Things to do in Banff, AB

It is largely serendipitous that Banff exists at all today. In 1883, prospecting railway workers happened upon a heated mineral spring that became known as the Cave and Basin. Promoted as therapeutic, the spring began to draw visitors, and the area around it was named a nature reserve. It was later to become Banff National Park. To attract and accommodate tourists, the Canadian Pacific Railway erected a train station and the spectacular Banff Springs Hotel, and the town mushroomed. Nowadays, the spring is secondary to the area's ski slopes, art galleries and stylish hotels. The charming village caters to an upscale clientele with terrific restaurants, fashionable shopping, and cultural opportunities. Its natural beauty draws tourists throughout the year, and the village is close enough to Calgary to be a wonderful getaway for the city's residents.

It is largely serendipitous that Banff exists at all today. In 1883, prospecting railway workers happened upon a heated mineral spring that became known as the Cave and Basin. Promoted as therapeutic, the spring began to draw visitors, and the area around it was named a nature reserve. It was later to become Banff National Park. To attract and accommodate tourists, the Canadian Pacific Railway erected a train station and the spectacular Banff Springs Hotel, and the town mushroomed. Nowadays, the spring is secondary to the area's ski slopes, art galleries and stylish hotels. The charming village caters to an upscale clientele with terrific restaurants, fashionable shopping, and cultural opportunities. Its natural beauty draws tourists throughout the year, and the village is close enough to Calgary to be a wonderful getaway for the city's residents.