Located in the alpine-tipped mountains of the Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, is the resort town of Banff. Second only to Lake Louise, it’s the second highest elevated community in Alberta and one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations.

Banff is well known as a destination for outdoor sports: skiing, hiking, biking and scrambling (a skill that looks a little like undignified hill-walking, using your hands, but is a more specialist technique used in canyoning) are common draws for the 4.5 million tourists that visit each year.

Banff is a castle-like mountain resort, dominated by mountains on all sides, deep within the heart of North America’s largest mountain system, the Rocky Mountains. Known as “America’s backbone”, the Canadian segment of the Rockies extends from the American borders of British Columbia and Alberta to the Liard River Basin, extending 1200km.Banff

The Fairmont Banff Springs is a world famous resort styled as a Scottish baronial castle and has been welcoming guests for 125 years. The hotel offers championship golf on its course during the summer months, excellent winter skiing and an award winning spa.

If “Canada’s castle” is too much for your purse, the main route through the town is lined with excellent accommodation alternatives, 3 and 4 star hotels for a friendlier price. Most have Canadian comforts guaranteed, including log fires and large foyers, and warm rooms.Banff

The main route is also where you’ll find the main shops. The canopied sidewalks are reminiscent of a Disney town, and there is plenty of opportunity to buy Canadian souvenirs, from the tacky to the wacky. One shop you should visit is The Spirit of Christmas: no matter what the weather, there’s something about Banff that suggests it’s the perfect Christmas destination.

Canada is renowned for its beef, and you’re pretty much guaranteed superior cuts. For steak, head to Chuck’s Steakhouse: dry-aged, premium Alberta beef served at the best seat in the house (every seat is the best in the house – they all come with views of the Banff mountain views). 

For a fondue that you will talk about for years, you have to visit The Grizzly House. You have 14 varieties of fondue and hot rocks to choose from: beef, chicken and buffalo are fairly normal choices; then there’s the cheese and chocolate. If you want to go surf, then choose lobster – or shark. And for the real hunters, there’s rattlesnake. Eclectic and exotic, it lives up to its claim to be “For lovers and hedonists”.

If you’re looking for something tasty to set yourself up for the day, you need look no further than Melissa’s Missteak’s breakfast menu. Opt for Something Simple, like cold cereal or hot red river cereal (porridge, blueberries, milk and brown sugar), a crab and asparagus omelette (favourite with the locals) or large buttermilk pancakes (smaller portions are available!).

The source of Banff’s popularity as a spa resort is down to its hot spring water, which welcomes visitors year-round. Visit the Cave & Basin Museum or take the waters at Banff Upper Hot Springs, but this is not for the queasy or recommended to be tried on a hangover. It’s not called Sulphur Mountain for nothing.

Bow Falls is where Bow River and Spray River meet, a beautiful but short waterfall that is the perfect place to view the erosion of the valley by glacial ice. It also allows you another view of the majestic mountains that surround this friendly town.

By far the greatest (in my opinion) is Mount Rundle, 2950 metres tall and the symbol of the Canadian Rockies. Named for local missionary Reverend Robert Rundle, it’s the mountain that guides visitors to Banff, and is waiting to welcome them on their inevitable return.

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