Arriving in Banff: Our First Glimpse of the Canadian Rockies
Day 1 of Our Five-Night Banff Adventure | October 1, 2026
I've traveled through some beautiful mountain regions, including the Swiss Alps, but nothing quite prepared me for my first glimpse of the Canadian Rockies. The sheer size of the mountains was extraordinary. They seemed to stretch endlessly across the horizon, and the closer we got to Banff, the more impressive the landscape became.
Our adventure began with an early flight from Nashville to Calgary, where we picked up our rental car and headed west toward Banff National Park.
But before we could begin exploring, we had a couple of unexpected travel challenges.
A Rental Car Lesson Worth Sharing
Planning a fall trip to Banff means thinking about winter weather, especially as you get into October.
We wanted a vehicle with appropriate snow tires, but traditional rental car companies couldn't guarantee the tires we needed. After canceling our original reservation, we decided to try Turo for the first time. It turned out to be a great experience. We were able to choose the specific vehicle and confirm the tires before our trip. Pickup was incredibly easy, with the car waiting just outside baggage claim.
One less thing to worry about! Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with our luggage. My husband's suitcase arrived without a problem. Mine did not. It wouldn't make its way to our hotel until 3 p.m. the following afternoon. Not exactly the start I had envisioned, but sometimes travel requires a little flexibility. The saving grace was that I had packed my medicine, supplements, and makeup in my carry-on. Moving forward, I will do what I do for trips to Europe, and also include a change of clothes in my carry-on. I have been traveling my entire adult life, and this was my first checked-bag mishap, so I consider myself lucky, but also warned. ;-)
The Drive from Calgary to Banff
After stopping for lunch, we began the roughly 90-minute drive west toward Banff. This was when the trip really began to feel special. As the mountains came into view, I was struck by their scale. Pictures simply don't capture how expansive this landscape feels in person. We took our time enjoying the drive before arriving in Banff, where we made a quick stop for essentials—and, thanks to my missing luggage, an outfit for dinner.
A special thank-you to the wonderful staff at lululemon for helping me get through that first evening!
Checking In at Rimrock
We chose Rimrock Banff as our home base for five nights, and it was one of the best decisions we made. Perched on the lower slopes of Sulphur Mountain, the hotel offered beautiful surroundings while remaining conveniently close to downtown Banff.
We were staying on the Wellness Floor, which was especially appealing to me. Our room came equipped with a yoga mat and Theragun, and we had easy access to the Bathhouse for sauna time and relaxation. I love maintaining my morning yoga routine while traveling, and having everything I needed in our room made it easy to begin each day feeling grounded and ready to explore.
After settling in, we spent the afternoon getting acquainted with the hotel, showering, and enjoying dinner at Parker's Table.
It was a relaxing way to end a long travel day.
Our Takeaway from Day One
Banff made an impression before we'd even begun exploring the national park. The mountains were more dramatic than I'd imagined, our hotel was exactly what we'd hoped for, and even a missing suitcase couldn't take away from the excitement of arriving somewhere new.
A few tips for your arrival:
Confirm your vehicle's tires and equipment for the conditions and roads you plan to drive.
Allow approximately 90 minutes for the drive from Calgary to Banff, plus stops.
Keep a change of clothes and essential toiletries (and your makeup, ladies) in your carry-on.
Keep your first evening relaxed rather than scheduling a major activity.
We went to bed looking forward to our first full day in the Canadian Rockies.
