Trust me....I was born and raised there...
Written: Jun 22 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Amazing scenery, fresh air, fascinating wildlife, friendly locals (like me!)
Cons: Tourists who don't respect the wildlife, too crowded
The Bottom Line: Come to Banff! It is an amazing place and you'll have a great time!
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| maniac_00's Full Review: Banff |
Ah Banff...nestled in the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountains. There are few as picturesque locations in all the World that can rival Banff National Park. I am one of the lucky few that can say that "I was born and raised in Banff." In my 23 years living in Banff I have seen enormous changes take place not only in the townsite, but also in the park itself.
People have to understand that when they are coming to visit this place, the animals are WILD (thus the term wildlife!). All too often, I've seen tourists getting dangerously close to the elk. Folks, these are dangerous animals...The antlers on the males' heads are not just for decoration. There are reported incidents of people that have been gored by elk. Now, when the poor tourist gets taken to the hospital to have his (or her) wounds tended to, that poor elk faces 2 options: option a) is to have him relocated to a distant part of the park or another park entirely or b) the elk may be destroyed. Now why should this poor elk suffer for a human's stupidity???
Now I use elk as a prime example because they are so prevalent and visible directly within the townsite. However, people have to be respectful around all wildlife, from the little squirrels to the magnificent bears. Now I'm not saying that ALL tourists act like this, but when there are some 5 million visitors to the park each year, the impact caused by even a small minority can be tremendous!
Must Sees In Banff
Ok, now that I've gotten that out of the way let me tell you some of the highlights of Banff. A must see for visitors is the Cave and Basin. This is the site where the very first mineral hot spring was found, thus enabling the creation of Canada's first National Park. There are informative displays and you can walk around and see some great scenery. Also, if you're into seeing rare wildlife, you can see the rare snail Physella Johnsoni at the Cave and Basin. It's said that this snail is found nowhere else on earth except for in the hotsprings in Banff National Park.
Another neat tourist spot is the Sulphur Mountain Gondola. You can choose to ride the Gondola up (for a fee of course!), but if you decide to be adventerous and hike up to the Tea House that sits atop Sulphur Mtn., then you can ride down the gondola for free!! In the same area as the gondola are the Upper Hot Springs. Basically, it's an outdoor heated pool that you can sit and soak in for a while (even in the dead of winter!!).
In the summer months, I recommend going to Lake Minnewanka for a day. You can hike, go on boat tours and if you want, they have guided fishing trips as well. I've seen some enormous lake trout pulled out of that lake! It's well worth a day to go up there. There is also a very good chance of seeing some mountain goats along the road in that area.
For those of you interested in museums, Banff has a short list, but the ones that are there are very good. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies always has a good display on and the Town's archives are also located there. Currently, (June 22, 2001) they have a "Year of the Bear" show on. This show lasts until September (I think) and it is great! They have many displays of bears and bear artifacts, stories, etc. If you're in the area, go check it out!
There are a million different hikes to go on while in Banff. Some of my favorites are Red Earth Creek, Borgeau Lake, Johnson Lake, and Sundance Canyon. These are all relatively easy hikes and are suitable for most people. You might want to do a little research into the hike first and see if it is suitable for you (especially if you have young children!!).
I'll just make a quick mention of Lake Louise. There is so much more to do here that I cannot even begin to write about it. But I will say go here! You can spend weeks just up here looking at even more amazing scenery!
In terms of packing, even if you come during the summer months, bring at least a few articles of warm clothing. Weather in Banff is extremely unpredictable, and it has been known to snow even in the middle of August!! Also, raingear is an essential, as is the suntan lotion and bug spray!! In the winter, it gets COLD!! Make sure you prepare ahead of time!!
Shopping in Banff is expensive for us Canadians, but for you Americans, Europeans, and Japanese, the exchange rate is definitely in your favour!!! There are many unique items that only Banff has to offer. Take at least a day to explore all the shops on and around Banff Ave.
Banff has been my home for many years. Although I now live in nearby Calgary I still have family there and I go back whenever I get the chance. If you decide to make a trip up to Banff, please respect the Park and its inhabitants. It will make for a better trip and ensure that future generations can enjoy this wondrous place.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
maniac_00
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Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
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