Well known for dry, hot, sunny summers and cool, cloudy winters. The second mildest winter of any non-coastal city in Canada, after neighbouring Penticton.
We did a couple of days at beaches and the waterfront.
Spent even more time socializing over great food and drink.
I do like these immersive audio video attractions.
Arte Museum is a South Korean immersive art franchise.
… self-guided exhibits spread across thousands of square feet. They use projection mapping, multi-image control, and sensor-based interaction technology …
I wandered the many rooms for about an hour.
When I visited their Las Vegas location in 2026, the current exhibit was partnering with the band BTS.
One room feature a 15-minute montage of some of the boy band hits. Visuals great. I wasn’t much impressed by the music, however.
As of September 2025, Arte Museum had received over 10 million visitors globally.
A free public trial on the Strip has been ongoing since September 2025 running only 2 fixed loops.
They are symmetrical and bi-directional, meaning it’s not obvious which direction they will travel next.
I felt very safe over my 25 minute ride. But there have been accidents. Collisions with bicycles and scooters. A Zoox hit a car door while the driver was opening it, injuring the driver.
Certainly they are far, far safer than human operated vehicles.
The largest bike-touring party in the world is surprisingly … in Iowa.
RAGBRAI, short for Register‘s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is a non-competitive bicycle tour across the U.S. state of Iowa from its western to eastern border. …
2023 had over 60,000 riders.
A new friend — Marco — has done it 3 times. And he’s planning on 2027 driving out to Iowa in his own support vehicle. Marco would like to put together a “team” as that’s easer, cheaper, and more fun than signing up with a company.
Cost CAD $584.85 for unlimited skiing at SunshineMonday through Thursday.
Enjoy unlimited access Monday through Thursday to Canada’s Best Spring Skiing starting March 8th all the way until Slush Cup Monday May 18th with a Banff Sunshine Midweek Spring Pass.
I got my money’s worth in 2026 with 12 days on the hill.
Luckily for me Banff Sunshine Village had a historic season with 812 cm (26 feet) of total season snow.
I usually follow the same sequence of lifts if the snow is good:
warm-up run on Angel
multiple runs on Standish
multiple runs on Wawa (my favourite lift)
Banff Avenue to base of Goat’s Eye base. Quick lunch.
one or more runs on the Ski Out to the parking lot
Goat’s Eye for the rest of the afternoon
Favourite run is Eagle Creek – end of day when snow is often softer
Ski Out to the parking lot
Eagle Creek
These days my goal is NOT to fall and get hurt, so I stay mostly on Blues and easy Black Diamond.
I try not to have my skis leave the ground. 😀
Happily, I had only one fall in 12 days. No injuries.
When picking up my pass at Sunshine Village, I noticed there is a Senior (age 65+) year long pass that’s even cheaper if you buy it mid-season, and good every day of the week. (It’s no longer advertised this late in the season — but I might buy that one instead next year.)
If I was 45 years younger, with an Aussie accent, I’d fit right in with the real ski bums & snow bunnies spending their winter in Banff.
Sponsored by HellyHansen and Gorilla Duct Tape 😀 (A.I. photo)
There are 3 hostels in Banff, by far the least expensive accommodation.
I usually stay at Samesun Banff, about CAD $200 for 3 nights in a 6 bed dorm. With breakfast.
Free ski bus picks up and drops off on the same block. So convenient.
Spring is a fantastic time to be in Banff. It’s so beautiful — without the crowds.
No photo editing.
One highlight for me is watching Elk wander town.
When I’m not skiing, I’m HIKING. Spring hiking can be magical.
Rick McCharles 