As tempting as it was to stay encamped within the mountains forever, there was something that would always draw our hearts away from them and back home: our children.

Our drive out of the park was not so sad as it could have been because of the three little souls that we were desperate to see.

We stopped on the side of the road to photograph those stony edifices one last time, and then turned our attention homeward, thanking the Lord for such a rejuvenating and rewarding time to simply be man and wife.

tenth anniversary trip, part four: lake louise

When we visited Banff National Park ten years ago, it felt like we were the only tourists there. The whole town was sleepy and quiet. This time, there were tourists everywhere! Someone in the park's marketing department deserves a bonus.

Thankfully, there is absolutely enough space for everyone between those gargantuan mountains.

Our trip to Lake Louise happened on a rather cool, overcast day: perfect for a brisk walk to the edge of the lake and back.

Being on foot between those giants made us feel incredibly small.

tenth anniversary trip, part three: sulphur mountain and other explorations

One cannot visit Banff without taking the iconic trip up the Sulphur Mountain gondola.

Our camera stayed inside its cozy bag for both of the rides. This was something we needed to experience through the natural lenses of our eyes, not through man-molded glass.

We were slightly disappointed to learn that the boardwalk to Sanson Mountain was closed for construction, but that hardly mattered when we got to the top of the observation deck and had a look around. Breathtaking!

After taking it all in (if it is possible for one to actually comprehend such staggering beauty), our trusty rental Camry took us down a beaten path or two to discover other respectable vistas, all of which left us in awe.

tenth anniversary trip, part two: Johnston Canyon

After a couple of nights in Calgary, we made our way to another fabulous Airbnb in Banff. It seems that, with the addition of glorious mountains to our surroundings, we did not give one thought to properly photographing this adorable tiny house. It really is a shame. It was amazing!

But let's not dwell on that, because mountains!

On our first full day in Banff National Park, we went out exploring some of the local sights. We made our way to the Johnston Canyon hiking trail, coming across a party of sheep along the way. They seemed to particularly enjoy the road salt buffet that was kindly laid out for them.

After that, we embarked on a 6km hike through Johnston Canyon, taking in both the lower and upper falls. Everything about that place was enchanting. We seriously considered going there a second time.