The town of Banff was established in 1883 when the trans-continental railway was built through the Bow River valley and has the distinction as Canada's first incorporated municipality in a national park. The town of Banff is famous for its spectacular setting, but it is more than just a pretty place. The town is the centre of recreation, tourism, and dining in the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park. Banff is at an elevation of 1,395 m (4,580 ft), but is nestled by mountains that tower a mile above it. Banff is situated inside the boundaries of Banff National Park, 128 kilometers (80 miles) west of Calgary.Although Banff hosts roughly 4 million visitors every year, it still has the sense of intimacy and relaxation distinctive to small towns. Banff also many affordable B & B's, motels and hotels (mostly along Banff Avenue), plus the internationally renowned Banff Springs Hotel overlooking the Bow River.Visitors to Banff enjoy exploring and shopping on Banff Avenue. There are shops, boutiques, sporting goods stores, and restaurants to cater to every taste.  Architectural and heritage guidelines ensure the town retains its mountain culture and charm. Banff also has three historic sites, numerous heritage buildings, one of the best performing art schools in the country, top-notch art galleries and a world-renown museum specializing in the art and history of the Canadian Rockies.The mountains surrounding Banff are internationally renowned for their tours, fishing, golfing, hiking, hot springs, white-water rafting, mountaineering and world-class skiing. Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and the Lake Louise Ski Resort are all within 30 minutes of the town where the best powder skiing in the world is to be experienced. Tourists are always surprised by the variety and proximity of wild animals around town. Please be careful...these wild animals may be frightened of humans, especially if you try to sneak up on them for a picture. You should not feed them (EVER!) and should throw out your garbage only into special bear-proof waste containers around the town. Today, Banff has a population just over 7,000 people and it's land mass covers barely 5 square kilometers. |