I have been one of those fortunate people who got to travel for work. It was one of the best perks about the first job I received right out of school. And being in your 20's, you couldn't ask for more. The job required long hours and hard work, but it was well worth it to see some of places I got to see. Although, one particular place has stayed with me, Banff, Canada.
It is a gem of a place that I had never even heard of before until my company decided to bring a group of people there. I worked for an incentive travel company, so it was their job to keep certain spots within their radar. However, Banff just was never featured in any of the popular places to travel to in my social circle.
You fly into Calgary and then take about a 2 hours drive into Banff. There is plenty of transportation because Banff is known for it's hospitality, I soon learned upon arrival. When you enter into Banff, the view is breathtaking. The pictures from websites or postcards did not do it any justice. The raw nature of the Canadian Rockies seemed out of this world. Snow capped mountains loomed all around you. I was very fortunate in getting to stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. It's bit pricey but I felt like a fairy princess every time I entered the place. We also went during July so the weather was perfect. The temperature stayed around 70 degrees.
Banff may not be surrounded by beaches, but it is surrounded by trees and is basically a valley nestled between huge mountains. It genuinely reminded me of what castles in faraway lands looked like when I read fairytales as a young girl. Every morning when I woke up, I could not walk past a window at the hotel without staring outside. It will literally feel impossible to try and tear your eyes away from the view of great white mountains and rivers with waterfalls below. What also seem outworldly about Banff is that you are not around all these commercial places that you are used to at home. The buildings and restaurants are indeed modern yet the architecture seems like a blast from the past in a way.
You can do all sorts of things while you are there. You can take hikes around the mountains, visit small shops, choose from an assortment of restaurants, or take alpine tours. But it wasn't necessarily what I did in Banff that has stayed with me. It was the feeling that was there. I felt safe and tucked away in this hidden jewel of a place. It was so far away from home and not only because of the distance but because of the vast differences. I never thought I would enjoy being around forests and mountains but you can't help but to feel transported when you are there. It was a great escape and brought me out of my comfort zone to really take notice of how beautiful nature is when left untouched. It was one of the most peaceful places I have ever traveled to and has definitely stayed with me.
