In 1883, the transcontinental railway reached the formidable Rocky Mountains and three railway workers chanced upon simmering hot springs. The area was protected by the government and two years later became Canada's first national park, Banff National Park. At 1384 m (4540 ft) above sea level, Banff is "Canada's Highest Town". It's a unique place to visit, let alone live. A train whistle blows in the distance as a reminder of the area's railway roots while designer shops dot the streetscapes. From a sleepy summer resort town that used to close its doors in the winter months, Banff has now grown to be a year-round attraction. Lured by the wilderness and the variety of outdoor activities, people from all over the world are drawn to Banff National Park each year. They venture into the area looking for their slice of the Banff experience, whether it's in the restaurants, shops, museums, cultural activities, or adventures in the wilderness. On Banff's bustling main avenue, virtually every language from German and Japanese to French and Spanish can be heard. Yet only minutes away from all the action, a quiet walk along the banks of the Bow River reminds you that the town is located inside Canada's premier national park and a United Nations World Heritage Site!

In winter Banff offers some of the finest skiing in the world. Three world-class ski resorts, all within easy access of the towns, offer 6400 acres of terrain suited to all skill levels - everything from groomed runs to massive bowls of powder. Advanced skiers can enjoy high-alpine glacier traverse that rival the "haute-routes" of the Alps.

As Canada's largest ski area, Lake Louise offers skiers and boarders unlimited possibilities. Louise is big! With over 11 square miles of terrain spread across four mountain faces, Louise provides unlimited choice of over 100 named runs, as well as thousands of acres of wide open bowls. Featuring some of North America's most exciting terrain, Louise is also a skier friendly mountain with a green, or easy run, form every chairlift on the mountain. Tied together with a system of 11 interconnecting lifts, Lake Louise is hard to beat. With an abundant amount of natural snow (15' in the bowls), backed up with Canada's largest snowmaking system, Louise guarantees skiing from early November to mid May. With dozens of long protected tree lined runs, and 65% of the terrain below tree line, you can ski at Louise even when it is snowing. The new Lodge of the Ten Peaks is a spacious, post-and-beam log structure that features a wrap-around sun deck and a signature river rock fireplace stretching to the heights of the two-story, vaulted ceiling.

Summit of the Rockies: Pure snow and varied terrain Some of the softest, lightest powder in the Rockies can be found at Sunshine Village, far above the hustle and bustle of the valley below. After a short ride from Banff, skiers hop on a gondola ride to stunning upper alpine terrain with thousands of vertical feet of wide-open bowls and treed runs carved through the forest. For the extreme skier, Delirium Dive offers an unique front country experience. Sunshine Village also offers the only on-mountain accommodations in Banff National Park and services including pubs, lounges, dining, live entertainment and day care. The world's fastest high-speed quads dominate the three different mountain faces available to skiers, and the newest addition, Goat's Eye Mountain, serves up intermediate runs and a few surprises for those who like it steep and deep. With close to 30 feet of snow each year and the longest season in the Rockies, Sunshine Village's 100 per cent natural snow is renowned throughout the world earning a Snow Country magazine rating for 'Canada's Best Snow'.