Banff Hitch Hiker

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Renting Wheelchairs in Banff

Posted on Jul 19, 2010 in Banff Hitch Hiker

Bringing your own wheelchair to a vacation in Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies could potentially be a burden on your vacation. Luckily, there are several options for travelers that allow you to leave the wheelchair at home.  At the Calgary airport, it’s nice and easy.

Banff is packed full of activities and things to see.

Just organize the rental with your airline and there will be one ready when your plane hits the ground. However, once you leave the airport, where to head to next? Here are a few options to help out.

Gourlay’s Pharmacy
In Banff itself, your first option is Gourlay’s Pharmacy. They charge roughly the same prices as Kenron’s.
229 Bear Street
(403) 762-2516

Kenron Pharmacy

In Calgary, Kenron Pharmacy rents wheelchairs, crutches and most other essentials for the disabled traveler. They are located off the Trans Canada Highway as you’re traveling from the airport to Banff. You can arrange everything online and pick it up on your way from the airport to Banff. 
There is a general fair price of (CA)$20 a week or (CA)$50 per month.

Rexall
Rexall is a better option for those who are looking to book short term. There aren’t many though so book early. It is only $5 per day.
317 Banff Ave
403-762-2245

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Cheap Drinks in Banff – Banff Nightlife

Posted on May 28, 2010 in Banff Hitch Hiker

Cheap Drinks in Banff – Banff Nightlife

Banff National Park, Alberta

Ah Banff the town of parallels! There is the younger generation of mostly (nearly completely) travelers that live here to service the older generation of tourists that come in to experience the wonders of Banff National Park. For those on vacation, generally it doesn’t matter where you end up enjoying your evening drinks. Often holidays are the one time you can forget about a budget. However, getting to and staying in Banff can end up being quite expensive so if you want to enjoy a night of drinking without the feeling of guilt that your empty wallet is giving you, here are your best options.

Banff is a great place to go for a drink with a buddy.

The Pump and Tap

The Pump, as it locally known, is a British themed pub and really it hit the nail on the head. It is downstairs in the Sundance Mall, lacking natural light and quite small and pokey. However, don’t take this as a bad thing! The pool is free all day, the food is surprisingly good after 3pm, there is football on the TV screens 24/7 and the drinks are among the cheapest in town.

Melissa’s

Melissa’s is equally cheap as the Pump but far more aesthetically pleasing. Based upstairs on the corner of Caribou and Wolf Street, you can grab a booth by the window and watch the beautiful scenery of the mountains or just people watch below. Free popcorn here too!

Bruno’s

Bruno’s is not as cheap as the first two but it is still very cheap in comparison to most of the bars in town and also has one of the best atmospheres. Located just off Banff Avenue on Caribou, there is always something going on here at night and the daily food specials are excellent. Bruno’s also make the best Caesars in Banff. When it comes to nightlife, Banff has you covered regardless of your budget!

Dining in Banff

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Canmore’s Best Beer Decks – The Grizzly Paw

Posted on May 27, 2010 in Banff Hitch Hiker

Canmore’s Best Beer Decks – The Grizzly Paw

Canmore, Alberta

The Grizzly Paw in Canmore is a big local’s favourite. Aside from the fact that it is a pub with a great restaurant and atmosphere, it also transforms into one of the best outdoor seating areas in the summer. Once the temperatures start rising, the jackets can be put away and you can sit out people-watching on Main Street with views of the stunning Three Sisters Mountain range. Unlike Banff, you never really feel rushed in Canmore and the Grizzly Paw is a microcosm of this.

Just some of the home-made beers on offer in the Grizzly Paw.

This June, Banff will be getting its own brewery but the Grizzly Paw has been doing it for years producing some really unique beers including fruity beers, heavy beers and higher alcohol beers. If you are going to be sitting indoors, it is a great place to watch a game or play a game of pool upstairs. Even the toilets have TV screens so you won’t miss even a minute of the action!

In all the major towns of the Rockies like Banff, Jasper and Golden – The Grizzly Paw boasts the best beer deck around for those scorching days where you take a break from the ton of activities on offer and just sit back and sip the day away!

How to Get to the Grizzly Paw

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Lunch Special in Banff – Suginoya Japanese Restaurant

Posted on May 26, 2010 in Banff Hitch Hiker

Lunch Special in Banff – Suginoya Japanese Restaurant

Banff National Park, Alberta

There is shortage of sushi places in Banff. From the Sushi Bistro on Caribou Street to Miki in the Inns of Banff, there is a lot of selection but if you feel like sushi for lunch and don’t want to overspend, Suginoya is the best option. Located just over the Banff ski Hub in the centre of Banff Avenue, it has great views down on the main street as well as an unbeatable lunch special between 12-2pm.

Suginoya is a great place for lunch on a budget in Banff.

For only $10, you get two choices of sushi as well as rice and salad. Though I thought the portions would be measly considering the price, it is actually quite large and big enough to fill a glutton like me! If there is any complaint I could make, it is that the green tea tastes like a green tree but this is only a minor complaint in what was otherwise not just a great feed but a great dining experience.

The staff is extremely friendly and it really has a Japanese feel about it unlike some of the more westernised Japanese options around town. It can be expensive vacationing in Banff so spending too much at lunchtime can really be a blow. For something healthy, quick and cheap – Suginoya is a great option in Banff.

225 Banff Avenue

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Icefields Parkway & Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience

Posted on May 25, 2010 in Banff Hitch Hiker, Columbia Icefields

Icefields Parkway & Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience

Banff National Park, Alberta

Banff and Jasper National Park are two of the worlds most beautiful towns and they are connected by what has often been described as the most scenic highway in the world. The Icefields Parkway is nothing like a highway. Particularly on a clear sunny day, the views of the surrounding Canadian Rockies are to die for. The drive takes about 3 and a half hours most of which is sweeping roads that take you from one stunning sight to another. About 40 minutes short of Jasper, you will come across one of the world’s natural phenomenons – The Columbia Icefield Glacier.

The Icefields Parkway is one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

It is a glacier that is as deep as the Eiffel Tower is high. It is slowly creeping down the mountain thanks to our old friend global warming but is still nothing short of spectacular. Again a lot depends on what kind of weather you get but if it is clear, it really is a wonderful experience. You can drive yourself to the base where you will then have to pay to get into specially made buses to take you onto the actual glacier. If you would prefer to go on an organised trip from Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper, Explore Rockies do set trips for $149 for an adult that covers transport and admission to the glacier.

Explore Rockies

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