melissa's Missteak for breakfast! We usually eat a bigger breakfast, light snack for lunch, and go heavy for dinner on vacations.

Does anybody have a recommendation on a stellar steakhouse? We don't mind venturing outside of Banff proper for good food!

Can't remember the name of where we had our big splurge meal but it was supposedly one of the better steaks in town. It reminded me of Chilis.

I second the poster above. The Chinese place on the way to fairmont was good, as well Juniper bistro. That might be your thanksgiving place to eat. We stayed there on our trip and the views are the best in town and the food was probably the best quality as well. I imagine in November with the snow it's even better views.

The Chinese place is really good. But if you want a good steak, or wild game, definitely go to Storm Mountain Lodge...really good. Also Baker Creek Mountain resort about 5 miles east of Lake Louis on Bow Valley Parkway also has a really good restaurant.

We just went in early March and thought the Maple Leaf had a pretty good steak. Fairmont Banff Sorings was exceptional. There is a breakfast place in town called Tooloulou's and it was really good. Has a Cajun flare.

fyi, all the fairmonts are every 2nd night free right now. take advantage of it.

Sunshine will be open by then if you want to ski. Plus, lift tickets are usually cheaper in November.

Dog sled tour/lunch is a pretty cool activity offered up there.

Been around that same time and stayed at the same hotel, lots of fun.

I don't remember all the places we ate but the concierges there are great and very helpful. Easy shuttle from the hotel to the town area in Banff proper.

The outdoor hot tub is great. Also their weird Canadian bowling is fun and there are lanes at the hotel.

You'll have a great time.

TailG8TR said:

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Dog sled tour/lunch is a pretty cool activity offered up there.

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Agree with this suggestion.

Hit up emerald lake lodge and stop in Field, BC to eat at the Truffle Pig