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A Stay In Not Just An Ordinary B&B In Banff AlbertaBy Norm GoldmanTown of BanffAs Canadians, my wife and I are somewhat embarrassed to admit that although we have traveled around the world for the past thirty- five years, we never once visited Banff Alberta. Perhaps, we believe in the old mistaken belief - “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.” This year after some reflection coupled with our crying over the Canadian dollar taking a beating in the USA, we decided that it would not be a bad idea to check out Banff and surroundings. There are no , movies or videos that could do justice or could have adequately prepared us for the mind- blowing and overwhelming peaks of the Canadian Rockies. At times they even felt somewhat intimidating, and in fact my wife confessed to me that she felt a little claustrophobic walking around the Town of Banff looking up at these towering mountain summits.
In 1883 the Town of Banff was created as a result of the trans-continental railway having been built through the Bow River Valley. The town is perched along the Bow River within the Banff National Park that has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From almost everywhere you can view the Cascade, Tunnel, Sulphur, and Rundle Mountains. It was only in 1990 did it officially become an incorporated town, however, with one very important difference from other Alberta towns- Parks Canada controls environmental protection within the town. You can well imagine the” red tape” a homeowner has to endure before any kind of renovation or modification is approved. We were also informed that a cap has been placed on any future development of the town. Thea’s House, More Than Just A B&BThere are over 4.8 million visitors converging into the
Banff area every year. You are probably wondering what the name “Thea” stands
for and what is so special about this B&B? Jami’s attention to detail and her boundless energy is
evident everywhere. Because this B&B only has four guest rooms, it is easy
to offer individualized service. When Jami says Thea’s House differs from
other B&B’s in Banff trust me, she is not exaggerating! Luxurious, also, was our suite with its large Jacuzzi
tub for two and steam shower, where I had the ultimate pleasure to steam
myself and then loll back and let the magic of the locally made bath salts
work on my tired bones, especially after our grueling day of hiking. Breakfast you can bet will be something out of the ordinary. Jami believes that before hiking or skiing you need sufficient fuel. You are sure to be served fruit salads, breads, cereals, jams, homemade yogurts, tea, coffee, and one of the daily hot breakfasts, which varies from day to day. Jami is also very attentive to her guest’s dietary needs as evidenced by her purchase of special pancake mix and bread for my wife, who is lactose intolerant. If you are looking to fall in love or just the spark for romance, this is the place to stay, and we have to concur with the couple who wrote in our room’s guest book, “we came here to relax and fall in love. Thank you for making it easy. This place is the most beautiful we have ever seen.” Activities In And Around Banff
Other Attractions and Activities In and Around BanffBANFF SKIING WHITE RIVER RAFTING HORSEBACK RIDING HIKING TRAILS ROMANTIC DINING DOGSLEDDING For More Information: Artwork by Lily Azerad-Goldman Norm and Lily Goldman are a unique husband and wife team who meld words with art. Their articles and art can be seen at www.sketchandtravel.com |
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When we mentioned to a visitor from France that a short
drive from our hometown of Montreal there are the Laurentian Mountains, she
laughed at us saying these are hills compared to the Rockies. We didn’t feel
insulted-she was right on!
If just hanging around Thea’s House or walking up and
down Banff Avenue checking out the souvenir shops is not your cup of tea,
you don’t need to go very far to find something exciting to do.