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Discover Places to Go and Things to Do
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Banff, AB
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When many people hear of Canada, the first place that springs to mind is Banff. The soaring peaks, dense coniferous forests and abundant wildlife are a Canadian institution. The Banff townsite sits within Banff National Park, Canada's oldest and most spectacular Heritage Site. Home to many of the nation's most famous landmarks, densely populated with wildlife and full of opportunities for relaxation and adventure, Banff is Canada's ambassador to the world and one of the country's most-visited tourist attractions.
Banff is 100 kilometres west of Calgary, and sits in the first range of the Eastern Slope Rocky Mountains. The landscape is rugged, consisting of towering black mountains, deep blue and white glaciers and alpine tundra. The valley bottoms are densely carpeted with spruce and pine trees, and fast-flowing rivers churn through their centres.
Almost all the people and animals in Banff live in these river valleys, most of which are less than a mile wide. Banff is home to black and grizzly bears, whitetail and mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Some people visit Banff just to see the animals, who are easy to observe and fairly docile. However, it is best to bother the animals as little as possible.
Banff is 100 kilometres west of Calgary, and sits in the first range of the Eastern Slope Rocky Mountains. The landscape is rugged, consisting of towering black mountains, deep blue and white glaciers and alpine tundra. The valley bottoms are densely carpeted with spruce and pine trees, and fast-flowing rivers churn through their centres.
Almost all the people and animals in Banff live in these river valleys, most of which are less than a mile wide. Banff is home to black and grizzly bears, whitetail and mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Some people visit Banff just to see the animals, who are easy to observe and fairly docile. However, it is best to bother the animals as little as possible.
The city of Banff is relatively tiny, squeezed into a narrow mountain valley and bisected by the Bow River. Nearly all the restaurants and businesses in town are crammed into three blocks of Banff Avenue, which makes for a densely packed market atmosphere. South of the Bow River is the legendary and magnificent Banff Springs Hotel , and the  Upper Hot Springs . Several kilometres to the west of town is the Cave and Basin National Historic Site , and to the west is the Golf Course Road, which is flanked by verdant fairways and greens.
A kilometre or so northwest of town are the Vermilion Lakes, a small chain of marshy ponds with walking trails running alongside that make a picturesque stroll, summer or winter. The deserted airstrip lies across the Trans-Canada Highway, along with the Cascade Ponds and Lake Minnewanka. This area is popular with hikers in the summer, but should be avoided in the winter, as there may be icefalls from the steep slopes above.
To the north is Mount Norquay Ski Area , which is only a 10-minute drive from town up a spectacular mountain road. Sunshine Valley Ski Resort is a 20-minute drive to the west, and Lake Louise Ski Area is another half hour north. Along the Icefields Parkway towards the north end of the park is the Icefields Center and Athabasca Glacier—both are worth a visit. If you are driving to Banff, you might want to take a day or two and visit the Radium Hot Springs, which lie a two-hour drive west of Banff along one of the most spectacular stretches of highway in the world.
The town of Canmore is a 15-minute drive to the east of Banff, just outside the park boundaries. This small mountain community received international attention in 1988 when it hosted the Winter Olympics Nordic skiing events at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Since then, it has become a popular spot for athletes to train, because of both the high altitude and excellent facilities. There are many hotels and shops in Canmore that rival those in Banff, and a great many tour companies that operate in the park are based here. Canmore is a great place to find the down-home local culture that is sometimes lacking in Banff. With lower food and housing prices, Canmore is home for many Banff business owners, as well as a center of late-night activity during the summer. Canmore's dramatic mountain backdrop and easy access to the back-country has made it an ideal location for shooting Hollywood mountain movies. The actors can often be seen wandering around the downtown area and blending in with the locals.
Getting to Banff is quite easy. The park is an easy two-hour drive from the airport in Calgary, and many Banff hotels offer airport shuttle service. If you are planning to drive to Banff, which requires driving through the park, make sure to purchase a parks pass from the kiosk on the Trans Canada Highway in Canmore. If you are caught without a pass in the park, you could receive a ticket and fine. Parks personnel often check vehicles in ski area parking lots, so it is better to spend CAD10 on the pass than face a hefty fine.
Camping areas are scattered throughout the park, from commercial campgrounds with showers and cooking areas to wilderness campsites that are little more than a clearing in the trees. If you intend to camp, be sure to check with Parks Canada to ensure that the area you are heading into is safe and that there are vacant sites available. Fees for camping in Parks Canada campgrounds range from CAD10-CAD24 per night.
Jim Coates
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By Editor's Choice
6 days
This trip to the Canadian Rockies is a combination of 2 User's trips: Reggie & lmaybee. lmaybee is a person after this editor's heart as this is the 2nd trip of hers I've made into an Editor's Choice. Tips from both Users are included here. This trip combines 2 popular National Parks in the Canadian Rockies into one great family experience.
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By DHC
10 days
Discover Banff® - The world famous resort town of Banff is located in the centre of Banff National Park, flanked on all sides by Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Countless visitors travel to the town each year, lured by the cozy resorts, unparalleled recreational opportunities and some of Canada's finest shopping and dining. Sunshine Village Ski Resort and Norquay are home to deep powder, deluxe mountain lodgings and some of the world's largest ski and snowboard events. The national park itself offers opportunities for mountain camping, hiking excursions and wildlife viewing. Banff has also built a reputation as a popular weekend retreat destination during the warm summer months. With renowned restaurants, decadent spas, eclectic boutiques and bustling nightclubs offering something for any taste, Banff has insured that guests will continue to visit the town year round. Banff is 144 km (90 mi) from Calgary and just a short trip to the mountain areas of Lake Louise, Kananaskis Country and Canmore.
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23 people reviewed Banff (1-20 out of 23)
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Top
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at 9:50PM September 4, 2008
NICE!! EXTERMLY BEAUTIFUL :)
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at 6:19AM May 29, 2008
Great city. The hotel is awesome.
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at 7:44PM May 28, 2008
it is so majestic..great skiing/boarding
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at 5:50PM May 21, 2009
Lovely Town, big mountains made life time friends and the maca's is 24 hr cant complain
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at 7:30PM September 1, 2008
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at 5:50AM July 3, 2008
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at 4:15PM May 29, 2008
Nature at its best
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at 11:37AM May 29, 2008
very small town. I should have been there insummer. then I wouldn't be frozen.
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at 11:16AM May 29, 2008
Have been with my family and on a teen tour. I remember the water of Lake Louise and the hiking.
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at 9:18AM May 29, 2008
I personally by a long stretch prefer the skiing and the mountains in the Alps in Europe. Found the service everywhere to be dismal, noone could be bothered to do any work, the so called tourist office just had an 'I dont know' answer to any question and didnt seem to be bothered to help further. Can't say I would go again and probably won't, would pick Switzerland or the French Alps over here anyday personally.
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at 1:55AM May 29, 2008
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at 12:37AM May 29, 2008
Banff is awesome any time of the year! Best place to get away. Ever. lol
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at 12:04AM May 29, 2008
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at 9:39PM May 28, 2008
too many ppl in such a small place
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at 8:51PM May 28, 2008
family trip
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at 7:41PM May 28, 2008
Great place to be introduced to the Rockies!
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at 5:00PM May 28, 2008
Safe to say that with confidence this is the most beautiful place on Earth.
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at 1:00AM May 28, 2008
Great, not 4 novice
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at 11:32PM May 27, 2008
Some very memorable events!
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at 11:18PM May 27, 2008
one of the most amazing places I've ever been
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