The Canadian Spring Getaway Americans Need to Know About

The following article was written by travel writer and influencer Raimee Iacofano (@raimeetravel) following her experience exploring Alberta in the spring. From Calgary to Banff, follow her week-long itinerary and steal a few ideas for your own trip, too.

There’s a place just a little north of the U.S. border that remains one of the most underrated getaway destinations for American travellers. Banff National Park sits in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, with the city of Calgary not far off, and most people don’t realize that spring can actually be one of the BEST times to visit Alberta.

A 4-hour flight that brings you a world away

I get it. When most people think of an international trip, their minds go straight to Europe or Asia. The “bucket list” stuff. And while I love a good Paris itinerary, there's something to be said for a destination that delivers that "I'm somewhere completely different" feeling without the 10-hour flight, the jet lag or the weeks of planning that come with it.

Calgary and Banff gave me all of that in just under a week.

It also helps that one of Banff’s ski resorts is staying open extra late this season due to the record-breaking snow they got this year. I went spring snowboarding at two of the gorgeous mountain resorts during the last week of April. And Banff Sunshine Village will actually be open until May 18 and again for summer skiing from June 20 through July 5, 2026! (In a typical year, it’s still open until late May, one of the longest ski seasons around.)

And here's what most Americans don't realize: Calgary is less than a four-hour flight from most major U.S. cities. With direct flights from LA, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, and New York, you're there before you'd even finish a good movie. No visa required for American travellers. Just your passport.

And the people? By far some of the nicest people I’ve ever encountered on my travels. Canada's reputation is real!

If you're looking for a trip that feels transformative without a huge effort to get there, this is it!

Here's exactly how I'd spend a spring week in Alberta, Canada.

Day 1: Land in Calgary, get settled

Fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC), grab your rental car (you'll benefit from having one for this trip but you can get to and around Banff without a car), and head downtown. Base yourself at the Fairmont Palliser, a historic landmark hotel right in the centre of the city. The rooms were super comfortable, the staff extremely friendly, and the restaurant on-site was delicious.

If you arrive in the evening, have dinner at the elegant Hawthorn Dining Room & Bar downstairs. It's inside the hotel and the menu was perfect for an easy night in. Order a drink, decompress and settle into the fact that you're in another country!

Day 2: Drive to Banff and eat your way through town

Start the morning with breakfast at Namo Café Bistro, a short walk away from the Fairmont, before hitting the road. The drive to Banff takes about 90 minutes and it’s full of gorgeous blue skies and mountain views along the way, especially as you get closer and closer to the Canadian Rockies!

When you arrive, check into the Moxy Banff. I loved this hotel. It's got a mid-century design and retro vibes, a fire, hot pools and a '66 VW food truck in the lobby! Also, every guest gets a complimentary cocktail at check-in.

Explore downtown Banff on foot and get your gear

Once you settle in, you can walk just under 20 minutes into the heart of downtown Banff. I loved wandering around and popping into the various shops while gazing up at the 360-degree mountain views! Seriously, you can look in any direction and see gorgeous mountain peaks. Something about this town just gives you the immediate feeling of comfort.

Then you’ll swing by to grab lunch at Block Kitchen + Bar on Banff Avenue. It’s a cute spot with a global menu and great drinks. I ordered the garlic miso ramen special of the day and it was delicious.

After that you’ll want to get fitted for ski or snowboard rentals at the SkiBig3 Adventure Hub on Banff Ave if you're planning to spring ski or snowboard at nearby Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort or Mount Norquay. (Your gear gets delivered to the hotel overnight, which is a logistical dream.)

Then dinner at Pizzeria Sophia, one of the newer spots in Banff and already one of the best. It’s a modern Italian eatery where you get to cut your own Neapolitan-style pizza with a pair of scissors!

Day 3: Lake Louise Ski Resort

Wake up early. Have breakfast at Sudden Sally across the street from the Moxy inside the Hotel Canoe & Suites. Comfort food, great coffee, it’s exactly what you need before a full day on the mountain!

Then hop on a complimentary shuttle or drive the idyllic 45 minutes to Lake Louise Ski Resort, where the ski season typically runs through April and into early May.

Bucket-list snowboarding in stunning Lake Louise

This resort has 4,400 skiable acres and terrain for every level. It's also one of the largest ski areas in North America.

I’m an intermediate snowboarder and I had such a great time on these runs! You’ve got plenty of beginner-level options as well, and the scenery alone is worth the trip. You’ll catch views of Lake Louise while you weave your way down the mountain through its various tree-lined runs.

Lake Louise was truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever snowboarded, and I’ve been all over the world to do so!

Have lunch at Whitehorn Bistro which is right on the mountain, get a few more runs in and then spend the afternoon exploring, making your way back to Banff when you're ready.

Do dinner that night at Farm & Fire inside the Elk + Avenue Hotel. Wood-fired everything, local Canadian ingredients, warm and unpretentious atmosphere. It's a great meal.

Day 4: Banff Sunshine Village, downtown Banff and a unique distillery

One more ski day, this time at Banff Sunshine Village. It sits right on the Continental Divide, about 20 minutes from town, and has the longest non-glacial ski season in Canada (they just announced they’ll be open for summer skiing June 20 through July 5, 2026!). The new Super Angel Express is a heated bubble chairlift, which sounds like a minor thing until you've ridden a cold chairlift!

Have lunch at Chimney Corner or Mad Trapper’s pub right within Sunshine Village for some great pub-style food. I tried poutine for the very first time at Trapper’s and now I fully understand the hype!

Shopping and eating on a Banff afternoon

You can ski all the way down the mountain to the parking lot for your final run and then hit up the town centre in Banff by mid-afternoon. I recommend walking up and down Bear Street and popping into some of the shops like Rocky Mountain Soap Company, Paper Den, Rocky Mountain Flannel Company, and Jolene's Tea House. This is the part of Banff that feels lived-in rather than touristy and I loved it for that!

At 3:30 p.m., do the PARK Distillery tour and tasting. PARK was the first distillery ever built inside a Canadian National Park. They use glacier water. Their gin and whisky are both delicious! The tour ends with a guided tasting flight and you will absolutely be leaving with a bottle. Their espresso and maple flavours were my favourites.

Then you need to have dinner at The Dusty Boot, Banff's newest bar and saloon. The design is gorgeous and there’s a ton of fun activities inside like dancing, photo booths, karaoke rooms, billiards and various bars to hang out around! It opened in early 2026 and already feels like it's been there forever. Great food, fun crowd, a perfect way to spend your last night in Banff!

Day 5: Back to Calgary for culture and relaxation

Before heading back to Calgary, have breakfast at Crave Mountain Grill inside the Banff Park Lodge before checkout. They’ve got an unlimited breakfast buffet with tons of yummy options to choose from!

Now you’ll make the 90-minute drive and still have a full day to explore Calgary! This city surprised me in many ways with its culinary and arts and culture scenes.

How to spend half a day in Calgary

Grab lunch at The Beltliner, a Calgary staple with modern diner vibes and delicious food. Then spend a couple of hours at the National Music Centre at Studio Bell, which is one of those places you stumble into not knowing what to expect and leave genuinely moved.

The third floor of this music museum is entirely dedicated to the Power of Music, exploring how music affects mental and physical health through immersive exhibitions, Indigenous artist features and some fascinating instruments from their collection. I even had a chance to go into one of the recording booths and test my vocals!

Dinner is at Calcutta Cricket Club on 17th Avenue. Indian-inspired menu, beautiful space, one of the best meals of the entire trip. Go hungry because the portions are big and it’s a perfect place to order a ton of things and share with your friends!

End the night at Drift Away Wellness for their bath therapy and contrast therapy circuit, or at The Westin Calgary for a floating sound bath experience in their rooftop pool. It involves floating on an air mattress while someone plays crystal singing bowls and gongs around you. A perfect way to close out the trip before your flight tomorrow.

Day 6: Indigenous-led experiences and wellness

This day really sneaks up on you because if you’re anything like me, you won’t be ready to leave this magical part of the world!

I recommend starting the morning at Loretta's Wellness Circle, a small, intimate wellness studio in the southwest part of the city. I did a one-on-one workshop with Loretta, the founder, making my own bath salts from scratch. It sounds simple and it is genuinely one of those experiences that slows you down in the best way. Loretta is warm, knowledgeable, and the whole thing felt personal in a way that most wellness experiences don't.

She also taught me so much about the Indigenous people around Canada and their histories, and I found it to be a very moving experience in so many ways. If you're someone who thinks of wellness as a spa day, this will reframe that a little.

From there, lunch at Orchard Restaurant, which has been on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants list and fully earns it. It’s a modern Mediterranean cuisine in a GORGEOUS setting filled with greenery. It's the perfect place to grab your final lunch in the city.

Then before you close out the day, stop into Moonstone Creation, an Indigenous-owned shop carrying handmade and culturally significant products. It's worth more than a quick look too! I spent nearly an hour browsing through all of their beautiful pieces and ended up buying three things!

Tips to help you plan your trip to Alberta as an American

Calgary and Banff are the kind of trip you come back from wondering why it took you so long to go. I can’t wait to return to this paradise in another season and experience even more of its wonder!

• Flights are direct and under four hours from most major U.S. cities.
• No visa required for American travellers, just a valid U.S. passport.
• U.S. customs pre-clearance happens in Calgary, so your return home is seamless.
• Rent a car at the airport, you'll use it every day.
• The Canadian dollar exchange rate frequently works in Americans' favour.
• Spring skiing in Banff runs through late April at many resorts and even into June and July this year at Banff Sunshine!

This post was created by Raimee Iacofono in partnership with Travel Alberta. Discover more from Raimee: raimeetravels.com