There are places you visit that are beautiful.
And then there are places that make you stop, look around and think, “How is this even real?”
Banff was that place for me.
On this trip, I stayed in Calgary and spent time exploring some of the places I had wanted to experience for years—Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon.
The pictures are incredible.
Being there is completely different.
Banff National Park is Canada's first national park and part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its combination of Rocky Mountain peaks, glacier-fed lakes, forests and waterfalls creates a landscape that almost doesn't look real.
Moraine Lake: Yes, the Water Really Is That Color
You see pictures of Moraine Lake and assume someone has enhanced them.
Then you get there.
That incredible turquoise water surrounded by the mountains is every bit as spectacular in person.
It is also one of those destinations that takes some planning. Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles year-round, and visitors generally access it through Parks Canada shuttles, public transit or licensed transportation providers.
And maybe that's part of what makes arriving there feel even more special.
You don't simply drive past it.
You intentionally go there.
Lake Louise: Another Kind of Spectacular
Then there was Lake Louise.
Different from Moraine Lake, but equally breathtaking.
Standing there looking across that water toward the mountains is one of those moments when you realize why people travel across the world to experience the Canadian Rockies.
It's peaceful and enormous at the same time.
And it reminded me of something I have been thinking about a lot lately:
Experiences change your perspective.
You can't always get that sitting behind a desk.
Johnston Canyon: Sometimes You Have to Walk Into It
Johnston Canyon was another highlight.
The trail takes you through the canyon alongside rushing water and waterfalls—Parks Canada specifically highlights walking alongside its waterfalls as one of Banff's iconic experiences.
And this part of the trip felt different.
You aren't standing at an overlook admiring something from a distance.
You're walking through it.
That might be one of my favorite things about travel.
You participate.
You explore.
You get uncomfortable sometimes.
You figure things out.
And you come home with a slightly different perspective than the one you left with.
So Why Does a Real Estate Advisor Keep Talking About Travel?
Because for me, the two are connected.
In yesterday's blog, “Why I Travel So Much,” I talked about something people don't always see behind my business.
I travel intentionally.
My Pittsburgh clients don't necessarily stay in Pittsburgh forever.
They move to Florida.
Arizona.
Canada.
Their children relocate.
Executives move into Pittsburgh.
Families inherit property in another state.
People buy second homes and investment properties.
So when I travel, I'm also constantly learning.
I'm meeting people.
I'm experiencing different markets.
I'm building relationships with professionals outside of Western Pennsylvania.
I'm paying attention to how other communities live, build, market and sell real estate.
That's part of the network I'm building behind every client who hires me.
Your Success Is Personal to Me
That ties directly into another theme I wrote about yesterday:
Your success is personal to me.
When someone hires me, I don't believe they're simply hiring someone to put a house in the MLS or open a door.
They're hiring the experience, relationships, knowledge and resources I've spent years building.
Sometimes that means investing in professional photography.
Sometimes it's video.
Sometimes it's contractors, preparation or renovation guidance.
Sometimes it's connecting someone with a trusted real estate professional 2,000 miles away.
And sometimes it means getting on an airplane and continuing to build those relationships myself.
I consider all of it an investment in becoming better at what I do.
Travel Makes My World Bigger
Banff reminded me why I want to keep seeing more of the world.
Not simply because these places are beautiful—although Banff is absolutely spectacular.
It's because travel makes my world bigger.
It introduces me to people I wouldn't otherwise meet.
It gives me experiences I wouldn't otherwise have.
It challenges routines.
It creates relationships.
And it reminds me that building a successful life isn't only about how much you accomplish.
It's also about actually experiencing the life you're working so hard to create.
For me, those two things aren't separate.
I'm building a business that allows me to see the world—and I'm using what I learn and the relationships I build around the world to create a better business for my clients.
That's a pretty incredible combination.
Want the Next Blog?
I'm continuing this series on real estate, relocation, travel, client service and what I'm learning while building a business without geographical boundaries.
Drop your email in the comments if you don't want to miss the next blog.
— Aubre Stacknick
Global Real Estate Advisor
Piatt Sotheby's International Realty
Knowledge Starts with Knowing®
