When you travel, do you gravitate towards the natural world or a more metropolitan experience?

On my family’s trip to Canada this summer, I felt like we got the best of both worlds, dividing our time between Banff National Park in the Alberta Province and downtown Vancouver.

The town of Canmore was our home base to explore the Canadian Rockies of Banff National Park. From there, we could access the unreal turquoise waters of Lake Louise, the mineral springs known as the Inkpots, and pristine hiking above the timberline.

Banff National Park is known for its dramatic natural wonders, but you could easily get your nature fix without even stepping into the park. One day I opted out of hiking to explore the town of Canmore.

I followed a quiet walking trail from our hotel to the downtown area, took a yoga class at The Yoga Lounge, followed by tea at Communitea Café, and browsed shops and galleries along 8th Street and the small downtown area.  One of my favorite shops was Project A, featuring work by emerging Canadian artisans and craftspeople.

We explored the town of Banff for dinner at Farm and Fire one of the nights. The other nights we were happy to choose from the dining options in Canmore. We were so enamored with the food and earthy décor at Bridgette Bar that we went back for a second time. Specifically, the wild mushroom pizza was a crowdpleaser for my whole family.

We were all a little wary of the 12-hour bus ride from Canmore to Vancouver, but it turned out to be a pleasant way to see more of the country. Huge picture windows and no responsibility to navigate gave us the chance to watch the Rockies open up to lakes and endless green vegetation, eventually giving way to the city of Vancouver.

Our introduction to Vancouver was from the 27th floor of our Airbnb, where we were treated to views of the city skyline at twilight, including a full moon reflecting off the surrounding water.

I found the skyline of Vancouver to be one of the most compelling aspects.  High-rise residential buildings are scattered throughout, each with a sculptural quality, often with clever integration of the balcony. The buildings are spaced out to preserve views and light, so you can really get a good look at the architecture.

I also appreciated more decorative urban gestures, like hanging a super-sized chandelier beneath the freeway overpass!

Much of downtown Vancouver is defined by modern architectural styles, but the Gastown neighborhood is a part of the city that retains many older buildings, brick pavers, mature street trees, and the popular Steam Clock.  There is a concentration of shops and dining that lend a quaintly hip character.

A few favorite shops were The Latest Scoop for clothing and Old Faithful Shop for housewares.  We enjoyed outdoor dining at Guilt & Co.  And Soft Peaks Ice Cream Shop is practically a meal in itself, so plan accordingly!

The Public Market on Granville Island is filled with fresh produce, artisan foods, crafts, and artwork. We re-energized with a picnic by the water of local cheeses, preserves, and fresh-baked bread.

Vancouver is ideal for getting around by bicycle.  After we rode around StanleyPark, we kept going along the north side of the city to the cruise ship terminal known as Canada Place.  This also happens to be a lovely place to catch the sunset!

Happy travels!