Can you imagine living inside of a national park? If you purchase a home among Banff real estate, you can do just that as the town sits inside the most popular national park in Canada. It’s often ranked among the world’s top travel destinations – National Geographic Traveler magazine highlighted it on its annual Best of the World list as one of the must-see places to visit in 2017.
The publication noted its rugged beauty tucked within the Canadian Rockies, with gem-like lakes, dramatic peaks, and abundant wildlife. Unless you’re a big fan of concrete jungles, Banff surely must be the best town one could possibly live in. Still not convinced?
IT’S A WELCOMING PLACE FOR ALL
Banff is a family-friendly place for residents and visitors of all ages with a wide range of programs and events. The Town of Banff hosts a variety of programs for kids from toddlers to teens like Into the Wild, focused on the outdoors and nature. Aimed from children in grades 1 through 6, it offers hiking, cooking, crafting and outdoor skill learning to help build their relationship to the outdoors.
Kids in grades 5 through 8, and their parents, will appreciate The Basement, a supervised drop-in space where they can hang out, do homework, create music and art, and play games. Adults who are 55 and older are catered to as well with all sorts of programs, including the Mountain Adventure Program with experiences led by certified guides.
IT’S A SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG CULINARY SCENE
While Banff offers small-town charm, it also boasts a thriving culinary scene. There’s a long list of restaurants serving just about everything imaginable from vegan and vegetarian dining at Nourish Bistro with delicious plant-based comfort foods and even organic beer, to restaurants serving local Alberta beef. Melissa’s Misstake is a popular option with its mouth-watering Albertan Angus beef and lobster, as is The Maple Leaf, specialising in fresh fish and seafood as well as Alberta bison, elk, and beef which can all be complemented with a tasty glass of wine from the award-winning wine list.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE YEAR-ROUND
Banff is especially popular among outdoor enthusiasts who are pretty much guaranteed to never get bored here. During the warmer months of the year, the hiking opportunities are practically endless with more than a thousand miles of defined trails that will bring you through lush alpine meadows and stunning mountains, passing waterfalls, glaciers and lakes in shades so surreal you might think they were Photoshopped if you didn’t seem them with your own eyes.
Moraine Lake is in the heart of the park and is renowned for its extraordinary colour, with rock particles in the glacial waters resulting in a striking turquoise hue. This and other lakes are ideal for paddling in a canoe or kayak too. In the wintertime, living in Banff means easy access to the snowy slopes, including Canada’s largest single ski area, Lake Louise Mountain Resort, Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay. Sleigh rides, ice skating, and ice fishing can all be enjoyed too.
WILDLIFE CAN BE SEEN WANDERING RIGHT THROUGH TOWN
The park is home to more than 50 mammal species like deer, woodland caribou, elk, lynx, bighorn sheep, black and grizzly bear. Oftentimes you’ll see deer or elk taking a walk right down the middle of Banff Avenue, so if you enjoy watching wildlife, it’s hard to beat Banff.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!
xo N
New Lune 
In my bucketlist, to visit, but not to live…OMG it’s too cold for me. Love the photo 💛💚
Hahah I totally understand! Thank you ❤️
The lake looks so beautiful.
It’s so gorgeous! 💗
Banff has many resident requirements to weed out those who just want cottages or 2nd homes. You have have a business or be employed in Banff National Park in order to live in Banff. Once you meet that condition, then you need to find the money for the limited housing choices available. Even in Canmore, outside the park boundary, prices are through the roof. We will be down there in a few weeks to explore, but will stay in Canmore. I think I would find the summer tourist crowds too difficult to bear, as well. Nonetheless, it is beautiful. Allan
Totally agree with you! It’s definitely not for everyone but it’s such a beautiful place. Thanks for reading Allan!
I enjoyed my time in Banff and Jasper National Parks, it’s hard to exhaust all the opportunities to enjoy nature. Photo opportunities are also plentiful, especially around the lakes; Spirit Island at the end of Maligne Lake being probably the most iconic view.
I know right! So beautiful 😍
I actually live an hour and a half drive away from Banff – we try to spend a lot of time out in the mountains in the summer, but I’m not sure if I’d want to live there, to be honest! Cost of living is high there because housing is limited, and it’s packed with tourists which I think would probably annoy me as a local LOL! It is definitely a place I think everyone should visit in their lifetime if they have the chance, though, for all of the reasons you mentioned. I do like living CLOSE to Banff and having the option to visit as often as I want…
Hahah I completely understand! It’s definitely expensive and not a place for everyone depending on their situations and preferences. But it’s such a gorgeous place ❤️
Looking so forward to visiting Banff and Jasper and all things in between. Living there would be great, but I would never be able to fit the criteria.
It’s definitely very expensive to live there! Thanks for reading love 💗
Sounds like a perfect place to live! I might have to at least add it to my places to visit!
For sure!