Canadian Rockies - A skiers paradise

The Canadian Rockies is a huge area with fabulous scenery, good snow and a wonderful sense of the great outdoors.  The 2 main resorts in Alberta, Lake Louise and Banff are more the popular with the British market. These two resorts are just 45 minutes apart and are a great base for taking day trips to other resorts such as Kicking Horse and Panorama.  There are regular ski buses between Banff and Lake Louise which also stop at the other skiing areas of Sunshine Village,  Mount Norquay and Nakiska which was purpose built for the Winter Olympics in 1988. Banff is a great base as the town has so much to offer, from its own hot springs to fantastic restaurants, accommodation and plenty of shopping along Banff Avenue.  Taking the Banff Gondola to the "top of the world" takes 8 minutes and you will experience the 360 degree panoramic views of Banff and the Bow Valley. Along with the many skiing opportunities, you can also try your hand at Snowmobiling, Dog Sledding, Ice Skating, Ice Canyon Walks to name a few. If you fancied a day off from skiing, take a trip into Calgary where there is plenty to keep you occupied from museums, Olympic park tours, the zoo, spaceport and stampede park.  I can definitely recommend booking a table at the Calgary Tower.  This revolving restaurant sits at the top of the 626ft Calgary Tower and offers amazing views of the city whilst eating fantastic food. If you happen to be visiting when the Calgary Flames have a home ice hockey game, I would highly booking the trip to watch them play.  A great experience in the iconic Saddledome is one to remember. If skiing isn't for you, please do not discount this area as in the summer months, you can still visit as part of a tour and book a trip on board the Rocky Mountaineer train across North America visiting Vancouver, Whistler and many more areas.