Whenever Canada is mentioned, one of the first places that springs to mind is Banff. The soaring peaks, dense coniferous forests and abundant wildlife in one stunning region make it a Canadian institution. The Banff town site 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 centers.
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 as they are easy to observe and fairly docile. Of course, as with most wildlife, 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 onto three blocks of
A kilometer or so northwest of town are the Vermilion Lakes, a small chain of marshy ponds with walking trails that allow for picturesque strolls, 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
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 hanging out 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-CAD25 per night.
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Keeping yourself occupied in Banff should never be a challenge. Whether you're looking for adrenaline extremes, an education in local culture or simply a mellow hike with some of the world's most beautiful vistas for company, you're not likely to come up short.
Skiing Most people who come to Banff are looking for the crisp, clear powder snow and soaring peaks that the region is famous for. There are three big ski areas in the park. Banff Mount Norquay, only a five minute drive from Banff, is excellent for beginners. Sunshine Village is huge, encompassing five mountains with 12 lifts. The terrain ranges from bunny hills to the more challenging, like Delirium Dive, a 50-degree slope infested with cliffs and so dangerous that it is open only a few days of the year. Lake Louise Ski Area has the best terrain of the three, and is host to the World Cup downhill races. Cross country ski trails can be found at Banff Mount Norquay, Lake Louise Ski Area and at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Shopping Should you ever find yourself in desperate need of a plush stuffed moose, carved buffalo horn, or expedition-grade ski gear, chances are you will find it somewhere along Banff Avenue. From the Bow River Bridge to the Cascade Plaza, both sides of the Avenue are lined with hole-in-the wall stores, restaurants and nightclubs. The shopping in Banff is unparalleled in this part of Canada, and many people come for no reason other than to shop. Where else can you find a complete Christmas shop squeezed between a high-end furrier and an Innuit art dealer? Souvenir junkies can decide between hundreds of items as diverse as diamond “Banff” brooches and 50-cent novelty pens.
Many major fashion designers have factory-direct retail outlets in Banff, which is considered a testing ground for the latest in high fashion. Gap, Tommy Hilfiger and the popular Canadian designer Roots all have outlets along Banff Avenue.
High-end outdoor gear can be found in any one of a dozen shops. From the skin-tight cross-country gear to the monstrously baggy snowboard pants of Rude Boyz, everything you need to hit the hills is here. Patrons of the arts will love the town's many art galleries, which specialize in Native American and Rocky Mountain-inspired works. Photos of 19th-century mountaineering expeditions and mountain wildlife are standard fare, along with arrangements of rare dried and pressed Alpine flowers.
Anyone with a sweet tooth will love Banff. Led by the notoriously delicious Fudgery, a cadre of candy stores are spaced evenly along Banff Avenue to renew the dwindling energy reserves of jaded shoppers.
Festivals Banff hosts dozens of festivals every year. The world-famous Banff Mountain Film Festival is one of the biggest and best, attracting films from all over the world, and is renowned for releasing new National Geographic movies.
Stage and Screen For those with an urge to revel in Hollywood's latest offerings, the Lux Cinema Centre is the only movie house in town. If you prefer the old-fashioned version, you can enjoy the live plays presented at the Banff Center.
Nightlife Banff nightlife is fast, unpredictable and a dominant part of the local culture. With one of the highest bar/people ratios in Canada, it is easy to find a place that suits your personal style. From the boisterous atmosphere of Wild Bill's Saloon to the quieter atmosphere of many of the hotel lounges, you can be sure to have just as good a time at night as you did during the day.
Adventures Banff is a mecca for adventure seekers, and there are literally hundreds of ways to satisfy your adrenaline cravings. Take a helicopter ride, race a snowmobile across a frozen lake, ride a gondola to the top of a mountain, or fly down a snowy slope on a pair of skies. The opportunities for thrill-seekers are endless.
History and Culture As Banff National Park is a World Heritage Site, there are plenty of ways to discover the past. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, the Banff Center, the Museum of the Rockies, and the Banff Museum of Natural History are open year round. For information on the dozens of historical sites scattered throughout the park, the Banff Information Center can point you in the right direction.
With spectacular and stunning beauty, Banff and the surrounding area is a perfect place to explore nature's beauty, both in winter and summer. A large number of touring companies have sprung up to cater to those who want more than great skiing and snowboarding in Banff. From classic to more extreme tours, whether it's for 2 hours or 2 weeks, there is a guided tour to suit every taste.
Lake Minnewanka
For hiking, White Mountain Adventures provides comfortable walks as well as more strenuous hikes. People who want to take it easy but also want a long hike should check out the Canadian Rockies Tour while hardcore hikers may enjoy the Rockwall Highline Hike offering a more intense trip. To get up close and personal with glaciers without expending any effort, try Columbia Icefield Snocoach Tours where a specially equipped vehicle drives you onto the glaciers themselves. Or for a different kind of water tour, take a Lake Minnewanka Boat Tour where heated boats show off the majesty of Lake Minnewanka.
Canadian Ski Museum West
Exploring downtown Banff might best be done by simply wandering around this beautiful town nestled in the mountains. With an area of less than one square mile, it is easy to hit every nook and cranny. For those who just want to hit the highlights, make sure to spend time on Banff Avenue. Amble down Banff Avenue stopping in at specialty stores abound. Skiing enthusiasts should check out Canadian Ski Museum West to get a sense of local ski history as well as the development of skiing through the ages. Continue down Banff Avenue and if you are feeling out of contact with the world, stop in at the Cyber Web Cafe to check the news online or send some emails. Take some time to explore the area around the intersection of Banff Avenue and Caribou Street. There are excellent eateries such as the always busy Evelyn's Coffee Bar, Aardvark Pizza and Sub , or Pump and Tap Tavern for some British fare and a happy hour starting at 1pm. But save room for dessert because the Fudgery serves up fudge, caramel apples, and a number of other sweet treats. Continue down Banff Avenue and stop in at Kabin Fever for traditional souvenirs of the t-shirt and postcard variety.
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Art buffs should take a right on Buffalo Street to Bear Street and check out the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies for a celebration of Rocky Mountain heritage. Cross the water and turn right on Cave Avenue. Stop in at the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum to learn about the Plains Indians. Farther down Cave Avenue is Cave and Basin National Historic Site with caves, springs, and wildlife, a great place to spend an afternoon wandering the trails, if it isn't too cold that is!
There are plenty of touring companies that offer tours of the various activities one can part take in any time of the season. Plus, Banff National Park is open all year round, so be sure to check out the offered tours of the national historic sites found there.
Banff National Park Tours
Banff National Park ( +1 403 762 1550 / http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/index_e.asp )
Winter Tours
Discover Banff Tours ( +1 403 760 7629 / http://www.discoverbanfftours.com/season.php?type=winter )
Summer Tours
Discover Banff Tours ( +1 403 760 7629/ http://www.discoverbanfftours.com/season.php?type=summer )
Bus Tours
Banff Transportation and Tours ( + 1 403 762 8400/ http://www.banfftransportation.com/index.htm )
Raft the Kicking Horse River
Banff Adventures Unlimited ( + 1 403 762 4554 / http://www.banffadventures.com/adv_wknds.html )
Lodgings are abundant in Banff. The winter season is quite busy however, so it is best to make reservations at least a month in advance. Accommodation choices run the gamut from the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel penthouse, which has been sheltering royalty and celebrities beneath its spired pillars for over a century, to a local hostel, where you might share your room with a rowdy crowd of drunken Australian surfers.
For the very best in Banff living quarters, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has been around longer than the park or even the town itself, and has played a crucial role in the development of both. The Springs is quite expensive and always in high demand; reservations should be made up to six months in advance. With several restaurants and lounges, ballrooms, a spa, and many other entertainment choices, it is possible to stay quite busy in Banff and never leave the hotel. Perched on the lower slopes of Sulphur Mountain, the hotel is also very close to the Upper Hot Springs and commands a magnificent view of Mount Rundle.
If you don't have CAD600 to spend on a bed for the night, one of the downtown hotels might suit you well. Lining Banff Avenue for almost a kilometer, the hotel strip represents most upper-end chains, as well as a host of independent local operators. Most of these hotels have rooms in the CAD150-CAD250 price range. There are also a couple of inexpensive motels tucked away in the woods at the very north end of town, where a room can be had for less than CAD90 per night.
If you want to get away from the bright lights of the city, the Norquay's Timberline Inn offers one of the best views in the park from its perch on the lower slopes of Banff Mount Norquay. You can ski to your doorstep, and with the attached restaurant and lounge, you need not descend into the valley at all. The beautiful Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is located about 50 kilometers north of Banff, on the banks of Lake Louise, a UNESCO Heritage Site, which sits on the edge of the dozen jagged mountains featured on Canadian dollar 20 bills. The Chateau is comparable in luxury and grandeur to the Fairmont Banff Springs, but receives less attention due to its isolated location.
If you want to be near town while still remaining close to nature, the Tunnel Mountain Chalets may be the answer. Located on the flank of Tunnel Mountain about three kilometres from downtown, these hotels have an excellent view of the Bow River Valley and peaks that loom over the neighboring town of Canmore. The Buffalo Mountain Lodge and the Banff Alpine Center share a clearing along the Tunnel Mountain Road, close to easy hiking trails and spectacular views. These hotels are much less expensive than their downtown brethren, and offer shuttle services to most downtown attractions and local ski hills.
For those with shallower pockets, Banff's sister town of Canmore, a 10-minute drive to the east, has a number of exceptional accommodation choices available at a fraction of Banff prices. Most of the Canmore hotels have shuttle services which transport guests into Banff for the nightlife, as well as out to the ski hills during the winter.
While harder to find than the big hotels, there are dozens of bed and breakfasts and small lodges scattered throughout the residential districts of Banff and Canmore. These run the gauntlet from one-bedroom units to fully appointed luxury suites. Depending on the location and quality of service, they can either be very expensive (up to CAD300 per night,) or very reasonable (less than CAD50 per night) in the off season. Staying at a B&B also has its advantages in that you get to personally know your hosts, who will give you advice on the best deals and entertainment options available in town. If you find yourself strapped for cash or cannot get a reservation in time, there are two hostels in town. The Banff Y Mountain Lodge at the south end of the bridge over the Bow River has 300 beds available to all manner of travellers. The Banff Alpine Center has 260 beds, as well as an excellent restaurant and information center.
There are several government and privately-operated campgrounds in the park as well. If you plan on staying in a campground, make sure to visit the Banff Information Center, which is located half-way down Banff Avenue, to inquire as to the latest campground conditions and to reserve a space.
Banff is a town centered around the art of hospitality, and nowhere is it more apparent than in their hotels. They take great pains to ensure that every guest is well taken care of, and the Banff Chamber of Commerce regularly inspects every place of lodging to ensure that it meets their stringent standards. Wherever you stay, you can be assured of a fine night's rest and exceptional service.
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