Banff
National Park
"Canada's oldest national park-1885"
The most exotic, gorgeous and exhilarating places to go
Where?
Banff is a resort town in the province of Alberta, within Banff National Park. The peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains, dominate its skyline. On Banff Avenue, the main thoroughfare, boutiques and restaurants mix with château-style hotels and souvenir shops. The surrounding 6,500 square kilometres of parkland are home to wildlife including elk and grizzly bears.
When?
In the fall of 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. From that, Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and the world's third, was born. Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination spots.
Why?
Whether you’re on a camper’s budget or living it up in luxury, Banff offers a choice of accommodation, restaurants, boutique shops and activities to make your trip a memorable one. The history of this mountain town is also well preserved at a number of museums and heritage sites, while new memories are created throughout the year at world-class festivals and events. Banff national park also contributes an estimated C$6 billion annually to the economy due to tourism.
What can you do?
Banff National Park is the most visited Alberta tourist destination and one of the most visited national parks in North America, with more than three million tourits annually. During summer, 51 percent of park visitors are from Canada (30 percent from Alberta), while 31 percent are from the United States and 14 percent from Europe. Attractions in Banff include Upper Hot Springs, and a 27-hole golf course at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, and three ski resorts includingSunshine Village, Lake Louise Mountain Resort, and Mount Norquay ski resort.
Day hikes, such as the Cory Pass Loop, are popular with visitors. Other activities include alpine and Nordic skiing, and horseback riding.