By Toni Owen
The courtyard at Bumper's Inn
A half block from the bustle of Banff Avenue and a 15 minute walk from downtown Banff,
Canada, Bumpers Inn has 39 peaceful rooms, free parking and shares the same spectacular setting of other hotels at a budget price. The rooms are basic, but there's coffee in the lobby and tea in your room, the bus stops outside the door and there's always a chance to see wildlife in the adjacent forest.
Wows and Woes
Main floor rooms have access to a flower-decked courtyard. Your no-frills room has tea; make some and enjoy the long Canadian summer twilight (sunset at 11 p.m.).
Insider Tips
Bumpers is secluded among the evergreens.
Ask for a room on the north side where you can hear birds singing in the trees. Second-best is the west side.
Banff is a national park, home to bears, elk and other wildlife. Admire them only from a distance and never offer them food.
Bumpers, the Beef House, is next door.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
We checked into our plain Jane room and went exploring in the trees to the north. We saw a flash of white and a grey jay settled on a spruce branch ahead. Beneath it, a male elk stood frozen in the forest, like a living post card.
Bottom Line
For those who don't spend a lot of time in their hotel rooms, Bumpers' economical prices mean you can enjoy more excursions while enjoying in the Canadian Rockies.
About the Author:
Toni Owen started writing in 1975. Owen is a journalist published in "Newsweek" and the "San Francisco Chronicle." She was an editor in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Banff, Alberta. Owen has a master's degree in English education and won the national C. Everett Koop Award.
Photo Credits:
TS Owen photos
