How to Have a Fun Girls' Trip in Banff this Fall

For a perfect girls’ getaway this fall, head to Elk + Avenue Hotel in Banff.

Grab a friend and spend a fun weekend in Banff this fall.

A girls’ trip is good for the soul. It’s time to reconnect with friends, let loose, and not think about work or the kids for a while. While you could wait for someone to get married or for that friend to visit from out of town, why not take off for the weekend with your BFF “just because”? I was happy to ditch my WFH (work from home) wardrobe and get dolled up for a couple days too.

Whether you seek adventure or rest and relaxation, Banff has everything you need for a perfect girls’ getaway. Enjoy hiking and sightseeing by day, and culinary experiences and cocktails by night. With Elk + Avenue Hotel as our base camp, we parked the car for the evening because everything was within walking distance (or waddling distance if you eat all the things like we did).

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Farm + Fire Restaurant

Seated by large, open windows at Farm + Fire, we have the best of both worlds. We’re dining comfortably indoors, but still have fresh air and mountain views. As the sun dips lower in the sky, Tunnel Mountain is bathed in golden light and the clouds turn pink. It’s the perfect setting for colorful cocktails and farm-to-table fare.

While we peruse the menu, Jacqueline orders Park Observation Peak, a modern twist on an Old Fashioned (Park Glacier Rye, Appleton Rum, cherry liqueur instead of maraschino cherry, and orange bitters) with smoked cedar square. I opt for the Wild Rose Spritz, a sweet and sparkly pink concoction made with aromatized wine, sparkling wine, rosewater, and rose petals. Both beverages are fragrant and delicious.

Delicious eats at Farm + Fire Restaurant, Banff

With locally sourced ingredients, creative dishes, and lots of gluten-free and dairy-free items (as well as vegan and nut free), Farm + Fire is one of my favorite places to eat in Banff. Since I’ve been here a few times this year, I let my friend pick the mains – Porchetta and the Catch of the Day – but insist on getting three veggie sides, saying, “This is the only place where I get excited about vegetables. I don’t know what they do to make them so good!” Colette-Jane Marshall, Manager of Food and Beverage at Farm + Fire, agrees. “I’m a huge meat eater, but when I come here, I eat vegetables.” Later when she brings out the honey roasted carrots with hazelnut dukkah, she tells us, “This is my absolute favorite.” Marshall elaborates that dukkah, a nut and spice blend, is really popular in Australia, where she’s from. Basically, it’s the “secret” ingredient that elevates the flavor of a seemingly simple dish.

This understated, rustic elegance is Farm + Fire’s strength. Whether you go with BBQ chicken and bacon flatbread baked in the forno oven (Canadian Cheddar and Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dressing take it to the next level), rotisserie chicken with thyme and lemon brine (roasted to perfection in a rotisserie oven imported from France), brassicas with magenta beet hummus (cauliflower and broccoli never tasted so good), or homestyle cornbread served in a mini cast iron skillet (sweet and buttery amazingness!), unique flavors and attention to detail make every dish memorable.

Executive Chef Scott Hergott and Head Chef David Ryc are the masterminds behind the menu, but Hergott is quick to attribute the restaurant’s success to the whole team. His face lights up talking about the fall menu and a signature squash dish Ryc created that he’d “love to do at Sky [Bistro]!” The front of house staff share his passion for food and are excited to recommend their favorite dishes and cocktails. It’s four months since Farm + Fire opened and it’s thriving. Locals and tourists alike are excited about Banff’s newest restaurant, and guests like myself return time and time again for the fire roasted goodness, ambience, and great service.

Seared melt-in-your-mouth Albacore tuna in a buttery lemon sauce with greens offsets the richness of the Porchetta and preserved lemon gremolata. Both mains are complemented by honey roasted carrots with hazelnut dukkah, savory garlic green beans and crispy mushroom chips, and brassicas with tangy beet hummus and chickpeas.

Since our eyes were a bit bigger than our stomachs (portions are generous and made for sharing), we pack up the rest of our delicious dinner to save room for dessert. I order the highly recommended Pavlova, and Jacqueline gets the Baked Alberta (Farm + Fire’s version of baked Alaska). Beets add color to the whipped coconut cream and strawberry-beet chutney, but it’s hard to beat the flaming Baked Alberta’s presentation. As the flames die down, we order more drinks: a Solstice (my fav – not too sweet) and Wild Rose Spritz. It’s the perfect ending to an amazing meal.

Farm + Fire’s Hours

Brunch 8 am – 2 pm

Happy Hour 4 pm to 5 pm

Dinner 5-9 pm Sunday to Thursday
5-10 pm Friday to Saturday.

Reservations are highly recommended. Reserve a table at Farm + Fire here.

Check out Farm + Fire’s menu here. They have lots of gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and vegan items so there’s something delicious for everyone!

For more girls’ weekend fun, check out our recommended itinerary below!

Girls’ Weekend in Banff Itinerary

Here’s how to spend a fun girls’ weekend in Banff. Plan to stay at least one night so you aren’t rushed.

Friday Night

Check in to Elk + Avenue Hotel.

Put some tunes on, pour some wine, and get ready for dinner.

Dine at Farm + Fire Restaurant (conveniently located at Elk + Avenue so you don’t need to drive anywhere).

Walk to Park Distillery Restaurant & Bar (locally made spirits) or The Radiant (according to Banff and Lake Louise Tourism, “Their cocktails and cheese boards are amazing!”) for after-dinner drinks.

Saturday

Enjoy brunch at Farm + Fire (open 8 am – 2 pm), or coffee and a muffin at Good Earth Coffeehouse. Both are located at Elk + Avenue Hotel.

Get lunch to go from Wild Flour Artisan Bakery Cafe. There’s also an IGA grocery store beside Elk + Avenue if you need hiking snacks.

Hike around Johnson Lake for great views of hoodoos and Mount Rundle, and look for the old hermit cabin on the south side of the lake. 2.8 km loop, minimal elevation gain. For a longer hike, try C Level Cirque (3.9 km one way, 450 metres elevation gain).

Next, go on a driving tour of Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, and stop at Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka (Stewart Canyon is a short and scenic trail along the lakeshore). Before driving back to Banff, stretch your legs at Cascade Falls (short, steep hike to the base of the falls) or Cascade Ponds. Observe the speed limit and keep an eye out for elk, deer, and bighorn sheep.

For a bird’s eye view of Banff, take the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain and walk the boardwalk to Sanson’s Peak. The boardwalk is 500 metres one way with 368 stairs; wear flats!

Sky Bistro at the top of the Banff Gondola

Last but not least, have dinner with the best view in Banff at award-winning Sky Bistro. The food is as wonderful as the vistas from the floor-to-ceiling windows! Reservations recommended.

Sunday

Have brunch at nearby Touloulou’s. Their cajun-themed menu is perfect on a cool, fall day.

Pack up and check out of Elk + Avenue Hotel.

banff-open-top-touring-12 — Image Credit: Pursuit

banff-open-top-touring-norquay — Image Credit: Pursuit

Option 1) Head to The Mount Royal Hotel for Banff’s newest tour: Open Top Touring (last day this fall is October 10, 2023). Sightsee in style in a 30’s style coach and learn about Banff’s history. 90-minute tour. Read about our experience here: Discover Banff’s history and scenery in style with Open Top Touring. Reservations recommended.

Option 2) Get a massage at Cedar & Sage Co., Banff’s top rated spa!

Drive home relaxed and refreshed.

Where to Stay: Elk + Avenue Hotel

Elk + Avenue Hotel has spacious and stylish rooms and suites in the heart of Banff. I highly recommend the loft suite – with two queen beds on the upper level and a pullout couch – for 4-6 people. We loved our room, the onsite dining, and location. At the edge of downtown, it was easy to walk wherever we wanted to go, and having the grocery store next door was handy for last-minute hiking snacks. We’ve stayed there several times and would definitely stay there again!

For More Information

To book your girls’ trip now, or get more information, please visit Pursuit Banff Jasper Collection | Elk + Avenue Hotel.

To earn Expedia points, book at Expedia | Elk + Avenue Hotel (affiliate link).

What to Bring

osprey tempest 30 l backpack — **Osprey Tempest 30L Backpack**

helly-hansen-verglas-3l-shell — **Osprey Tempest 30L Backpack**

Disclosure: This section includes affiliate links through which I earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Waterproof mid-height hiking boots, a down hoody or fleece, toque, gloves, and windproof/waterproof shell are recommended year round. Trekking poles are useful for long hikes, steep descents, or when you’re carrying a fully-loaded backpack (or are babywearing). You should also carry The Ten Essentials including: water, extra food, extra clothes, a first aid kit, headlamp, GPS / compass / Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator* and map of the area, mineral sunscreen, bug spray (this DEET-free insect repellent contains 20% icaridin and will repel ticks), and bear spray. Carry bear spray in a Bear Spray Holster or Scat Griz Bear Spray Running Belt.

*A Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator is highly recommended for contacting Search & Rescue and emergency contacts in the event of an emergency, or communicating with friends and family when you are out of cell phone range. You can send text messages and your GPS coordinates via satellite, but a monthly service plan is required.

In snowy/icy conditions, traction devices such as Kahtoola Microspikes (Available from Amazon, MEC, and Valhalla Pure Outfitters), or Hillsound Trail Crampons (Available at Valhalla Pure Outfitters and Sport Chek) are recommended. See our Fall/Winter Hiking Gear Guide for recommended clothing and gear.

Disclosures

This story was written in partnership with Pursuit Banff Jasper Collection, but all words and opinions are my own. As an Expedia Affiliate, I earn a commission on bookings made through my affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our small family business!

How to Have a Fun Girls’ Trip in Banff this Fall