You can travel the world, but there’s truly no place like Wild Rose Country. From bustling cities and small towns to mountain peaks and the Badlands, there’s plenty to discover, but Banff in Alberta is among the best in the country!

Located an hour and a half from Calgary, this world-renowned destination offers iconic views, a wide range of outdoor activities, and has quite the story to tell.

Though it has been known to Canada’s First Nations people for more than 10,000 years, Banff was established as a national park in 1885, making it the oldest (and most-visited) in Canada

Thanks to its “rich and vibrant” cultural and natural history, it was also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, along with several others in the Canadian Rockies.

“Renowned for their scenic splendor, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks are comprised of Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho national parks and Mount Robson, Mount Assiniboine and Hamber provincial parks,” they explain.

“Together, they exemplify the outstanding physical features of the Rocky Mountain Biogeographical Province.”

From scenic trails to cozy bed and breakfasts, those looking for a staycation are in for a treat all year round.

In the summertime enjoy golfing, camping, rock climbing, wildflowers, turquoise lakes, boating, hiking and trail rides, then in the winter go skiing and snowmobiling, admire wildlife and walk the town – there’s something for everyone!

Love science? There’s also a ton that you can learn about our planet’s history!

“Classic illustrations of glacial geological processes — including ice fields, remnant valley glaciers, canyons and exceptional examples of erosion and deposition — are found throughout the area,” UNESCO continues.

“The Burgess Shale Cambrian fossil sites and nearby Precambrian sites contain important information about the earth’s evolution.”

All in all, it’s a pretty cool place visited by more than four million visitors annually.

Want to join the club? Next time you’ve got an open weekend pack up and head out – but don’t forget the road snacks!

Depending on where you live it’s a bit of a drive – but is totally worth the trip.

Banff National Park, Alberta

Where: Direction here

Cassandra Stefanic

Regional Editor, Prairies – Cassandra is a Calgary-based journalist with a deep appreciation for music, film, food, travelling and story-telling. When she’s not chasing a story, writing or editing, you’ll likely find her binge-watching a new TV series, at a speakeasy with friends, cooking, or getting lost in a Taylor Swift re-record.

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