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Waterton (pop. 55) Waterton National Park
At just 203 square miles, Waterton is the tiniest park in the Canadian Rockies. And the town of Waterton is by far the sleepiest in our list of Alberta mountain towns. Small and quiet is what makes it special, though, along with its many water-borne activities, from boating and water-skiing to swimming and scuba-diving.
What's in a Name? The Waterton chain of lakes was named by Lieutenant Blakiston, in honor of British naturalist Squire Charles Waterton.
Local Watering Hole: Wolf's Den Lounge: in Waterton Lakes Lodge locally brewed beer, selection of liquor and wines.
Picture Yourself Here: Among the most photographed hotels in the world, the majestic Prince of Wales Hotel sits high on a bluff overlooking Waterton Lake.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: The canoe virtually defined Canadian travel for centuries, and you can rent one to ply the waters of Waterton or Cameron Lake.
Banff (pop. 7,615) Banff National Park
Banff is the first Canadian municipality incorporated into a national park, and has been offering its warm Alberta hospitality and stunning settings to visitors for well over a century. Banff gets about six million visitors a year, and is synonymous worldwide with the Rocky Mountains of Canada.
What's in a Name? The town of Banff is named after Banffshire, Scotland, the birthplace of two major financiers of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Local Watering Hole: The Rose & Crown, a neighborhood pub on Banff Avenue, is an established local tradition, welcoming a quarter-million guests a year.
Picture Yourself Here: Few sights are as memorable as the "Castle in the Rockies", the gothic 120-year-old Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Most Canadian Thing to Do: Mountie-spotting. You can regularly spy a real-live Royal Canadian Mounted Police in full regalia somewhere on the streets of Banff.
Jasper (pop. 4,697) Jasper National Park
As the focal point of the largest park in the Canada's Rocky Mountains, Jasper is the jumping-off point for countless activities, including canoeing, kayaking, hiking, golfing, fishing, horseback riding and skiing at Marmot Basin. Surrounded by a necklace of emerald lakes and majestic waterfalls, Jasper offers accommodations ranging from quaint cabins to luxurious resorts. What's in a Name? In 1813, the North West Company built a supply depot on Brule Lake, which becomes known as Jasper House after NWC clerk Jasper Hawes.
Local Watering Hole: The Athabasca Hotel has been a local Jasper favorite whether for casual drinks or dinner since opening its doors in 1929.
Picture Yourself Here: A great photo opportunity in Jasper is to pose beside the 8-foot sculpture of Jasper the Bear with the Canadian Rockies in the background.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: At the Columbia Icefield south of Jasper, you can ride an "Ice Explorer" onto a massive glacier that spans 150 square miles.
Canmore (pop. 14,221) Kananaskis Country
Encircled by one of the world's most spectacular mountain ranges, Canmore sits in a virtual cape of the Canadian Rockies 1.5 hours west of Calgary, in an Alberta provincial park. It's bordered to the west and north by Banff National Park and to the southeast by Kananaskis Country, making it a major mountain hub for adventure-seekers and casual travelers alike. What's in a Name? Canmore was named in 1884 by Lord Strathcona, in honor of Malcome III Canmore, who was king of Scotland from 1057 to 1093.
Local Watering Hole: At the Grizzly Paw Pub & Brew Company you can enjoy locally brewed beer and mountain-sized burgers.
Picture Yourself Here: Nothing says Canmore quite like the Three Sisters mountain range, which form an ideal backdrop for any photo opportunity.
A Uniquely Canadian Activity: The town plays host to the Canmore Highland Games in September, a great chance to experience the long Scottish heritage of Canada. At just 203 square miles, Waterton is the tiniest park in the Canadian Rockies. And the town of Waterton is by far the sleepiest in our list of Alberta mountain towns. Small and quiet is what makes it special, though, along with its many water-borne activities, from boating and water-skiing to swimming and scuba-diving.
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Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
