Sunshine Meadows

20 minutes west of the Banff townsite. It also receives more snow than the other two resorts and benefits from a higher elevation and a generally longer ski season. All natural snow, no snow-making. Also fantastic scenery. It is the only resort of the three to have on-hill accommodation. Buffet breakfast served in the lodge at the bottom of the gondola - not much else until lunchtime once you get to the top.

A scenic route from Banff to Lake Louise, running parallel to Highway 1. You have a good chance at seeing different mammals like bighorn sheep, wolves, elk, deer and grizzly bears. There are seasonal travel restrictions.

See the birthplace of Canada's National Park system, where hot sulphur springs were found and the original bathhouse was built in 1887. There are also a couple of short nature trails that are free to access that explain the origin and the give you a view over the pools that are free to access.

Rather than taking the gondola up Sulphur Mountain, you can hike the trail up to the top of the ridge and catch the gondola down. (It's half price to just take the gondola down, but it's free before 10AM and after 7PM.) The trail is steep but manageable for those with a reasonable level of fitness. Note that there is a little-used road that goes down the side of Sulphur Mountain that is away from the town, which has been mistaken for the hiking trail; the road is much longer than the hiking trail. If you opt to hike down after taking the gondola up, you should be able to see the gondola towers and cables on your way down, as the hiking trail zigzags below the gondola lift.

An easy walk of 2.4 km through the marshlands near Banff. This is a good place for birdwatching and there are good views of Mount Norquay.

These three shallow lakes make a marvellous foreground to dramatic Mount Rundle in the background. Come at sunrise or sunset to see muskrat and beaver and get great lighting for photos.