Corner Booth's Adventures in Canada: Banff, Golden & Revelstoke
An itinerary for roadtripping through the land of turquoise lakes, majestic mountains, stellar craft beers and delicious regional cuisine.
Greetings from Canada! I’m writing this newsletter while sitting on a patio overlooking a lake, basking in the sunshine and listening to birds chirping.
It’s the first week of a two-week road trip for me in Canada from Calgary to Vancouver, stopping along the way for two weddings. I loved how many of you reached out on Instagram this past week asking for an itinerary for your own upcoming trip to the area, so the newsletter this week is dedicated to giving you just that. It was my first time here, and it’s been a whirlwind joy discovering the endless array of phenomenal mountain hikes, exhilarating adventures and, of course, sublime regional cuisine that this area has to offer.
Without further ado, welcome to Corner Booth’s guide to Banff, Golden and Revelstoke!
Dispatches from the Corner Booth
Tales from a week of dining.
Day One: A majestic hike around Lake Louise, a stroll through downtown Banff and a luxurious hotel outdoor patio.
6:30AM | Drive to Lake Louise early in the morning and revel in its bright blue beauty before all of the tourists descend. Hike up to Little Beehive via the Lake Agnes Trail, admiring the serene Mirror Lake along the way.
8:30AM | Fuel up at the cozy Lake Agnes Tea House right when it opens to beat the line. I sipped on a piping hot strawberry green tea and snacked on a simple yet tasty cheese cucumber sandwich.
10AM | Continue hiking around Lake Agnes and up to The Big Beehive. Pause to revel in the breathtaking aerial views of Lake Louise in all her glory.
1PM | Head into Downtown Banff for much needed pints and lunch at Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant. Sit at the bar on the main level or snag a spot in the magnificent upstairs space with a retractable roof. We split the double burger and the elk and kale pizza, both devoured in approximately 5 seconds.
3PM | Stroll around town and peruse the shops. I picked up several kitschy Banff magnets because I can’t help myself. For a sweet afternoon pick me up, grab ice cream at COWS or savor a uniquely Canadian fried-dough pastry at Beavertails.
5PM | Become a princess and visit the Fairmont Banff Springs for cocktails on The Rundle Patio, an impressive outdoor space overlooking the mountains. I had a bright purple martini named the Wildflower and zoned out in a state of pure bliss.
7PM | We were so tired we went straight to bed at this point, but in another life where I had more energy I might have tried Sky Bistro or Farm & Fire for dinner.
Day Two: A sunrise expedition to Moraine Lake, a fancy poolside hang and a feast of excellent Canadian cuisine.
4AM | Rise and shine, it’s an early one! Catch a shuttle from Moraine Lake Bus Company to Moraine Lake (accessible only by bus, so be sure to book this in advance) for a sunrise hike. We trekked to Sentinel Pass via the Larch Valley Trail, which begins with a climb through an enchanted forest before opening up into a striking valley with 360 views of snowcapped mountain peaks. The last part of the trail was snowed over when we went, so we had to perilously trudge up a steep, icy incline to reach the top. We took the easier route down (aka sliding down on our butts), and I survived to tell you this tale today.
10AM | While you wait for your return shuttle, grab a coffee or a beer (or both) at Moraine Lake Cafe and guzzle them outside by the lake.
11AM | Take the scenic route back to town, opting for The Bow Valley Parkway rather than the Trans-Canada Highway. Stop for some sightseeing at Morant’s Curve and Castle Mountain.
12PM | Enjoy coconut chili margaritas, loaded nachos and bison tacos outside at the rugged Magpie & Stump Mexican restaurant for lunch.
2PM | We couldn’t resist more time at Fairmont Banff Springs, so we hit the pool to relax with a book and a couple of beers. I’m reading and loving Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, mainly because she depicts the leading man as a lover of corner booths (yes, really).
5:30PM | Refresh then delight in a can't-be-missed dinner at The Bison, proudly offering regional, seasonal, Canadian cuisine. Greeted by an exceptionally friendly bartender, we started off with a spicy pineapple mule and strawberry Negroni to drink alongside bites of a zippy hamachi crudo and a flavorful fire roasted cauliflower. The open kitchen allows for endless entertainment while you dine, most notably when the Alberta bison tomahawk emerges from the oven. We took a slightly more tame route, opting for a decadent bowl of bison bolognese. I also loved perusing the menu of predominantly Canadian wines, discovering a delicious pinot noir from CedarCreek Estate Winery in Kelowna.
7PM | I needed one more fix at Three Bears before leaving, so we went after dinner for a few final beers. We played some card games, grabbed a merch t-shirt and swapped stories with the bartender.
Day Three: A road trip to Golden with whitewater rafting, local pints and bowling.
8AM | Before leaving Banff, we beelined to McDonald’s for breakfast. The golden arches in Canada is far superior than the ones in the US. I got a Mighty McMuffin sandwich, which has both bacon and sausage.
9AM | We drove onward through Yoho National Park, pulling off to marvel at the peaceful Emerald Lake and the roaring Natural Bridge.
11AM | Arriving in Golden, we headed straight to our next adventure: whitewater rafting with Glacier Raft Company. We ended up sitting right at the front for a majority of the ride, pummeled by ice cold class 3 and class 4 rapids. It was insanely, wonderfully fun. I couldn’t recommend this company enough, who provided all gear and guidance throughout, plus a crispy cold beer afterward.
3PM | Have a cooldown lap on the outdoor patio at Whitetooth Brewing Company after. We discovered some of the best beers of the trip here, particularly their blonde ale.
6PM | Feast on bison burgers and chug pitchers at the no-fuss restaurant The Wolf’s Den for dinner. We perched at the bar to watch one of the Stanley Cup finals games.
8PM | After dinner, walk along the Kicking Horse River and cross the pedestrian bridge on your way to Golden Bowling. Did you know bowling in Canada means a 5-pin game with smaller bowling balls? I did not until we started playing a few rounds. This place also has an extensive assortment of candy and cheap beers, to make for a perfect night.
Day Four: A day in Revelstoke with grizzly bear sightings, a ski resort rollercoaster and lakeside beers.
8AM | Pick up breakfast sandwiches and coffee at Ethos Cafe. The breaky roll with hash browns was astoundingly good.
10AM | Drive to Glacier National Park and be sure to keep an eye out for grizzly bears along the way (we saw a mom and her cub crossing the street!). Roam the luscious forest with a hike on the Great Glacier Trail. We ended up off-roading it at the end and scrambling up some rocks to get a closer look at the waterfall. Who knew Corner Booth was such an athlete.
1PM | Continue on to the town of Revelstoke and go to The Taco Club for lunch. The chicken taco with yam dip spoke to me in particular.
3PM | I had low expectations for The Pipe Mountain Coaster at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, but boy was this a blast. We saw another grizzly bear on the gondola ride up, and then careened down the mountain in a small blue plastic seat on a narrow track through ski runs, tunnels and glades.
4PM | Pick up beers at Mt. Begbie Brewing Company then take a dip in the lake, either at the nearby Williamson Lake or a bit north at Martha Creek Park.
7PM | Relax on the patio at The Village Idiot for dinner, a casual ski-themed restaurant with idiot-ade cocktails and pizzas.
8PM | End the night with bags of candy and scoops of cherry ice cream from the Sugar Shack.
See you next week for a part two itinerary recapping the second week of Canadian adventures!
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