I have been doing some major research into Canmore, Alberta for work and the more I read, the more fun this little town on the outskirts of Banff sounds. I have been to Banff before and DID NOT like it at all! There were WAAAAAAAY too many people. here I am in a gorgeous mountain setting and I was in bumper to bumper traffic. Canmore offers almost all the same activities (there are a few skier shuttles in the winter from Canmore to Banff hills).
I went up there for work once and stayed at the Georgetown Inn, which is the cutest English style hotel with an English-style pub and tasty food. My room had a giant jacuzzi tub and I spent almost 2.5 hours in it. That’s really all I experienced of the town, but looking into it, it is an outdoor haven like Waterton WITHOUT the crowds of Banff but with way more amenities than Waterton. I am dieing to do a girls night package at the Silver Creek Lodge.For $150 a girl, you get a night stay in this luxury hotel that has a full kitchen and modern furnishings with a gift certificate to the on site spa and Thai restaurant!
The number one thing I want to do in Canmore is go on a dog sled trip with Snowy Owl Dog Sled tours. In Fort McMurray, my family used to raise and race dog sleds, but that was long before I cam along. This would be such a fun experience.
There are several rafting and adventure companies, even a helicopter tour company.
Developed for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, the Canmore Nordic Centre offers a great place to cross country ski and mountain bike. In the winter it has more than 65 km (37 miles) of groomed trails. And in the summer it has an 18-hole disc golf course, more than 100 km of mountain bike and hiking trails, and a mountain bike skills park!
I would check out www.canmorealberta.com for more information, but maybe consider Canmore instead of Banff. It’s only 15 minutes from Banff, but quieter and less crowded!
