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| After visiting more than 50 countries and living across three continents, Banff may just be the one place I wish I lived in. Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images |
When I was 25, a close friend asked if I’d consider moving to Banff, Canada. Without hesitation, I said yes even though I didn’t know much about the town at the time.
In just a few months, I left my job at a daily newspaper in Australia, sold most of my belongings, and boarded a plane bound for Calgary, Alberta. Thanks to a placement agency my friend had found, our visa paperwork was handled, and a job in Banff was lined up for us. It all felt surprisingly easy.
But nothing could have prepared me for the moment I first saw the Canadian Rockies. As the bus rolled out of Calgary toward Banff, the towering snow-capped peaks came into view and I knew I was entering one of the most magical chapters of my life.
Experiencing Seasons for the First Time Was Pure Joy
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| Banff looks incredible throughout winter, spring, summer, and fall. Ben Girardi/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF |
Coming from the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, I’d never truly experienced four distinct seasons. Back home, we’re blessed with sunshine nearly year-round more than 300 days of it, in fact. But in Banff, nature put on a show I didn’t know I’d been missing.
We arrived in autumn. The trees exploded in hues of amber, gold, and crimson, their colors glowing against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. As temperatures dipped and the days shortened, the town transformed into a serene winter wonderland. I still remember the first snowfall my friend and I rushed outside, giggling and spinning like children, letting the snowflakes fall on our faces.
For someone raised near the beach in a subtropical climate, the novelty of snow never wore off. Watching Banff shift from season to season from the crisp beauty of fall to the pristine calm of winter was awe-inspiring.
Holidays in North America Were on a Whole New Level
Growing up in Australia, Halloween had never been a big deal. As kids, we’d go trick-or-treating on our street, hoping for a few treats but rarely were houses decorated, and participation was hit or miss.
In Banff, Halloween was something else entirely. The town came alive with bonfires in the park, jack-o'-lanterns glowing on front porches, and costumed revelers packing into themed parties. It was everything I had imagined Halloween to be and more.
Thanksgiving introduced me to new traditions, like homemade pumpkin pie a dish I’d never tried before. My Canadian friends welcomed me warmly, sharing their food and stories. The festive spirit continued through December, and with the town blanketed in snow, Christmas took on a kind of fairytale charm. I’d never seen decorations so elaborate, nor felt so immersed in holiday cheer.
Canadian Food Still Lives Rent-Free in My Mind
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| BeaverTails are a popular fried snack in Canada. Melissa Renwick/Toronto Star via Getty Images |
Canada’s culinary culture surprised and delighted me. In all my travels, I’ve found that North America delivers big when it comes to bold flavors and generous portions and Canadian food quickly won my heart.
One of my favorite comfort foods was poutine: golden fries topped with gooey cheese curds and rich brown gravy. It became a post-ski-day ritual, the perfect way to refuel after carving through Banff’s powdery slopes.
There were other treats that left a lasting impression, too like Nanaimo bars layered with coconut, wafers, and chocolate, and fluffy pancakes dripping with pure Canadian maple syrup. I still dream about freshly made BeaverTails (crispy fried dough dusted with sugar) and the famous Caesar cocktail, Canada’s spicy tomato-and-clam-juice concoction served with vodka and flair.
A Place That Felt Like Home And Still Does
After our time in Banff, my partner and I moved to London, then back to different parts of Australia. But no place has ever come close to the sense of belonging and wonder we felt in Banff.
The towering mountains, the peaceful lakes and forests, the wildlife that would casually wander through town it all felt like something out of a postcard. But what made Banff truly unforgettable were the people. We met some of the kindest, most genuine souls people who welcomed us with open arms and treated us like family.
If I could go back and do it all over again, I would have stayed longer than a year and a half. Even now, more than ten years later, I’d leave our current home in Bright, Australia, without hesitation to return to Banff.
Of the 50+ countries I’ve visited and the three continents I’ve called home, Banff remains unmatched. No other place has ever captured my heart quite like that small Canadian mountain town and it always will.
