Getting here:
From Vancouver, BC, I took the Greyhound Canada bus service to Banff, AB. The bus trip constituted my 7-day Greyhound Canada Discovery Pass which I found relatively hassle-free. The Discovery Pass was literally valid everywhere, save for one occasion where I had to rent a car for my travels around Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. My departure time from Vancouver, BC was around midnight, with an early morning pit-stop at Kelowna, BC, noon break at Revelstoke, BC, and finally arrived at Banff, AB, around 1700 hrs. Total journey time was 15 hours.

Description:
Dazed from such a long journey, I immediately checked in at my lodging called Tan-Y-Bryn Bed & Breakfast located at Otter St in Banff town centre. Most hotels and inns are within walking distance from the town centre or the bus station, hence getting around is relatively easy.

The main thoroughfare in the town center is at Banff Avenue. One can hardly miss it - a long and wide street with upmarket restaurants (half of them are either Korean or Japanese), numerous sporting gear stores, and souvenir shops.

Despite the pervasive development that borders on an excessive side, natural attractions surrounding Banff town center still prevail. The majestic Mt Rundle (2,948 m) overlooks the town, and in May, there was still some snow on its jaggy peaks. Occasionally, wild animals do encroach into the town area. I did see a deer sneaking into a private lawn, oblivious to the maddening crowds of people and vehicles.

The view from the bridge across Bow River south of the town is equally outstanding, with snow clad mountain peaks perfectly reflected by the water. Continuing southeast (by foot, of course) from the bridge brought me upstream of Bow River where the spectacular rapid of Bow Falls is located. While the gushing (and deafening) waters were nothing short of awe-inspiring, the heavy spring run-off brought along muddy sediments that made the water extremely murky and not turquoise blue as I initially anticipated.

Then I decided to check out the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, reputably the most glamorous and luxurious hotel in town. The hotel is quite close to Bow Falls which I visited earlier. This sprawling hotel resembles a big French castle - with brown stones and black granites (which I suppose came from the Canadian Rockies for the sake of authenticity), European-styled lobby and a nice al fresco cafè on the higher floor for an outstanding view of the mountains.

One evening I also tried out the Fernland Trail off the Mount Norquay Road in northwest portion of the town. This trail brought me to Vermillion Lake which is famous for viewing Mount Rundle.