Before you head out, whether it’s to the grocery store or on a long road trip, take a moment to read these safety tips.

Check your tires

Without proper maintenance, your tires could fail and cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Proper tire maintenance is not only critical to the safe operation of your vehicle, but will also improve fuel economy, extend tire life, provide better vehicle handling, help prevent avoidable breakdowns and collisions, and reduce exhaust emissions that contribute to environmental, health and climate change problems.

• Check your tires once a month, especially before you head out on a long trip.
• Make sure your tires are inflated to the correct levels and do not exceed the load limit of your vehicle. This information can usually be found on the inside of the driver’s door.
• Inspect your tires regularly for uneven tread wear, cuts, cracks, bulges and foreign objects and rotate tires on a regular basis.

Sharing the road with large trucks and commercial vehicles

There are more commercial vehicles on Canada’s roads now than ever before. These vehicles can be up to 40 times heavier than an average car and take more than twice the distance to stop. To prevent collisions with these vehicles, remember:

• Avoid cutting in front of trucks or braking suddenly in front of them.
• When you are in the driver’s blind spot, move through quickly and never pass on the right, where the blind spot is even larger. If you can’t see the driver’s face in their side mirror, they can’t see you.
• When passing a truck, ensure you can do it safely, signal, then pass promptly. Be prepared to encounter splash and spray on wet roads.

Cell phones and other distractions

Pay attention-don’t engage in distracting activities while driving. Cell phones and other devices such as electronic navigation systems are emerging as factors in road collisions.

• Do not use a phone while driving.
• Turn the phone off before you start driving. Let callers leave a message.
• If there are passengers in the vehicle, let one of them take or make the call.
• If you’re expecting an important call, let someone else drive.

Core safety tips

• Wear your seatbelt. Almost 40 per cent of all vehicle occupants killed in 2002 were not wearing a seatbelt. So whether you’re a driver or passenger, buckle up.
• When work correctly, seatbelts save lives. Lap belts should be kept low and snug over the hips, while shoulder belts should always be worn across the chest.
• Airbags save lives. Because they deploy very quickly, you should sit at least 25 centimeters away from the air bag compartment and wear your seat belt.
• Don’t drink and drive. Alcohol is a significant contributing factor in road fatalities. Almost two out of every five drivers killed have been drinking.
• Slow down. Excessive speed is a contributing factor in 20 per cent of occupant fatalities.
• Each year, 25 per cent of deaths and 40 per cent of serious injuries from vehicle collisions occur at intersections. Be careful, even when you have the right of way.
• Remember to watch out for motor bikes and bicycles and be courteous to these road users.
• The safest place for kids under 12 is in the back seat. Have kids travel in the back seat, especially when there is an airbag for the passenger seat.
• About 70 per cent of automobile injuries to children can be prevented by using the correct car or booster seat for their height and weight.

Sustainability

• Driving at lower speeds can also help save you money. For example, driving 100 kilometres per hour on the highway instead of 120 kilometres per hour uses 20 per cent less fuel.
• Remove your roof rack when it’s not being used. These racks, whether empty or full, increase aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.
• 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than if you stop and restart your engine. So turn off your engine when you stop to save money and help protect the environment.

Rail crossings

Every year, Canadians die in railway crossing and trespassing incidents, most of which are preventable. Here are some simple things you can do to prevent injuries and deaths on the tracks:

• Obey the signals. Last year, 38 people died and another 54 were seriously injured at rail crossings. Never attempt to drive under a gate as it is closing, or around a closed gate. If the gate begins to close while you’re driving over a crossing, keep moving until you’ve cleared the crossing.
• Listen for warning bells and whistles. Turn off distractions like radios, fans and heaters. Ask the kids to be quiet until the crossing is safely crossed, and open the window to help you hear.
• Be prepared to stop at all railway crossings without signals. It is very important to look carefully for any approaching trains. It is very difficult to accurately judge how far away a train is and how fast it is traveling. Trains cannot stop quickly. A train traveling at 100 km/h requires the length of 14 football fields to stop and it cannot swerve to avoid you.
• Walking or playing on railway tracks is not only dangerous, it’s against the law. The only safe place to cross the tracks is at a railway crossing.

Safe boating is no accident.

Every year, about 200 people die in boating accidents across Canada.

There are some things you should know to help ensure your safety and prevent accidents.

• Wear your life-jacket. Approximately 90 per cent of all drowning victims in recreational boating incidents were not wearing a life-jacket or personal flotation device. There should be a life-jacket or personal flotation device for every person on the boat. They must be Canadian-approved and of an appropriate size for each person.
• Don’t drink and drive. At least 40 per cent of all power boating fatality victims had a blood alcohol level above the legal driving limit. Driving a boat while impaired is a Criminal Code offence. You could be fined $600 or more, prohibited from operating a boat for up to three years and imprisoned, possibly for life, not to mention seriously injured or killed.
• Keep fire extinguishers at the most fire sensitive areas on your vessel such as the galley or engine room. Ensure your crew knows where the fire extinguishers are located.

Boat tours

If you are taking a boat tour, here are some things to consider:

• Commercial boat operators are required to provide safety briefings to passengers. Make sure your operator does this so that you know where the life-jackets are and what to do in the event of an emergency.
• Tell the boat operator in advance how many children are in your party.
• Ensure the proper numbers and sizes of life jackets are available when you board.
• Ask boat operators if they have a valid Transport Canada inspection certificate. You may also look for a sticker being placed on small passenger vessels over the coming months as part of a new campaign to help passengers identify boats that have received a valid inspection certificate.

Safety equipment

The following safety devices are required by law:

• Sound-signaling devices or appliances are required on all pleasure boats. These can range from a pealess whistle, a compressed gas or electric horn to electric whistles and bells.
• Most small pleasure boats are also required to have a watertight flashlight or flares. If your boat is in distress, this could be the only way of calling for help.
• Lifebuoys are required by law on pleasure boats over eight metres long. When buying a lifebuoy, look for the Transport Canada approval sticker. Store the lifebuoy so that it is readily accessible in the event someone falls overboard.

Other useful items include:

• Spare clothing in a watertight bag, in case the weather changes or you get wet.
• Drinking water and high-energy snacks.
• First aid kit, stored in a dry place. Remember to replace used and outdated contents regularly.
• Tool kit for any minor repairs needed while out on the water. It is also a good idea to have the owner’s manual with you.

Proof of competency

All operators of motorized pleasure boats less than four metres in length need to have proof of competency on board at all times. In addition, all pleasure boat operators born after April 1, 1983 must have proof of competency, regardless of vessel size.

There are three ways you can demonstrate proof of competency:

• prove that you have successfully completed a boating safety course before April 1, 1999;
• obtain a pleasure craft operator card; or
• complete a rental-boat safety checklist, obtainable from the boat rental agency. This safety checklist is only valid for the period of time for which the boat is rented.

Age restrictions

There are certain age restrictions for operating power boats. For example, children under the age of 12 may not operate a boat with more than 10 hp (horse power) without supervision. As well, children between 12 and 16 may not operate a boat with more than 40 hp without supervision.

For more information on safe boating, check out the Office of Boating Safety’s Web site or call the Boating Safety Infoline at 1-800-267-6687.

 City information

One of the world’s premier mountain resorts thanks to world-class ski trails, magnificent scenery, multi-star lodging and dining options, night-life ranging from the raucous to the refined, and limitless opportunities for adventure winter and summer.

     Restaraunts / Bars

Drinking and Dining are two very different activities in Banff. Well known as both a party town and a seat of haute couture, the town boasts raucous bars, but also gourmet eateries to shame the best in Canada. From the starched linens of the Banff Springs Hotel’s banquet hall to the grimy oaken tables of the Pump and Tap Tavern, your search for sustenance can show you the many sides of Banff.

Dining With hundreds of restaurants scattered throughout the town, it can be hard to choose one. Almost every hotel has a restaurant or two, most of which specialize in steak, which is eaten almost as commonly as breakfast cereal in Alberta. Vegetarian diners won’t be pleased, as it is nearly impossibly to find a meal without meat hidden in it somewhere.

The hotel restaurants typically are quite nice, though their menus are often limited. Most feature a casual dress code and meals in the $10-$20 (Canadian) range. Wine is a point of pride amongst Banff restaurateurs, and many of the hotels have cellars with hundreds of different varieties. Independent restaurants have flourished, particularly along Banff Avenue, and here you’ll find greater variety, including foods from the Mediterranean, Asia, South America and Mexico. As Banff is particularly popular with visitors from Japan, sushi bars and noodle houses abound. For Greek cuisine, Caramba! and the Balkan can whip up a savory batch of calamari at a moment’s provocation. The Magpie and Stump serves huge helpings of fine Mexican food in a rather eccentric atmosphere, and the Saki House will have a steaming bowl of fresh noodles ready for you in seconds. If you are in the mood for a pizza, but don’t want another one of the greasy fast-food varieties, try the bacon and crabmeat roesti potato pizza at the Bistro.

If you are looking to dine while still drinking in the spectacular view of the Rockies, many restaurants have expansive patios and glassed in dining areas. Two of the best mountain views can be had at the Big Horn Steakhouse and the Ristorante Classico. One nice thing about Banff is that there are very few fast-food outlets. Aside from a McDonald’s and a Subway, the town is free from franchised chains. This allows for a great variety of food, and makes for some surprisingly good lunches and snacks. Aardvark’s Pizza is Banff’s undisputed late-night snacking locale, with fast and healthy pizzas, wraps, donairs and sandwiches.

And then to drinking Drinking is a very serious affair in Banff, and an activity that the denizens of the town approach with a great deal of enthusiasm. Nearly every hotel has a venue of some sort, whether a quiet martini bar or a feverishly loud nightclub. Banff is almost as famous for its nightlife as it is for its skiing. Should you arive in Banff at any time of night, on any night of the year you are guaranteed to see Banff Avenue teeming with carousers. Braving subzero cold in nothing but t-shirts, revelers hop from bar to bar along the Avenue, sampling the specials that each has to offer.

The Aurora Nightclub is the classiest of the clubs, with purple neon fuzzing the distinction between the doors of the maze-like interior and the mirrors scatted about the walls. The Outabounds is a celebration of extreme skiing and snowboarding, with cheap drinks, ski and snowboarding movies playing constantly, and a fog-covered dance floor that is almost always feverishly busy. The Rose & Crown is a little more laid-back and serves as a family restaurant during the daylight hours. After dark, however, it fills with resort workers dancing to the live music.

For those who don’t need many distractions to enjoy their drink, the Pump and Tap Tavern is a faux-Irish pub with a half-dozen tables and nightly showings of British soccer and rugby matches. Wild Bill’s Saloon is a more Western bar, with hand-hewn wooden railings and a reputation for serving huge steaks and oversized draughts of beer. The clientele is unpredictable, as the band on stage may play anything from Country & Western to punk rock. For a more sedate drinking experience, wander into any hotel lobby and ask for the cocktail lounge. Almost all of the downtown hotels have specialty lounges, which are quieter and serve a more a wider variety of exotic drinks than the clubs. If you are in the mood for a forty-year old Scotch or wine of similarly ancient vintage, pull the bartender aside and ask to see thier private stock, which is usually kept separate from the main bar.

Whatever your taste in apres-ski entertainment, you are sure to find it somewhere along Banff Avenue. Simply walk along the sidewalk and listen for music pulsing out of the open doors. Select your preferred scene, wander in and have a great time.

     Recommended tours

Keeping yourself occupied in Banff should never be a challenge. Dozens of activities for young and old alike make Banff an ideal place to indulge in all your favorite cravings. Be it the romance of a horse-drawn sleigh, the thrill of skiing amongst the clouds or sipping a rum toddy in a restaurant atop a mountain, Banff has enough for everybody.

Skiing Most people who come to Banff are looking for the crisp, clear powder snow and soaring peaks for which the region is famous. There are three big ski areas in the park. Banff Mount Norquay, only a five minute drive from Banff, is excellent for beginners. Sunshine Valley Ski Resort 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. Snowboarders will prefer Lake Louise’s undulating terrain, jump parks and stunts, as well as largely unrestricted terrain access, while skiers will enjoy Sunshine’s huge alpine bowls and high-speed carving runs. Cross-country ski trails can be found at Mount Norquay, Lake Louise or at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Instruction and equipment rentals are available at all three ski areas, as well as in ski shops in Banff.

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 is unparalleled anywhere in this part of Canada, and many people come to Banff 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? broaches 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, all of which do a brisk trade in the cutting edge of clothing design.

High-end outdoor gear can be had in any one of a dozen shops. From the skin-tight cross-country gear of Intersport 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 The 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 raucous debauchery of Outabounds 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.

     Where to stay

Lodgings are abundant in Banff. The winter season is quite busy however, so it is best tomake reservations at least a month in advance. Accommodation choices run the gamut from the famous 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 Banff Springs Hotel has been around longer than the park or even the town itself, and 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 kilometre, 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 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 Chateau Lake Louise is located about 50 kilometres north of Banff, on the banks of Lake Louise, a United Nations Heritage Site, which sits in the cusp of a dozen jagged mountains featured on Canadian $20 bills). The Chateau is comparable in luxury and grandeur to the Banff Springs Hotel, 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 neighbouring town of Canmore. The Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Willow Peaks Inn, and the Banff International Hostel all 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 International Hostel 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 centred 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 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.

     Getting there

Getting There: By Air: Banff is serviced by Calgary International Airport (+1 403 735 1200/http://www.calgaryairport.com), located approximately 80 miles away. Its terminals house the following airlines: Alaska Airlines (+ 1 800 426 0333/ http://www.alaskaair.com) American West Airlines (+1800 235 9292/ http://www.americawest.com) Air Canada (+1 800 776 3000/ http://www.aircanada.ca ) American Airlines (+ 1 800 433 7300/ http://www.aa.com) Canadian North (+1 800 661 1505/ http://www.canadiannorth.com) Continental (+1 800 525 0280/ http://www.continental.com ) Delta (+1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com ) Jetsgo (+ 1 866 440 0441/ http://www.jetsgo.net) Northwest (+1 800 225 2525/ http://www.nwa.com ) QuickAir ( + 1 800 551 7845/ http://www.quikair.ca) United (+1 800 241 6522/ http://www.ual.com ) US Airways (+1 800 428 4322/ http://www.usairways.com ) WestJet (+ 1 800 538 5696/ http://www.westjet.com) Zoom Airlines Inc (+1 866 359 9666/ http://www.flyzoom.ca)

The Banff Airporter (1 888 449 2901/http://www.banffairporter.com) and the Banff Canmore Airport Express (+1 877 992 2633/ http://banffairporttaxi.com) offer transit options to and from the airport.

Rental Car companies include: Avis (+1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com ) Enterprise (1+ 800 736 8227/ http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/home) Budget (+1 800 527 0700/ http://www.budget.com ) Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com) Thrifty (+1 800 367 2277/ http://www.thrifty.com)

By Train: Banff is serviced by VIA Rail Canada (+1 888 842 7245/ http://www.viarail.ca). Royal Canadian Pacific (+1 403 508 1407/ http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/RCP/default.htm) offers a Royal Canadian Rockies tour that includes Banff National Park.

By Bus: Banff can be reached by National Motor Coach Systems (+1 403 240 1992) and Greyhound(+1 800 661 8747/ http://www.greyhound.ca). Transportation to Calgary is available on Red Arrow Motorcoach (+1 800 232 1958/ http://www.redarrow.ca/home).

By Car: Banff can be reached from Trans-Canada Highway 1.

Getting Around:

Public transit in Banff is limited and visitors should plan accordingly. Banff is serviced by Banff Transit, known as the “Happy Bus,” which offers service to destinations along two routes. The Banff Bus (+1 403 760 8294) provides local service during the summer and passes by downtown and the major hotels.

Rental Car companies include: Tilden Rent-A-Car (+1 403 762 2688) Banff Rent A Car (+1 403 762 3352) Avis (+1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com) Budget (+1 800 527 0700/ http://www.budget.com) Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com)

By Bike: Bike Rental Shop (+1 403 762 4581) CanUSA Cycle Adventure Tours (+1 800 938 7986; http://www.canusacycletours.com/)

By Foot: One of the best modes of transportation in Banff is on foot.

     District guide

When many people hear of Canada, the first place that springs to mind is Banff. The soaring peaks, dense coniferous forests and abundant wildlife are a Canadian institution. The Banff townsite 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 centres.

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, who are easy to observe and fairly docile. However, 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 into three blocks of Banff Avenue, which makes for a densely packed market atmosphere. South of the Bow River is the legendary and magnificent Banff Springs Hotel, and the Upper Hot Springs. Several kilometres to the west of town is the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, and to the west is the Golf Course Road, which is flanked by verdant fairways and greens.

A kilometre or so northwest of town are the Vermilion Lakes, a small chain of marshy ponds with walking trails running alongside that make a picturesque stroll, 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 Mount Norquay Ski Area, which is only a 10-minute drive from town up a spectacular mountain road. Sunshine Valley Ski Resort is a 20-minute drive to the west, and Lake Louise Ski Area is another half hour north. Along the Icefields Parkway towards the north end of the park is the Icefields Center and Athabasca Glacier?both are worth a visit. If you are driving to Banff, you might want to take a day or two and visit the Radium Hot Springs, which lie a two-hour drive west of Banff along one of the most spectacular stretches of highway in the world.

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 blending in 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-CAD24 per night.
     Historical background

The first people to occupy Banff were Native Americans who arrived in the Bow River Valley nearly 11,000 years ago, as the last Ice Age was coming to an end. Finding the winter climate mild due to the chinooks (strong, warm winds that rush out of the mountains and onto the prairie in the middle of the winter), they settled in the protected mountain valleys, and enjoyed the abundance of fish and wildlife that called the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains home. Over time, they developed into the Cree, Kootenay and Blackfoot tribes, who coexisted in relative peace for the next 9,900 years. In the late 1700’s, a smallpox epidemic washed over the Great Plains, killing half the native population and seriously weakening the survivors. As well, buffalo hunters had reduced the thundering herds to a shadow of their former selves, eradicating a major source of food. Territorial conflicts broke out among the tribes, who had received horses and firearms from trading partners to the east. Rumours of European traders and missionaries began arriving, and soon after explorers began to trickle into the area. Most of the travellers were in the employ of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and were seeking new areas to trap and trade furs. Fur trading and mining exploration remained the primary activities in the region until the 1850’s, when surveying expeditions, including the famous Palliser Expedition, came to chart the Southern Rockies and Northwestern prairies. Their maps were used in the definition of the emerging country of Canada, and would prove vital in later years for defining the route of the Canadian National Railroad, which would eventually link the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and provide a vital trade link between Europe and the Orient. In 1883, the Canadian National Railroad was pushed through the Rocky Mountain ramparts via the Bow River Valley, passing close to the present day Banff townsite. During the construction of the railroad, three construction workers were exploring the slopes of nearby Sulphur Mountain when they stumbled across a collection of small hot springs bubbling out of the rock. A heated debate erupted over the ownership of the springs, which would later be known as the Cave and Basin.

The Government of Canada finally stepped in and designated the springs, as well as a 673-square-kilometre area surrounding them, as the country’s first national park. It was called the Rocky Mountains Park, and instantly became popular with travellers on the railroad, which had a station called Siding 29 nearby. Siding 29 quickly became the birthplace for the town of Banff, and the jumping-off point for the newly constructed Banff Springs Hotel. The hotel had many renovations between 1888 and 1926, and evolved from a spartan wooden hut to the palatial structure present today. It became a tourist attraction in its own right, drawing European aristocracy with its mineral springs and revitalizing spa, as well as luxury seldom equalled elsewhere in North America. With the hotel came Banff’s tourism era. The Canadian Pacific Railway Corporation, which owned both the Banff Springs and the Chateau Lake Louise, imported Swiss mountain guides to take visitors up to the icefields and onto the highest peaks surrounding the town. The Mount Norquay Ski Hill opened in 1928, and was soon joined by the Sunshine Valley and Lake Louise ski areas. With the explosion in the popularity of downhill skiing and the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway in 1962, getting to Banff became easy and relatively inexpensive. The growing town eventually ran out of room for new buildings. Real estate prices soared, and it became uneconomical to live and work in Banff at the same time. Many local business owners and employees moved to the nearby town of Canmore, which soon developed into a destination in its own right. To prevent Banff from becoming overcrowded, the notorious ?need to reside? law was passed in the 1960s, which stated that no person could live in Banff unless he or she was employed in the city. Banff has been hit by a new overpopulation problem. Wild local elk discovered that the golf courses and lawns made an excellent source of food, and that no predator would venture into town after them. They quickly took over, and, at their peak, it was estimated that there were over 100 elk within the city limits. There were several attacks on tourists and locals, which resulted in a mass relocation in the summer of 2000 that has appeared to resolve the situation. Currently, Banff is a thriving resort destination with dozens of hotels, restaurants and shops, and an exceptional diversity of wilderness and adventure activities. Modeled after the mountain villages of the Alps, it attracts an international clientele unmatched anywhere else in Canada. 
     Entertainment

Keeping yourself occupied in Banff should never be a challenge. Dozens of activities for young and old alike make Banff an ideal place to indulge in all your favorite cravings.

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. Mount Norquay, only a five minute drive from Banff, is excellent for beginners. Sunshine Valley 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 Mount Norquay, Lake Louise and the or 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 is unparalleled anywhere in this part of Canada, and many people come to Banff 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? broaches 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 had in any one of a dozen shops. From the skin-tight cross-country gear of Intersport 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 The 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 raucous debauchery of Outabounds 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.
     Fun Facts