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Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta

Set inside the borders of the vast Banff National Park, the area that surrounds the towns of Banff and Lake Louise is one of the best places to visit in Canada. Here you’ll find a Rocky Mountain wonderland; a place of electric blue glacial lakes, waterfalls, abundant wildlife (from elk to bighorn sheep to grizzly bears) and breathtaking grandeur. Stay either in Banff, the busy hub of the area and home to classic hotels like the Fairmont Banff Springs (one of Canada’s greatest hotels), or pursue some solitude up at Lake Louise, where hiking trails up into the mountains—and unparalleled silence—are just steps away.

Here are the best things to do in Banff on your next vacation.