Banff is a wonderful place to visit with children.  Families can stay busy any time of the year.

Winter activities

Skiing/snowshoeing: Sunshine Village, Mt. Norquay or Spray River Loop (for cross-country skiing) in Banff, or ski nearby at Lake Louise.

Dogsledding: Available from a number of local outfitters.

Summer activities

Hiking: There are a few easy trails around Banff and Lake Louise under an hour long with minimal elevation change. Take the trail to Sundance Canyon and enjoy a picnic. Definitely visit Johnston's Canyon (on Hwy 1A, aka Bow Valley Trail), but go early in the morning to avoid the crowds.  The lower portion of the Johnston's Canyon walk is handicapped/stroller accessible.Take the short hike to the lower and upper falls, or extend the hike for a few hours and head up to the inkpots.   A circuit of Johnson Lake (on the Lake Minnewanka road) takes 30-45 minutes, and there is a picnic area at one point along the north shore. Fenland Trail near the Banff townsite also has a nice picnic area and takes less than half an hour to walk; this trail is often closed during spring to protect people from over-protective female elk.   Tunnel Mountain is slightly more challenging, requiring up to one hour with an elevation gain of about 800 ft (240 m), and requires closer supervision, since there are significant natural risks close to the top (cliffs); however, your 9- or 10-year old will be able to say that they have climbed all the way to the top of a mountain upon completing this hike!

Sulphur Mountain Gondola:Take the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain.  Take a light jacket as it is very windy at the top.  Be sure to bring your camera! (Although there is a trail to the top of Sulphur Mountain, and the promise of a free gondola ride down, it is quite a strenuous hike. And though it might seem like a good idea, don't take the gondola to the top and then walk down; the trail is quite steep, especially for people new to the mountains, and hiking boots or trail shoes with thick soles and some ankle support should be worn, especially by kids.)

Upper Hot Springs: Soak in the hot springs and enjoy the views.  The springs have locker and towel rentals, as well as a full service spa.

Banff Arts Festival: From June to August, enjoy the live outdoor theatre, music, and art.

Bow Valley Parkway: Take a drive on the parkway at dusk or dawn to see the wildlife.  Be very careful to not approach the animals.  This is their home and they are wild.  At best, you will scare them away from the areas where they were resting or feeding; at worst, you could be charged or bitten.

Bow Falls: Enjoy a picnic here. Located behind the Banff Springs Hotel, and connected to it by a very long stairway through the forest--great for tiring out over-energetic kids.

Rainy Days 

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel: Visit this historic hotel and (on sunny days) tour the beautiful grounds. Older children (9 and up) may be interested in a tour, as the hotel has many unusual quirks and features; phone to inquire about tour availability. It is said that there is an indoor mini-golf course hidden somewhere in the hotel which duplicates the real Banff Springs Golf Course--or is it only a folktale?

Cave and Basin National Historic Site: Interpretive displays talk about the history of Banff, Canada's first national park, and ultimately take you to the Cave and Basin where it all began.

Banff Park Museum: A natural history museum with all sorts of stuffed birds and mammals of the park.  The kids will enjoy the discovery room.

Buffalo Nations Museum: Focuses on the history of Natives in Banff and southern Alberta (1 Birch Ave).

Shopping: There are some shops in Banff that kids love. Cows (134 Banff Ave.) features ice cream and comical cow-themed t-shirts. Welch's Chocolate Shop  (126 Banff Ave.) has a truly mind-boggling array of candy and chocolates, some made by Welch's but most imported from all over the world. Sign of the Goat Indian Trading Post (100 Birch Ave.) features a wide variety of Native-made crafts, in all price ranges. Rocks and Gems Canada (137 Banff Ave.) is filled with tumbled stones to choose from, as well as pretty agate slabs, intriguing fossils, geodes, gems, and a huge range of inexpensive jewellery (as well as pricier items for Mom to admire). There are two stores in town ( Mountain Chocolates (119 Banff Ave) and the Fudgery (Sundance Mall--215 Banff Ave)) which make fudge and candy in a front window of their shops for your viewing pleasure--and perhaps a taste test would be fun, to find out who makes the best fudge or  the best bear paws. If your child must have their sports card or trading card game fix, there is a small store tucked in the lower level of the Sundance Mall which can help. But there is no place in Banff  to buy Nintendo or Playstation games

Travelling with Babies

 Baby equipment rentals (car seats, strollers / push chairs, high chairs, cribs, playpens, and more) are available from Calgary's One Tiny Suitcase, which delivers to Banff accommodations as well as to Calgary.

An idea for older children 

A poster on the Banff Forum had a great idea for older children.  If your child is 6 or older, consider giving them an inexpensive digital camera as part of their kit for the trip.  This will help them capture their memories, might start a lifelong hobby, and will ensure that they are more engaged in the sightseeing parts of the trip than they might otherwise be.