Banff Vacations

Banff Vacations - Your Personal Rocky Mountain High

When you take Banff Vacations, you get to experience your very own Rocky Mountain High. While it may not be John Denver’s Colorado Rockies, vacationing in Banff offers you the chance to experience a Canadian version of that famous "Rocky Mountain High"! It’s a place where you can truly, "climb cathedral mountains" and "walk in quiet solitude". It’s a place where you can take a moment for yourself and truly listen to nature’s soundtrack or where you can explore seemingly endless terrain, rife with wildlife encounters. It’s a place where jagged peaks surround you, so close it’s almost as if you can reach out and touch them – like you’ve suddenly been transported into a surreal 3D movie.

"Rocky Mountain High" is a fitting term for Banff – with an elevation of 4,537 feet (1,383 m), the town is quite literally the highest town in Canada. Established in 1885 as Canada’s first National Park (third in the world), this massive park covers 2,564 square miles (6,641 km), boasts over 1,000 glaciers, has an excess of 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of hiking trails and is home to a vast array of wildlife, including the endangered woodland caribou.

This spectacular region has not only received national attention, but international attention as well. In 1984 Banff National Park, along with other national and provincial parks, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a United Nations designation, helping to protect over 7,700 square miles (20,000 square km) of the Canadian Rockies. All of this attention and preservation is well deserved – the dramatic peaks, fresh mountain air and abundant wildlife sightings leave an indelible impression meant to be maintained.

Knocking on the door of Banff National Park, 10 short minutes away, is the town of Canmore and my timeshare rental, the WorldMark Canmore-Banff resort (Ask about availability).

The small town of Canmore holds a substantial place in history as one of the most important coal mining locations in southern Alberta and a key contributor to the Canadian Pacific Railway. These days home to several refurbished coal mines, the area offers you the nostalgia of the past, combined with the modern necessities you desire – a selection of grocery stores and charming restaurants.

The resort itself is a quaint, refurbished property offering vacationers 108 studio, one- and two-bedroom units. Selected first and foremost for the unbeatable location – just seconds from hiking into the mountain forest, the cozy units come equipped with most of the essential WorldMark standard amenities. The exception being that there are no stoves in the kitchens or washer/dryers in the units (complimentary laundry facilities available on site). While the units may be missing a few of the standard amenities, you won’t be disappointed by the phenomenal scenery. In fact, the resort's manager finds that, "When people arrive at night, the next morning they walk out their door and you hear them go 'Wow' in absolute awe because the mountains are very dramatic and right there! You see them right above us – spectacular, very craggy with great shapes."

Looking to spend your Banff vacation immersing yourself in nature? The friendly staff at Canmore-Banff will point you in the right direction and the options are endless. Should you arrive in March or April, when most people are thinking spring, you may be surprised by the area’s biggest snow dumps of the season!

It’s spring skiing at its best – sunny skies, warmer temperatures, and lots of snow! If late spring or summer brings you to the area, you can pursue several recreational activities in the town of Banff– the gondola offers 360 degree views, white water rafting and Zip Trek provide the extreme sport for the more adventurous, or, for those who come to relax, you can soak in the history that put Banff on the map at the Banff Upper Hot Springs.

If you are looking for a more solitary nature experience during your Banff vacation, then do what the staff like to do when they really wants to feel like they're having a day off – head to Kanaskis.

It’s a great place to find peace and solitude and where you are highly likely to see wildlife up close and personal. Happy to share his treasured spot with other vacationers, the resort's maanager explains that the Kanaskis Loop drive is where he sends guests all summer because, "it’s quieter, more isolated and we get tons and tons of animal sightings out there – bear, moose ,elk, coyote, wolf, big horn sheep, mountain goat – everything! A great spot that’s very close to us." He points out that, "The name is Canmore-Banff, so the spotlight is definitely on Banff, but we really want to let people know that there are many other, lesser known, parks in the area as well. A trip out to Kanaskis country has the added advantage of not having a park entry fee or all the international traffic – it is really where locals go."

Whether you experience your "Rocky Mountain High" through the adventure of extreme sports, find it in the peaceful solitude of nature or discover it in an encounter with wildlife, WorldMark Canmore-Banff is your home base for your Banff vacation and all the Canadian Rocky Mountains have to offer.

This article about Banff vacations was based on an article that appeared in our timeshare owner's magazine.

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