Last updated on September 24, 2026
Banff National Park is one of Canada’s most famous landscapes, stretching across the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. It’s a place of towering mountains, turquoise lakes, waterfalls, hot springs and vast forests, all centred around the lively mountain town of Banff. It’s one of the headline stops on almost every Canadian Rockies road trip.
Banff town itself is polished and almost Disney-esque, but still charming and overwhelmingly beautiful, with epic mountains in every direction. It’s an amazing introduction to the Rockies, and while hiking is a huge part of its appeal, you don’t need to hike to be awed by it.
In fact, there are loads of brilliant things to do in Banff with kids that don’t require a day of hiking. From gentle waterfall walks and easy viewpoints to boat rides, gondola trips and lakes where you can paddle, there’s an abundance of Banff family activities.
This guide is based on our summer visit to Banff with our six- and eight-year-old boys. Banff is also a major winter destination, but the activities and practical advice below are focused on the warmer months. If you’re planning a Banff family vacation in summer, these are the experiences and tips I’d prioritise.
We visited as part of our three-week Canada road trip from Calgary to Vancouver, spending three nights in Banff with our boys, aged six and eight.
Is Banff good for kids?
Yes, Banff is a brilliant family destination, including for children who aren’t enthusiastic hikers. You can reach some of the park’s most impressive views by gondola, boat, car or short walk, and several of its paid attractions have activity trails and explorer programmes designed especially for children.
Banff feels like a fully fledged tourist destination rather than a particularly local Canadian town, but that brings plenty of family-friendly amenities, guided activities and easy transport. For more local, lived-in vibes, head to nearby Canmore.
It’s also an easy place to balance sightseeing with downtime. Cascade Ponds and Johnson Lake have space to picnic and paddle, Banff has a central playground, and there are plenty of child-friendly places to eat. High Rollers, where you can combine pizza with bowling, was an especially easy win for us.
The downside is that Banff is busy and expensive. Parking at popular places can fill quickly and accommodation books far in advance. You need to plan some elements carefully, but the overall experience doesn’t have to feel relentlessly organised. Some of our favourite stops, including Surprise Corner and Lake Minnewanka, required almost no planning at all.
Bridges and Balloons’ Banff favourites
- Banff Gondola for the views, family activities and walk to Sanson’s Peak
- Lake Minnewanka Junior Explorer Cruise, which turns the boat trip into an interactive treasure hunt
- Cascade Ponds and Johnson Lake for easy family downtime surrounded by mountains
- Johnston Canyon for an easy family walk with waterfalls at the end
- Surprise Corner, Bow Falls and Vermilion Lakes for maximum views with minimal effort
- Tunnel Mountain Village for an RV base with epic views and an easy shuttle into town
- Wild Flour Bakery for our favourite baked goods in Banff
The best free things to do in Banff with kids
Banff can be expensive, but many of its most beautiful family experiences are completely free. Some of the best free things to do in Banff with kids include:
- Paddling, picnicking and playing at Cascade Ponds or Johnson Lake
- Visiting Surprise Corner, Bow Falls and Vermilion Lakes
- Exploring Banff Avenue, Bear Street and Central Park
- Walking to the Lower Falls at Johnston Canyon
- Visiting the Cascade of Time Garden
You’ll still need a valid National Park pass in normal circumstances, and transport or parking may add a cost, but none of the activities above requires an attraction ticket.
Important things to know before visiting Banff with kids
Banff town and Banff National Park are not the same thing
Banff is both the name of the national park and the main town within it. Many of the experiences in this guide are spread across the park rather than being within walking distance of Banff Avenue. Lake Minnewanka, Johnston Canyon, Johnson Lake and Two Jack Lake all require transport from town.
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are also within Banff National Park, but they deserve their own guide. You can visit them as a day trip from Banff, although we chose to stay separately at Lake Louise as part of our road trip.
You need a National Park pass
You need a valid Parks Canada pass while stopping anywhere inside Banff National Park. Compare the cost of daily admission with a Discovery Pass if you’re visiting several Canadian national parks. Children aged 17 and under currently receive free admission to Parks Canada places, although charges still apply for camping and paid attractions. When we were there, Parks Canada had waived the need for a pass, but do check this in advance as normally you do need one. Check the latest Banff National Park admission information.
Book the headline attractions in advance
We booked the Banff Gondola and Lake Minnewanka cruise before our visit. Popular time slots can sell out in summer, and booking early makes it much easier to build the rest of your day around them.
We used a Pursuit Pass for the Gondola and cruise, as well as attractions later in our journey in Golden and at the Columbia Icefield. It worked out cheaper than buying everything separately, but compare the current combinations carefully to make sure you’ll genuinely use what’s included.
Check smoke, weather and park conditions
We arrived during a period of extremely heavy wildfire smoke. The mountains were almost completely obscured on our first day and we changed our plans until the air improved. The next day was perfectly clear. Conditions can change surprisingly quickly, so check the Air Quality Health Index, official wildfire information and the Banff National Park bulletins during summer.
Mountain weather is also changeable, even in July and August. Pack layers and waterproofs rather than trusting a sunny morning forecast.
Prepare for mountain conditions and wildlife
Even Banff’s easier family walks take place in a wild mountain environment. Carry water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent and extra layers, and check current trail conditions and closures before setting out. Follow Parks Canada guidance about keeping a safe distance from wildlife, storing food correctly and carrying bear spray when recommended. If you take bear spray, make sure you know how to use it before starting your walk. There are places in Banff town where you can hire bear spray rather than buy it. We got some as I was pretty worried about encountering bears! Read the current Parks Canada wildlife safety guidance.
Getting to Banff with kids
Most families arriving by air fly into Calgary International Airport. Banff is around 130km (87 miles) from Calgary Airport and the drive usually takes about 1.5 hours, depending on traffic and conditions. Airport shuttles are available, but hiring a car or RV gives you more flexibility if Banff is part of a wider Canadian Rockies road trip. Once you arrive, Roam Transit can often be easier than driving to Banff’s busiest sights.
The best things to do in Banff with kids
1. Ride the Banff Gondola
The Banff Gondola was one of our family highlights. The eight-minute gondola ride takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain, where there are views across six mountain ranges, the Bow Valley and Banff town.
Once you reach the summit, you can follow the boardwalk to the Cosmic Ray Station at Sanson’s Peak. It’s around a 20-minute walk each way and easy enough for children, although there are lots of steps. The boardwalk makes it feel more achievable than a conventional mountain hike, and the views are gorgeous throughout. It’s a there-and-back route, so you can turn back whenever you like.
There’s also much more at the summit than a viewpoint. The discovery centre has interactive exhibits about Banff’s wildlife, weather, geology and history, plus a family activity programme. Pick up the Junior Explorer booklet before boarding if it is available, as our boys enjoyed collecting the stamps and completing the activities. They received a badge when they finished.
We also played cornhole and toasted marshmallows around the outdoor fire pits (free for kids!). Definitely the best cornhole views we’ve ever had. Some summit activities are seasonal, so check what is running when you visit.
I’d allow at least 1.5 hours at the summit. We only had an hour and didn’t complete the whole boardwalk because the kids were already a bit done with sightseeing. There’s a surprising amount to do up there, so if 1.5 hours feels excessive, you could always use any spare time for a coffee or drink. You book a specific return time, although it seemed fairly flexible on our visit.
Early morning and late afternoon are generally calmer than the middle of the day, and the Gondola sometimes runs a family offer with free admission for kids during its first opening hours.
Check current Banff Gondola tickets and family offers.
2. Take the Lake Minnewanka Junior Explorer Cruise
Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in Banff National Park, and a cruise is an easy way to experience the scenery without persuading the children to go on another hike.
The one-hour Junior Explorer Cruise is specifically designed for families, particularly children aged around six to 12. Rather than expecting kids to sit quietly through a standard sightseeing commentary, it turns the journey into an interactive treasure hunt around the lake. Our guide was brilliant at keeping the kids engaged, and the driver even gave the kids a chance to steer the boat. We also managed to learn a lot about the wildlife, history and submerged village beneath Lake Minnewanka.
I think the format is probably best suited to slightly younger primary-school children. Our six-year-old was engaged, while our eight-year-old was less interested, but he isn’t the biggest fan of interactive tours in general. He still enjoyed the lake scenery and the free ice pop at the end!
Like with all the Pursuit Collection activities, at the end, children can get a Rockies Rangers badge. Check the current family offer too, as the cruise has previously included one free child ticket with each paying adult.
See the current Lake Minnewanka cruise options.
3. Paddle, picnic and play at Cascade Ponds or Johnson Lake
Cascade Ponds and Johnson Lake are two of the easiest places to slow down and enjoy some relaxed lake time in Banff. Both have picnic areas, beautiful mountain views and space for children to play, making them a good counterbalance to the park’s bigger attractions.
Cascade Ponds has grassy areas, picnic tables and a cute little bridge, while Johnson Lake has a small beach and a gentle loop trail around the water. Unlike many of Banff’s famous turquoise lakes, neither is glacier-fed, so the water is slightly more inviting for paddling and swimming. This is still Canada, though, and we’d describe it as bracing rather than warm!
We only stopped briefly at Johnson Lake, but it was a beautiful and worthwhile detour en route to Lake Minnewanka (they’re only about 10 minutes apart). Either spot would work well for a low-key afternoon when the kids need a break from sightseeing and hiking.
Rules for paddling and personal watercraft can change to protect the park from aquatic invasive species, so check the latest regulations before bringing paddleboards, kayaks or inflatable equipment. Check current Banff water-activity rules
4. Walk Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon is one of Banff’s most popular family walks, and for good reason. The path follows the canyon on a mixture of forest trail and wooden walkways fixed to the rock, with waterfalls along the route.
The Lower Falls are around 1.2km from the trailhead, and you can do a there-and-back walk in about 30 minutes, making this a really easy, but rewarding walk with kids.
You can also continue to the Upper Falls if everyone has the energy, but you don’t need to complete the longer route to make the outing worthwhile. The Upper Falls hike is around 5.4km in total for the round-trip and takes around 2.5 hours.
Note that the viewpoint beside the Lower Falls was extremely busy when we visited, with a queue to reach the classic photo spot. None of us felt strongly enough about the photo to wait, so we were perfectly happy taking one above people’s heads instead. It’s worth knowing that even if you arrive early enough to find parking, the narrow viewpoint itself can still feel crowded.
Also be aware that parking is limited and it gets very busy. Go early, ideally before 10 am, or check the current public transport options – the Roam Transit bus route 9 goes there. And be sure to stick to the designated trail and boardwalks, as off-trail use is prohibited in the canyon.
Check current Johnston Canyon access and conditions.
5. Tick off Banff’s easy-win viewpoints
Some of Banff’s most iconic views require very little walking, making them perfect when little legs are tired or you want to fit a few more sights into your day. All of these sights are easy to combine together. It’s around a 15-min drive from Surprise Corner to Vermillion Lakes and Bow Falls is in the middle. Drive another 10 minutes from Surprise Corner to get to Hoodoos Viewpoint.
Surprise Corner has one of the best effort-to-reward ratios in Banff. The roadside viewpoint looks across the Bow River towards the Fairmont Banff Springs, framed by forest and mountains. The main view is beside the road, although parking is limited and you may need to wait for a space. We weren’t lucky with this, and Steve and I had to take turns seeing the view while the other perched with the van.
Bow Falls is another easy stop close to Banff town. You can park near the viewpoint and see the wide, powerful falls with very little walking. Alternatively, follow the Bow River Trail from town for a longer outing.
Vermilion Lakes is a series of wetlands just outside town, with gorgeous views and reflections of Mount Rundle. You can drive along Vermilion Lakes Road and stop at the pullouts. Reflections depend on the light and weather, but even without the reflection, it’s still pretty spectacular.
Hoodoos Viewpoint is another high-reward stop that requires very little walking. From the parking area on Tunnel Mountain Road, a short trail leads to views over the unusual rock formations, Bow River and surrounding mountains.
6. Explore Banff town
Banff Avenue is unapologetically touristy, filled with restaurants, outdoor shops, souvenirs and sweet treats. It isn’t where you’ll find peaceful mountain solitude, but it’s lively and fun to explore with children.
Stop at Mary’s Popcorn Shop, share a BeaverTail (you’ll need to as they’re so sweet!) and browse the gift shops. The old fashioned Banff Sweet Shoppe was a huge hit with our kids, and I loved the novelty of all the sweets from around the world – they had an impressive array of Kit Kat flavours like in Japan, and the kids were dazzled by the PEZ section!
Central Park has a playground and space for children to let off steam beside the Bow River. And we also liked Bear Street, which is home to our favourite bakery, Wild Flour, and some other cute boutiques and cafes.
7. Go bowling at High Rollers
High Rollers combines six bowling lanes with pizza and a large craft-beer selection. It was exactly the kind of easy, fun activity we needed after a day outdoors, and it works well when the weather or smoke makes another mountain activity unappealing. There’s also a little arcade area, which the kids loved.
Reserve a lane in advance during busy periods. It’s right on Banff Avenue, so you can easily combine it with exploring town. See current bowling information and reservations.
Ideas for hiking in Banff with kids
Easy walks in Banff with kids
You don’t need to tackle a major hike to enjoy Banff on foot. Some of the best easy walks in Banff with kids include:
- Johnston Canyon to the Lower Falls: around 2.4km (1.5 miles) return, with waterfalls and dramatic canyon walkways
- The Sulphur Mountain boardwalk: take the Gondola up and follow the boardwalk towards Sanson’s Peak, turning back whenever you need to
- Johnson Lake loop: a gentle trail around one of Banff’s more relaxed swimming and picnic spots
- Bow River Trail to Bow Falls: an easy riverside alternative to driving directly to the viewpoint
- Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail: a mostly flat walk beside Lake Louise.
Trail conditions and official distances can change, so check the latest information before setting out.
More challenging Banff walks with kids
Families with keener hikers have plenty of more challenging options too. Tunnel Mountain is often suggested as a good first family summit, with a 4.8km (3-mile) return trail, around 260m (853ft) of elevation gain and panoramic views over Banff and the Bow Valley. At Johnston Canyon, you can continue beyond the Lower Falls to the Upper Falls for a longer 5km (3.1-mile) return walk.
Around Lake Louise, the Lake Agnes Tea House trail is another popular family challenge. It’s longer and steeper than the walks we attempted with our boys, so I’ve covered it in more detail in our separate Lake Louise guide. Whichever route you choose, judge it by your own children’s experience and enthusiasm rather than the family-friendly label alone.
More family activities in Banff
We didn’t manage everything during our three-night stay. These were the other family-friendly places on our research list.
Banff Upper Hot Springs
The Banff Upper Hot Springs are just a few minutes from the Gondola, making the two easy to combine. The outdoor mineral pool has mountain views and is the highest operational hot spring in Canada. Entry is currently first-come, first-served, with tickets sold in person rather than online. Check live opening information because capacity and operating arrangements can change. We skipped it because we had access to the hot pools at our hotel so were happy with those instead, plus didn’t really want to risk not getting in and testing the kids’ patience!
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
The Cave and Basin tells the story of the thermal springs that led to the creation of Canada’s first national park. You can see the underground cave and thermal water, explore interactive exhibits and follow short trails outside. This would be a good choice for a mixed-weather day or for children who enjoy history and hands-on exhibits. It’s easy to combine with the hot springs.
Banff Park Museum
The Banff Park Museum is a small natural-history museum in the centre of town, filled with historic wildlife specimens. It won’t suit everyone because of the extensive taxidermy, but children interested in animals may enjoy it.
Cascade of Time Garden
This landscaped garden is close to downtown Banff and free to visit. It has ponds, bridges, flower beds and views back towards Banff Avenue. It’s an easy addition to a walk around town rather than something you need to plan a whole day around.
Go horse riding in Banff
Banff Trail Riders offers guided rides from the Banff townsite, including shorter routes along the Bow River and longer trips into the surrounding countryside. No previous riding experience is needed for its beginner-friendly trail rides, but riders must currently be at least eight years old and children aged 17 and under need to ride with a parent or legal guardian. There are also pony or wagon rides for younger kids. We’d have definitely done this if we had more time.
Easy trips from Banff with kids
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Lake Louise is around 40–45 minutes from Banff and is an easy day trip if you don’t plan to stay there separately. Moraine Lake is nearby and the two can be combined using the shuttle system. Both are every bit as spectacular as the photos suggest, and the lakeshore walk at Lake Louise and the Rockpile viewpoint at Moraine Lake are easy with children.
You can’t drive a private vehicle to Moraine Lake, and parking at Lake Louise is extremely limited, so transport needs to be planned well in advance. We stayed for a separate night in the Lake Louise area and have covered all the booking and shuttle logistics in our dedicated Lake Louise and Moraine Lake family guide. [LINK TO ADD]
Drive part of the Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway begins near Lake Louise and runs north towards Jasper. It’s rightly considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world, with glaciers, turquoise lakes, waterfalls and mountain viewpoints along the route. I literally cried it was so beautiful!
From Banff, allow a full day rather than treating it as a quick drive. Family-friendly highlights include Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and the Columbia Icefield, where you can take the Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and visit the glass-floored Skywalk. We’ve put the full route, timings and best stops into our separate Icefields Parkway with kids guide. We drove this from our Lake Louise campground, which helped reduce the driving time.
Visit Canmore
Canmore is around 20–25 minutes from Banff and makes an easy half-day trip or alternative place to stay. It feels more lived-in than Banff, with independent shops, good restaurants, cafés and breweries alongside all the mountain scenery.
Recommended family activities include the gentle Policeman’s Creek boardwalk, the Thursday Canmore Mountain Market in summer, or simply exploring downtown. If you find Banff a little too touristy, Canmore is a nice contrast and a glimpse of everyday life in the Bow Valley. We stopped here en route to Banff from Calgary.
[Banff with kids map]
Our suggested three-day Banff family itinerary
This is how I would organise the highlights into three manageable days. Exact timings will depend on your attraction bookings, weather and how much downtime your children need.
Day one: Banff town, Gondola and easy viewpoints
- Explore Banff Avenue
- Ride the Banff Gondola and walk to Sanson’s Peak
- Have dinner at Farm & Fire or combine pizza with bowling at High Rollers
The Upper Hot Springs can be added after the Gondola if you still have energy and the queue is reasonable.
Day two: Lake Minnewanka and lake time
- Take the Lake Minnewanka Junior Explorer Cruise
- Spend the afternoon at Cascade Ponds or Johnson Lake
- Visit Bow Falls, Vermillion Lake and Surprise Corner
- Finish with a BeaverTail or another wander around town
Day three: Johnston Canyon and Banff town/Lake Louise
- Arrive early at Johnston Canyon and walk to the Lower Falls
- Head to Lake Louise for the afternoon when crowds are thinner than in the morning
- Return to Banff for dinner
- If you’re visiting lake Lousie separately, you could visit Cave and Basin or Banff Park Museum in the afternoon instead.
Where to eat in Banff with kids
Banff has far more restaurants than you might expect from a small mountain town. Prices are generally high, but we found several places that worked well with children.
Farm & Fire
Farm & Fire was our favourite proper family meal in Banff. The menu centres on locally sourced ingredients cooked over fire, and the salads were particularly amazing. It feels stylish enough to be a treat for adults but is still relaxed enough for children. It serves brunch as well as dinner and is on Banff Avenue. I’d definitely reserve a table in peak season.
Wild Flour Bakery
Wild Flour was our favourite bakery in Banff, with excellent baked goods and a lovely laid-back vibe. The bread and scones were especially good, and it worked well when we needed something quick rather than another full restaurant experience. The queues do get big though, so arrive early if you can.
High Rollers
High Rollers is as much an activity as a restaurant. The menu focuses on pizza and casual food, which makes it an easy choice with children, especially if you reserve a bowling lane too. We loved this!
BeaverTails
Trying a BeaverTail is practically a Canadian tourism rite of passage. These flat, fried pastries come with toppings ranging from cinnamon sugar to chocolate and sweets. It was far too sweet for me, but I still enjoyed the novelty!
Sudden Sally
Sudden Sally is the restaurant at Hotel Canoe & Suites, directly across the road from The Dorothy Motel. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with elevated comfort food alongside pastries, coffee and grab-and-go options from its café. We ate there on our first night in Banff and it was a lovely treat after a long day travelling. The cocktails are excellent, and they have a good kids menu too. The restaurant has a modern Scandi-meets-Rockies-cabin feel, with lots of wood, mountain views and a stylish but comforting atmosphere.
Where to stay in Banff with kids
Banff accommodation is expensive and peak summer dates sell out early. Book as soon as your plans are firm, especially if you need a family room or campsite. We had to find a room at the last-minute for our first night in Banff because the smoke was too bad to camp, and pretty much the whole town was booked up. By a stroke of luck, we were super lucky to find a cancellation at the hotel we had at the top of our wish list anyway, so it worked out perfectly. But definitely book in advance!
Read our complete guide to where to stay in Banff with kids([LINK TO ADD]) for more hotel and campsite suggestions, plus advice on whether to stay in Banff or Canmore, but here are the highlights. Also see our guide with tips on how to book campsites with Parks Canada (it requires more planning than you might think!).
The Dorothy Motel
We loved The Dorothy’s cool, modern-retro design and stylish but practical rooms. Guests can also use the beautiful rooftop hot pools at Hotel Canoe & Suites across the road, which makes it feel much more special than a standard motel. The hot pools were too warm for the boys to linger for long, but they loved having a dip before watching deer wander past from the balcony. As Otis put it: “Nature really is in charge here.”
Check prices at The Dorothy Motel.
Tunnel Mountain Village Campground
We spent two nights at Tunnel Mountain Village II in our truck camper. It’s more concrete and road-heavy than some Parks Canada campgrounds, and some pitches feel more like parking bays. But our pitch had grass beside it, enough space for the boys to play football and truly epic mountain views. The free Roam Transit bus into Banff made it incredibly convenient and meant we didn’t need to worry about parking in Banff. We were at Tunnel Mountain II, which is more picturesque than the Tunnel Mountain trailer court.
See current Banff campground information.
Two Jack Lakeside Campground
Two Jack Lakeside is one of Banff’s most sought-after campgrounds thanks to its extraordinary position beside the lake. We had managed to bag a lakeside pitch, but had to cancel because of the wildfire smoke. I was gutted, but the Dorothy Motel was a lovely alternative.
Getting around Banff with kids
Downtown Banff is compact and easy to explore on foot. Outside town, the national park is much more spread out.
We found parking in Banff town fairly straightforward, even with an RV in July, thanks to its car parks and on-street spaces. Parking was more stressful at individual attractions such as Johnston Canyon, where arriving early makes a significant difference. We had to circle several times at 10am to find a spot.
Roam Transit and seasonal shuttles connect Banff with many popular attractions, campgrounds and trailheads. Even though we had our own vehicle, we used the public transport a lot as it was easier than worrying about parking – plus free Roam tickets for specific journeys were often included with our campground or attraction bookings. For example, we received transport between Tunnel Mountain and town, and between Lake Minnewanka and Banff. Check routes and timetables shortly before the trip because services change seasonally.
Note that private vehicles are not permitted on Moraine Lake Road, and Lake Louise parking is extremely limited. See our separate Lake Louise and Moraine Lake guide for full shuttle-booking information.
How many days do you need in Banff with kids?
Three full days is a good amount of time for the principal Banff experiences without making every day feel overloaded. You could see several highlights in two days, but you would have much less flexibility for weather, smoke or the slower pace that often comes with children.
Add another day if you’re using Banff as your base for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. We stayed separately at Lake Louise, which allowed us to keep our three Banff nights focused on the town, lakes and surrounding attractions.
Is Banff too crowded?
Banff is undeniably busy in summer. Banff Avenue feels like a resort town rather than a peaceful wilderness escape, and the most famous attractions attract large numbers of visitors.
That said, the crowds didn’t make us regret visiting. Start early where parking is limited, make use of the Roam Transit system, book the major attractions ahead and mix the headline sights with slower stops such as Johnson Lake and Cascade Ponds. If you want a less tourist-focused town base, look at Canmore.
Is Banff worth visiting if your kids don’t hike?
Absolutely. This was one of my concerns before the trip, but it turned out to be unfounded. The Gondola, lake cruise, roadside viewpoints, picnic areas, bowling and explorer activities all make Banff accessible without long hikes.
Johnston Canyon and the Sanson’s Peak boardwalk also gave us the satisfaction of doing family walks without committing to an exhausting mountain trail. Banff can be as active as you want it to be, but hiking doesn’t need to dominate the trip.