| One of the most beloved travel destinations | | | | and return service. Most skiers opt to ski |
| in Canada is the Banff and Lake Louise area | | | | all three resorts during their stays.Lake |
| located in the province of Alberta. The | | | | Louise is about 45 minutes (35 miles) further |
| town of Banff is 90 minutes (75 miles) west | | | | into the mountain range and home to one of |
| of Calgary and is within the Banff National | | | | the largest ski areas in North America. |
| Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. One can | | | | World class events are held here as well as a |
| see the Rocky Mountains from Calgary since | | | | previous winter Olympics and the resort Lake |
| the Banff area is at the eastern edge of the | | | | Louise is serviced by the ski shuttle system |
| Canadian Rocky Mountain range. It is also | | | | from Banff. Even for non-skiers, a day trip |
| one of the most visited areas in Canada all | | | | to Lake Louise is a must. The largest hotel |
| year round since the rugged beauty of the | | | | there, the Chateau Lake Louise, is right |
| mountains and the protected wilderness draws | | | | beside the beautiful Lake Louise itself. |
| tourists from around the world. During the | | | | There is a glacier named Victoria Glacier |
| winter, the three local resorts of Sunshine | | | | which is nestled between snow capped |
| Village, Norquay Mystic Ridge and Lake Louise | | | | mountains. During the winters, the lake is |
| offer some of the best snow skiing | | | | completely frozen and people can walk right |
| around.There are numerous shops, restaurants | | | | across it. The hotel usually sets up a |
| and small to mid-sized hotels in the town of | | | | skating area on the lake. During the |
| Banff which is why the majority of travelers | | | | summers, one can still see some of the white |
| use it as the base during their stays. The | | | | snow capped peaks along with the glacier but |
| town itself is small enough to walk around in | | | | what makes things really special is the lake |
| since large scale development is limited | | | | itself too which is an emerald green color. |
| since Banff is located within a national | | | | On certain days and hours, the lake gives a |
| park. As a result, the town of Canmore just | | | | stunning reflection of the mountain/glacier |
| outside the national park boundary has become | | | | scene. This combination offers one of the |
| a recent spot of development. This offers | | | | most beautiful and photographed scenes in |
| tourists with rental cars another choice for | | | | Canada. No motorized boats are allowed in the |
| accommodations. There is a complete range of | | | | lake but there are canoe rentals available. |
| accommodations from budget motels to the | | | | Taking a canoe across the lake while seeing |
| ritzy and majestic Fairmont Banff Springs | | | | the glacier and mountain range is one of the |
| Hotel overlooking the nearby valley. Many | | | | most special, peaceful activities one can |
| hotels have views of the mountain ranges and | | | | do.The wildlife in the Banff and Lake Louise |
| I can personally claim that there is | | | | area is another attraction. There are |
| something very magical about waking up and | | | | wildlife spotting tours available but every |
| seeing a snow capped peak first thing in the | | | | time I have traveled to the area, I've seen |
| morning, particularly during the non-winter | | | | deer and elk along the roads and highways. |
| season.Like the choice of accommodations, the | | | | I've even seen them wander right into the |
| range of dining opportunities covers the | | | | front of the Banff Springs hotel. The road |
| entire spectrum as well. Travelers can dine | | | | that leads up to the Norquay Mystic Ridge ski |
| at the most fancy eating establishments or | | | | resort just outside of Banff is a golden spot |
| buy their own groceries at the local grocer. | | | | for wildlife. On every drive up that |
| One thing for beef lovers is not to miss the | | | | particular road whether during the winter or |
| Alberta prime rib here which is a local | | | | summer, I have always seen curly horned |
| specialty. It practically melts in your | | | | mountain goats. Many are so used to cars |
| mouth. Some restaurants serve very generous | | | | that they would just move aside for vehicles |
| 24 ounce (or higher) portions called mountain | | | | to get by but would still stay on the roads. |
| cuts for those who think they can eat it | | | | This makes great photo opportunities.One |
| all.There are numerous activities during the | | | | thing to be careful of especially when hiking |
| non-winter seasons including hiking, | | | | is the possibilities of bears. During the |
| horseback riding, fishing, golf and a hot | | | | non-winter seasons, pay attention to the |
| springs spa heated naturally by the mountain. | | | | local rangers who give reports of bear |
| The wonderful mountain scenery just makes | | | | sightings as it is not recommended to go on |
| these activities seem that much more special | | | | trails where bears have been recently.Many |
| here. Imagine golfing with views of | | | | world tourists think of Canada as a land of |
| mountains in the background and glimpses of | | | | wonderful natural scenery and although the |
| elk. Of course, the winters have the skiing | | | | country is much more than that, the Banff and |
| and snowboarding but there are other winter | | | | Lake Louise area is probably one of the best |
| activities such as dog sledding and | | | | examples of Canadian natural beauty. It is a |
| snowmobile tours. For skiers and boarders, | | | | place that draws visitors, foreign and |
| there is a very good bus shuttle system set | | | | Canadians alike, back to the area like it |
| up which picks skiers up at various locations | | | | does for me every few years.Clint Leung is |
| around town and transports them to any of the | | | | owner of Free Spirit Gallery an online |
| three ski resorts mentioned earlier. Some | | | | gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and |
| shuttle stops are right outside of the many | | | | Northwest Native American art including |
| hotels so for many, it can be door to slope | | | | carvings, sculpture and prints. |