Banff Lake Louise / Village

Louise “village” grew around the railroad station and the majestic Chateau Lake Louise Hotel still dominates. The station is no more but the hotel certainly is. Development is tightly controlled by the Parks Service so the village is compact but has most amenities—gas station, bakery, grocery, liquor store, bus station, a wide range of lodgings, and over 20 restaurants and bars all linked by free shuttle buses.

The upper alpine Sunshine Village lies at 7,082 feet (2,159 m). Lodgings are found at the Sunshine Inn, and the village also has two licensed day lodges, nine food outlets, cocktail lounges, ski & snowboard school, rental store, daycare, snowboard park, outdoor hot pool, and reputedly Canada’s best snow, and lots of it—396 inches (1,006 cm) a year!

At Banff Mt. Norquay families come out to play, but it is not a village per se. Because it’s so close, you stay in the bustling town of Banff, with its hotels, B&Bs, lodges, restaurants, bistros, stores, galleries, boutiques, museums, and plenty of activities such as soaking in the natural hot springs. Mt. Norquay has a new base lodge with licensed lounge, dining, daycare, ski and snowboard schools, and rentals.