| For the first time ever, my husband and I are going | | | | Banff Lake Louise offers something for everyone. |
| to go skiing in the majestic Rocky Mountains: in March | | | | Enjoy the spectacular views from the Brewster |
| of 2006 we are going to go to stay a week in Banff, | | | | Gondola, explore the Columbia Icefield from aboard |
| Alberta and we are also going to explore Lake | | | | the enormous snocoach, rent a bike and ride around |
| Louise, the turquoise jewel of the Canadian Rockies. | | | | the park or get up early and enjoy a bird walk in the |
| As we have never been to this region, I have | | | | spring. There's also guided tours through Johnston |
| started to do some research and contacted the | | | | Canyon, nature walks, a skateboard park and several |
| official visitor information website for the | | | | fine patios for enjoying a cool refreshment after |
| communities of Banff and Lake Louise in Banff | | | | hours of exploration in the summer sun. That's just |
| National Park. | | | | the tip of the iceberg. |
| I had a chance to speak with Quintin Winks, Manager | | | | 6. Banff / Lake Louise's history is connected to the |
| of Media Relations for | | | | expansion of railways across Canada. Please give us a |
| Banff Lake Louise Tourism, who was able to provide | | | | brief historical overview of the area. |
| me with excellent background information about the | | | | 1883 |
| Banff / Lake Louise Region. | | | | The railway passes through the Banff area and |
| 1. Please provide us with some general information | | | | reaches Laggan Station (Lake Louise). Three railway |
| about Banff/Lake Louise. Where is it located, what is | | | | workers, Frank McCabe, Tom McCardell, and William |
| the weather like? | | | | McCardell, stake claim to the natural hot springs on |
| Banff is located within Banff National Park, in the | | | | the side of Sulphur Mountain. |
| Canadian Rockies of Western Alberta. The town of | | | | - 1884: Lord Steven, a former CPR director, christens |
| Banff is famous for its spectacular setting, but it is | | | | the area "Banff" after his birthplace, Banffshire, |
| more than just a pretty place. As Canada's first | | | | Scotland. |
| incorporated municipality in a national park, Banff is a | | | | - 1885: The federal government sets aside a 26 |
| very special community. It is | | | | km² reserve surrounding the hot springs |
| environmentally-conscious, balanced, rich with | | | | discovered two years earlier. Two years later, that |
| character and culture and a friendly and open | | | | area is increased to 670 sq. km. The Canadian Pacific |
| community. The elevation of Banff townsite is 1,383 | | | | Railway Company and the federal government |
| m (4,537 feet), the highest town in Canada. The | | | | cooperate in promoting the area as an international |
| elevation of Lake Louise is 1,536 m (5,039 feet), the | | | | resort and spa as a way to support the new railway |
| highest permanent settlement in Canada. | | | | and ease the financial pressures on Confederation. |
| Summer (July - August): | | | | - 1888: The Canadian Pacific Railway Company builds |
| The summer season usually has low humidity, warm | | | | the area's first large tourist accommodation, The |
| temperatures and daylight hours lasting until 11:00 p.m. | | | | Banff Springs Hotel. |
| at the height of the summer equinox. | | | | - 1911: Automobile access to Banff is made possible |
| Autumn (Sept - Oct): | | | | by the construction of the Banff/Calgary Coach |
| Fall sees diminishing daylight hours and warm days | | | | Road. |
| with cooling evening winds. | | | | - 1917: The park's area is increased to 7 125 |
| Winter (Nov - March): | | | | km². The Canadian government passes the first |
| Although it can and does snow at any time of the | | | | National Parks Act. |
| year, the first snows generally begin to fall in | | | | - 1930: Rocky Mountains Park is renamed Banff |
| November. The average temperature during the | | | | National Park and its size becomes fixed at 6641 |
| winter months is around -12º C (6º F); | | | | km². |
| however it is not unusual to have a two-week cold | | | | - 1933: The Banff Centre for Continuing Education is |
| snap during December or January where | | | | founded. |
| temperatures plummet into the -30 degree C/F | | | | - 1985: Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay National |
| range. Fortunately Banff and areas west and south, | | | | Parks along with four adjacent provincial parks are |
| regularly receive a welcome weather phenomenon | | | | declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations |
| called Chinooks, warm winds that produce spring-like | | | | Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| temperatures in a matter of hours. | | | | (UNESCO). |
| Spring (April - June): | | | | - 1990: Through a joint agreement between the local |
| Rain and warming temperatures begin to melt winter | | | | citizens and the federal and provincial governments, |
| away from the valleys in April, however snow does | | | | the town of Banff becomes the only incorporated |
| not leave the mountain passes until mid-summer. | | | | municipality within a Canadian national park. |
| While the average precipitation is relatively low during | | | | 7. Our readers would like to find out about the |
| this time, snowmelt pushes the rivers to their crests. | | | | festivals and special events in Banff/Lake Louise. |
| 2. How can one get to Banff/Lake Louise and what | | | | Festivals and special events are many in Banff and |
| is the best way of getting around locally? | | | | Lake Louise. The most immediate two are Ice Magic |
| Situated in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, the town | | | | and Winterfest. Ice Magic involves artists from all |
| of Banff is located inside the boundaries of Banff | | | | over the world converging on Lake Louise and |
| National Park. It is situated 128 kilometres (80 miles) | | | | carving 300 kilogram blocks of ice into spectacular |
| west of Calgary, 401 kilometres (250 miles) | | | | sculptures (January 27-29). Winterfest is a series of |
| southwest of Edmonton and 850 kilometres (530 | | | | fun activities. The most up-to-date information on all |
| miles) east of Vancouver. Commercial airlines service | | | | festivals and special events can be found at |
| each of these three Canadian cities, and buses to | | | | 8. What about restaurants and entertainment in Banff |
| Banff and Lake Louise run year round. | | | | / Lake Louise? |
| Banff is easily accessed by bus or car using the | | | | With inventive panache, chefs relentlessly reach new |
| Trans-Canada Highway. Calgary to Banff driving time | | | | culinary heights. Recipes change according to the |
| is about 2 hours depending on traffic and road | | | | seasons and make use of the freshest local |
| conditions. Speed limits inside the national park are | | | | ingredients. During the fall and winter, this means |
| 90km/hour. | | | | game, squash and legumes, while spring features |
| The closest major airport is the Calgary International | | | | asparagus and mushrooms and summer highlights |
| Airport. Scheduled van and motorcoach shuttle | | | | edible flowers and fresh fruits. |
| services connect Banff with Calgary Airport. | | | | The town has a wide variety of tourism-related |
| Departures are limited (usually 3 or 4 per day). | | | | businesses including over 118 restaurants with food |
| 3. What are some of the major sights in and around | | | | to suit every palette. There's Indian cuisine, sushi, |
| Banff/ Lake Louise? | | | | Korean, Chinese, Western, Pasta, Thai, Greek and |
| Banff is famous first and foremost for its spectacular | | | | just about every other variation. |
| natural scenery, but also for its museums, national | | | | Banff is also home to The Banff Centre. This |
| historic sites and heritage buildings. | | | | institution is host to many forms of entertainment, |
| Architectural and heritage guidelines ensure the town | | | | including art galleries and installations, theatre |
| retains its mountain culture and charm. Banff also has | | | | productions and concerts ranging in variety from |
| three historic sites (Cave & Basin, Banff Park | | | | string quartets, blues, jazz, ethnic and rock 'n' roll. |
| Museum and Bankhead) and numerous heritage | | | | There is something happening virtually every week of |
| buildings, one of the best performing art schools in | | | | the year. Banff also has a cinema, bowling lanes, |
| the country (The Banff Centre), top-notch art | | | | water slides and indoor pool and billiards hall. There's |
| galleries (The Walter Phillips Gallery and Canada House | | | | an indoor rock-climbing wall, skating rink, tennis courts |
| Gallery among others) and a world-renown museum | | | | and myriad other things to do for entertainment |
| specializing in the art and history of the Canadian | | | | regardless of the weather. |
| Rockies (the Whyte Museum of the Canadian | | | | 9. What are some of the shopping opportunities in |
| Rockies). | | | | Banff / Lake Louise? |
| Wildlife is also abundant within Banff National Park and | | | | Enjoy strolling alongside locals and world-travellers as |
| many visitors return home with memorable | | | | you discover a cosmopolitan collection of galleries, |
| photographs of species that make use of the park. | | | | boutiques and cafés. Shops range from |
| From bridge to biking, there is so much to do in the | | | | internationally recognized clothiers or |
| Banff area including airplane tours, barbecues, billiards, | | | | independently-owned establishments to Canada's |
| boat tours, bowling, dogsledding, downhill and | | | | oldest department store. |
| cross-country skiing, fishing, golf, hiking, snowshoeing, | | | | 10. What type of accommodations options are |
| nature tours, horseback riding, carriage and sleigh | | | | available in Banff / Lake Louise? |
| rides, mountaineering and climbing, hiking, hot springs | | | | From five-star elegance to the cozy comfort of |
| and spas, museums and art galleries, gondolas, | | | | cabins or chalets, Banff Lake Louise has more than |
| snocoach tours, sightseeing, whitewater rafting, | | | | 100 hotels, motels, condominiums resorts, lodges and |
| kayaking and float trips. | | | | bed & breakfasts that will make you feel at |
| 4. Please tell us about the skiing opportunities in Banff | | | | home whatever your tastes. |
| Lake Louise and other winter activities on offer in | | | | 11. What are some of the major events and big |
| your area. | | | | news stories coming up in 2006 and beyond in Banff |
| Three outstanding ski resorts, Ski Banff@Norquay, | | | | Lake Louise? |
| Sunshine Village and Lake Louise provide more than | | | | Banff looks poised to host a skins golf game this |
| 7,700 acres and 240 trails offering countless options | | | | summer that will attract some of the biggest names |
| to skiers and snowboarders of any ability. From | | | | in golf. |
| wide-open bowls and tree-lined glades covered with | | | | Also big in the news is the commencement of Banff |
| fresh dry champagne powder, to meticulous | | | | Refreshing, a sidewalk expansion program and |
| groomed slopes and state-of-the-art snowmaking, | | | | greening that will make downtown Banff much more |
| visitors enjoy unspoiled scenery, short lift lines, and | | | | pedestrian friendly and reduce the amount of traffic |
| guaranteed friendly local hospitality. The last major | | | | using the downtown core. |
| snowstorm through this area was less than one | | | | The first phase of the Trans-Canada Highway |
| week ago and the snow conditions are powder, | | | | twinning project will also swing into high gear this |
| powder, powder. More snow is forecast in the | | | | summer, making transit through Banff National Park |
| coming days. | | | | faster and safer than ever. Of note with this project |
| There are over 80km of cross-country trails within a | | | | are state-of-the-art wildlife crossing structures to |
| short drive of the Banff townsite alone. The vast | | | | keep animals off the highway. |
| network of track-set and untracked trails, and | | | | Passing of a recent lighting bylaw means that Banff's |
| telemark slopes throughout Banff National Park calls | | | | night sky will become more and more clear as time |
| nordic skiers of all abilities. The Banff National Park | | | | passes. |
| Service keeps up to date trail conditions and weather | | | | Thank you, Quintin, for your time to provide us with |
| forecasts. | | | | more information about the beautiful Banff/Lake |
| Banff also offers guided snow-shoeing tours, ice | | | | Louise area. We look forward to exploring your area |
| walks, dog sledding and ice climbing, not to mention | | | | first-hand in March! |
| heli-skiing. | | | | For further information about Banff/Lake Louise |
| 5. What about activities during the summer time? | | | | please contact: |
| Ride through a pine forest hearing only hoof beats, | | | | Banff Lake Louise Tourism |
| zoom down waterslides, or come face to face with a | | | | P.O. |
| grizzly bear while exploring an interpretive museum. | | | | |