A Rockie town. (Banff)

Member Name: jo@145

Product:	Banff
Date:	21/12/08 (253 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A town popular in summer and winter in the Rockies.

Disadvantages: Can be expensive and very busy

Banff in Alberta, Canada is set in the heart of the Banff National Park, surrounded with the Rocky Mountains, some of which are Sulphur mountains, Mount Rundle, Mount Norquay and Cascade Mountain. It is popular both summer and winter, and some of the hotels make provision for storing skis and snowboards. There are many restaurants with all tastes catered for, and for those who haven't tired themselves out touring the surrounding countryside there are nightclubs too. About 90 miles from Calgary, it is a popular stopping off point for people touring the Rockies. At 1,463 m or 4,800 ft, it is the town with the highest elevation in Canada. The railway also stops in Banff and people can travel by train from Calgary or on through the Rockies.

The temperature varies a great deal in July it was quite warm and I got sunburned, in December it is -21, I checked a few minutes ago!

The Bow valley Parkway or Highway 1A is a more scenic route to the TransCanada Highway, between Banff and Lake Louise.

There are lots of shops encouraging you to spend your dollars, tempting fudges, warm clothing for exploring the mountains, sports equipment, designer bags and cases. Loads of shops selling postcards, touristy presents and a shop of Christmas items.

But not everyone likes shopping so you can learn more about the area by visiting a museum or several museums. These days most things are expensive but at the Heritage Hall you can discover all about the western mountains and the Banff Springs.

Across the Bow River from the town is the Banff Park National Historic site, with displays of birds and mammals, it is an elegant building but there is a small charge here. There are several other museums in and around the town, one about the buffalo and native people and another about local caves and springs and how the National park was created.

Across the bridge from the town is a lovely garden called the Cascade gardens, there are pools, water features and some beautiful flower gardens. We stopped here briefly before heading just out of Banff to Surprise corner where we climbed up to the viewpoint to look across the Bow River to Banff Springs and the large hotel built there. Further on we left the coach and climbed up a little way to see the Hoodoos, unusual shaped spires, carved by the forces of water and wind. Here we saw a wedding and listened to the haunting sound of bagpipes, with the piper in full Highland Dress - yes we had travelled from Scotland to Canada and felt we were at home!

I love looking at water, although don't ask me to swim in it, and we weren't disappointed with the beautiful Lakes and waterfalls and rivers near Banff. We stopped at Two Jack Lake which is near Lake Minnewanka, a glacial lake. The peaceful scenery was stunning, and a few little Columbian ground squirrels played around near us, hoping for titbits.

To get an overall view of the countryside around Banff then a trip on the Gondola is a must. Just five minutes ride from the centre the Gondola ride is not for people afraid of heights. There are often queues at the ticket desk, but we soon climbed into the four seater gondola and found ourselves being transported up to the summit of Sulphur mountain, 2.281 feet above sea level. Once at the upper level you can get a 360 degree view, have a snack or a meal in the restaurant, buy gifts from the shop or do the boardwalk to Samson's peak just 1km up to the first meteorologist station in the area. Walking back down is an option if you find the gondola ride too hair -raising but the path zigzags it's way down hill and it over 5km! The eight minute ride costs $26 for adults and $13 for children, under 5's go free.

There is a row of hotels leading up to the town, and so you can choose where you want to stay, from high class hotels to motels and hostels. There are also lots of places to eat, again from high class to the hamburger bar or sandwich bar. In the one shopping centre there were several places to buy your food and then sit in the communal eating area. You can eat Asian, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Swiss, German, French and Steaks, a very good and varied choice.

I loved Banff and the area around it but I will never forget our stay at Lake Louise, in Banff National park, about 35 miles west of Banff. We stayed at the Chateau on the edge of Lake Louise and experienced a storm when the lake turned rough, then it returned to its peaceful beauty when the sun came out. We also heard the glacier calving, which sounds like thunder. Lake Louise is described as Canada's Diamond in the Wilderness, a place to explore with guides, popular both in summer and winter. Glaciers, waterfalls, beautiful lakes, amazing scenery when we left Lake Louise behind it was a long way along the highway before another town, about a 3 hour journey to Jasper, the wilderness is the right name for this hauntingly beautiful lonely place.

We travelled with the Rockie Mountaineer coach as we explored the Rockies towards Jasper where we went by train to Vancouver. The hotels we stopped at en route have been reviewed separately, and this review will also be Ciao where I hope to add photos too if you are interested.

Summary: Popular stopping off point when touring the Rockies