Since frigid temperatures are negatively impacting my photography hobby lately, my next few posts are going to be about some of my favourite places.  

A couple of days ago I was looking at pictures from a trip to Banff in October 2012 so I’ll start there.  I could easily place Banff in my top three of my favourite places. The drive from Calgary to Banff still thrills me like it did when I was a little kid and we went there on family camping trips. I feel like I’m going somewhere, like it’s an important place. The mountains in Banff are my favourite mountains because they are the ones I first saw as a kid.  It is one of those iconic places, even the tacky tourist shops appeal to me.  And, on this last trip, I felt grown up enough to actually go into the Banff Springs Hotel, so along with the tacky tourist shops, Welch’s Chocolate Shop and the Canada House Gallery (I like looking at the sculptures), the Rundle Lounge with a spectacular view is one of my new favourite places in Banff.

And… like when I was a little kid, I still watch, with much longing, the mountains disappear in the rearview mirror on the return trip home.  So, here’s hoping 2014 includes a trip to one of my favourite places.