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Banff Travel Guide >>
Cananda Travel Guide
This town shares its name with the surrounding Banff
National Park, and many visitors use the town as their
base while exploring the park. As a result, it can be
crowded during summer, with its permanent population of
about 7,000 people swelled by tens of thousands of
visitors. The area's large elk population has been a
problem in the past, but most of the animals have been
relocated to more remote areas of the park. If you do
come upon one unexpectedly, try to keep your distance.
Elk can be aggressive, especially during mating and
birthing seasons.
In addition to its history as a tourist spot, Banff is
famous for the arts. The Banff Centre first opened as a
summer theater school in 1933 and has grown into a
multifaceted educational facility. The Banff Summer Arts
Festival (July and August) and the Banff Mountain Film
and Book Festival (late October-early November) are just
two of the internationally recognized events that take
place there.
Several museums are located in the town. The Whyte
Museum of the Canadian Rockies houses a large collection
of art and exhibits on the Canadian Rockies. Its
archives contain oral tapes of early pioneers and a
massive collection of historic photos. The museum also
includes several vintage homes once occupied by local
pioneers. Temporary exhibits on a number of topics are
also staged there. Stop by the Museum of Natural
History, which displays the evolution of the Rockies and
native plants and animals. The museum is located inside
the Clock Tower Mall.
The Luxton Museum of the Plains Indian looks like a
stockade and was once the site of a trading post. It
traces the history and culture of the Native Americans
of the region and displays a tepee, hunting equipment
and other native artifacts. The quirkiest of the town's
museums is the Banff Park Museum, which is a
taxidermist's dream, featuring a stuffed example of
every animal known to live in the park.
If you're visiting during the summer, try to make time
for the colorful Cascade Gardens at the Canada Place
Building. The gardens make a perfect setting for an
afternoon picnic or walk. You'll see ponds, waterfalls,
beautifully groomed lawns and massive themed flower
beds. Follow the signs to the nearby Bow Falls, where
the Bow River cascades over a cliff. Guided horseback
rides are also available.
The classic Banff Springs Hotel is the place to stay in
town. Built in 1888, it was one of the lavish hotels
constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway to help
entice visitors to ride the rails to the Rockies. If
you're staying at the hotel, insist on a room with a
view—it will cost more, but it's worth the price. The
scenery really is magnificent. Even if you don't
overnight there, take a stroll through the hotel—now
designated a National Historic Site—and stop at its
rather luxurious cocktail lounge for a drink—the vistas
from the windows are impressive. If you can afford the
splurge, go for a dip or a treatment at the hotel's spa.
A more affordable way to unwind after a day on the
trails or the slopes is to relax in the Upper Hot
Springs Pool in Banff. It's an outdoor facility with
naturally heated water that is praised for its
therapeutic qualities (expect a sulphury smell).
The Banff Springs golf course is considered to be among
the most beautiful course settings in the world. For
more information, visit
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