Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation?: Lavender Room: Slowtwitch Forums

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Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation?

Endo

Jun 21, 12 16:26

Post #1 of 9 (422 views)

Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation?	Quote \| Reply

So I have a week vacation planned for mid-August for me and two daughters (age 15&21).

Was planning on flying and spending week in Glacier NP camping, etc... but, its same cost to fly into Calgary and could also spend a week in the national parks around Banff.

Which would you do and why? I know zero about Banff area and girls have never been to Canada. I'm somewhat familiar w/ what Glacier has to offer, but never been though.

Crowds
Cost
cool ass scenery
etc...

Thx.

.

(This post was edited by Endo on Jun 21, 12 16:31)

RockyMtnChic

Jun 21, 12 16:44

Post #2 of 9 (412 views)

Re: Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation? [Endo] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Hit Glacier NP before the glaciers are all gone...
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Loyd: "I was thinking the same thing. That John Denver's full of shit, man."

sto

Jun 21, 12 18:30

Post #3 of 9 (394 views)

Re: Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation? [Endo] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

the future hubby did a mancation up all throught AB and BC last summer. he was absolutely blown away by the Canadian Rockies, but was shocked at how touristy and crowded it was in Banff. there are lots of other cool little towns in those parts you can hang near.

yup, Glacier will not be Glacier much longer...

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"so i've got that going for me, which is nice"
- Carl Spackler

realAlbertan

Jun 21, 12 21:22

Post #4 of 9 (358 views)

Re: Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation? [Endo] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Banff townsite is crowded, but thats just faux tourists going shopping. The area is full of absolute awesomeness in and around Banff, Canmore and Calgary. PM me if you have some ideas about what you are looking for...
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TBinMT

Jun 21, 12 21:28

Post #5 of 9 (356 views)

Re: Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation? [Endo] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I live 40 miles from Glacier and I would do Banff. Amazing. I visited 10 years ago and loved it. Just west of Banff/Jasper there is a Canadian "Glacier Park" and that is also worth a couple days. Both GNP/Waterton and Banff are great so you really can't lose. Banff & Jasper will be more mobbed with people, but then again there's no real "town" in the middle of Glacier Park. As soon as you go more than 2 miles by foot, the crowds thin considerably in any park. Have a blast!

travelmama

Jun 21, 12 21:41

Post #6 of 9 (348 views)

Re: Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation? [Endo] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Endo wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn-enjcgV1o

abies

Jun 22, 12 8:33

Post #7 of 9 (288 views)

Re: Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation? [Endo] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Another Calgarian here, so I'm likely biased about where to go plus it has been awhile since I've been to Glacier. But Banff and surrounding area has a lot to offer, hiking, climbing, lakes, mountains, glaciers, Plus with daughter your age there is shopping in the banff town site. IF you are planning on camping and staying in one site banff is really nice for this or you have about 4 parks that are close by the drive from Banff to jasper is amazing but is about 5 hours as I recall and Jasper is less busy than banff. Or you can go west a bit into BC in Kootaney and Yoho for some great hiking and they are really quite I find.

If you through out what you want to do we can likely give you some good direction on Banff, I'm sure others can help with Glacier.

Ben

j p o

Jun 22, 12 8:42

Post #8 of 9 (286 views)

Re: Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation? [Endo] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I think it depends on what you are looking for. I think Banff has more touristy and resort kind of things available.

I love Glacier though, I think it is some of the coolest terrain possible. When you get into the back country a little ways you are really into the back country. Like every other NP the crowds stay on the roads (or for Glacier it really is just The road). Once you get around the first corner on the trail it is empty.

I don't see how you could go wrong on either park. This is kind of like picking between the blonde and the brunette.

Endo

Jun 22, 12 9:03

Post #9 of 9 (280 views)

Re: Glacier NP or Banff NP(s): Which would you do for vacation? [j p o] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Thanks all for the replies, in general here is what we would plan on doing:

Planning on drive-up tent camping the whole time. We do this all the time. drive -up tent camping.
No overnight backpacking, but just shorter day hiking or trips to see stuff.
Casual goofing off out in nature, might bring my flyrod
Not big plans or desire to do touristy things in town. lesser crowds are better. Don't want to do anthing "resort" related.
However, we'd likely spend a day goofing off in town and nice to come back a town every 2 or 3 days for a hot meal. This is secondary concern though
Like to visit/see particular destination natural wonders/scenery....but no huge hikes to do it. They just arn't in to that level of backpacking
Have no issues driving around skipping from park to park in the area
Just used Banff as a general area, but could be couple hundred miles radius from there
I know nothing about the Nat Forrests or whatever in the canadian rockies, so would have to do some research on things to seek out and visit in the area.

Hope this helps on what our approach is and what looking for.

Typically we go on vacations like this in wyoming/dakotas/colorado and just hop around to Nat Parks or Nat Forrests sight seeing, natural wonders, indian ruins, etc....tent camping and relaxing/goofing off. Hopefuly you get the gist.

To give you an idea...Past few years have done week trips to:

Yellowstone/Tetons
Badlands/mt rushmore/wind cave/devils tower areas
colorado area (silverton/durango)/mesa verde/Taos/ various goofing off /fishing in the Nat Forrests
etc.....