It occurred to me that we should probably warn you about strenuous exercise if you’re not from a high altitude place. I’ve heard stories of people coming to Banff, doing a hard day’s hiking, and finishing it off with barfing from the high altitude. Also, the sun is more intense higher up in the mountains, so be sure to pack a good sunscreen.
Gotcha! Will do. And seeing how my wife and I are both athsmatic - we’ll take extra precaution.
In that case I would suggest taking a pre-hike puff - in town I can jog pretty much till the cows come home - get me a few hundred meters up a hiking trail and I’m huffing and puffing like crazy - a shot of ventolin before I start off helps a great deal in preventing this. (I’m asthmatic as well, in case you hadn’t figured that.)
Hah! Do not be deluded! 'Tis but a fake Banff! 
Here is the true Banff. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/banff/banff/
Yes, OK, your Banff is more spectacular, I admit. 
I hope it’s a great trip.
That’s because there just isn’t. The trees at home (yes, I’m from the Rockies) turn yellow, for the most part. Some pale orange, one or two purple bushes, but not the vibrant, brilliant colours we get out here on the East Coast. I love fall out here for the colours.
My wife and I were in the Banff/Jasper area two years ago in early September. It was wonderful, but as others are saying, there is no colorful foliage. However, the mountains, glaciers, people, hiking, etc. are great. Still worth a trip. One thing we did that hasn’t been mentioned yet is canoeing.
There is a canoe rental place on the river in Banff. It was a peaceful time, great mountain backdrops, and we had a herd of elk swim across in front of us just as we were getting back to the rental place. (OK, I admit it is unlikely this will happen for you as well, but it was an experience that still astounds me.)
We enjoyed walking on the the Columbia Ice fields, but if you don’t have a car it could be more difficult to get to. Still, how often do most people get the chance to safely walk on a glacier? Going to the Banff area after Labor Day you will get fewer crowds.
I’ve pimped for them before on this board, but only because I get there once every 5 years or so, and they’re so, so very good…
In Canmore, do NOT miss going to a Swiss deli/butcher on the north side of the Trans-Canada highway called Valbella. There you WILL purchase a goodly amount of their air-dried bison. It will melt on your tongue. Cut in slices thin enough to read a newspaper through. They also do wonderful beef jerky, all kinds of Euro sausage, meats, etc. Nice cheeses and things. You might want to plan a picnic lunch somewhere, and have this as your vittles stop. Valbella
Don’t overlook the really neat Cave and Basin National Historic Site. This is the whole reason that Banff National Park even exists; it was this hot spring that was bought by the Canadian government from some sweaty, dirty prospectors to preserve for the whole nation in 1885. It is also the home of one of the rarest, most endangered species in the entire world: the Banff Springs Snail.
Say “hey” to my good buddy Steve, who runs the Cave & Basin, and the nearby Banff Park Museum. He loooves the snails, really he does.
Banff is pretty commercial compared to the way it used to be–this is because Parks Canada (which used to directly run the townsite) gave up a large degree of control back in the 1980s under a Conservative government, and undertook some de-regulation. Jasper townsite, on the other hand, is still much the way it was when I was a kid, back in the 60s–still a little sleepy; make sure you drive the 3 or 4 hours north on the spectacular Parkway and visit, to compare the two.
For certain, you should plan on stopping and taking a ride on the Brewster Columbia Icefield Tour. Even though I’m pissed off that we (Parks Canada) abandonded all of our interpretive programming in this area to commercial enterprise back in the 80s, I have to say that it’s still worth stopping and taking the tour.
If you want a neat rustic cabin experience, there’s a great little place just outside of Jasper National Park that I stayed in about 6 years back: Pine Bungalows Cabins. Like I said, rustic, but pretty neat. Right next to the Athabasca River. Nice and romantic–fireplaces, etc. Rowr!
[Parks Canada har on] Remember, you are in bear and elk country! Fall is when the grizzlies will be making their last feeding binges for the winter, and the elk will be in rut; neither will be in a mood to be trifled with–and you’re in their territory! Don’t feed them, approach them, or otherwise interfere (especially the elk–they wander Banff townsite, and people tend to think of them as tame and harmless–neither of which is the case! [/Parks Canada hat off]
The 3 bus-length rule
Have a really, really, great time. I know you will!
Hey thanks Rodd! We are really looking forward to the trip. Any idea if there is good fishing up there in September? Permit laws?
I second that. People in Banff get really complacent about the elk (not so much with the grizzlies ), but they are wild animals, and they can kill you.
(Valbella in Canmore, eh? I’ll have to stop there next time we pass through. I loves me some good bison meat.)
Ask, and ye shall receive:
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit14a_E.asp
I spoke to my good friend, who is basically the Superintendent’s PR person in Banff; she says that the fly-fishing is good, and will ask around for tips from the wardens; she’s also going to send me some suggestions from a local for neat places to eat.
Stay tuned!
Thousand thanks Rodd. Looks like the wife and I will be taking our gear along with us. You can email me wiht the info if you’d like
Not a problem; hey, it’s actually a part of my job to answer questions like that!
I’ll probably have the information from my friend sometime next week; I’ll pass it along as soon as I get it, at any rate.