| | History (Source: WCities) | Top | The first people to occupy Banff were Native Americans who arrived in the Bow River Valley nearly 11,000 years ago, as the last Ice Age was coming to an end. Finding the winter climate mild due to the chinooks (strong, warm winds that rush out of the mountains and onto the prairie in the middle of the winter), they settled in the protected mountain valleys, and enjoyed the abundance of fish and wildlife that called the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains home. Over time, they developed into the Cree, Kootenay and Blackfoot tribes, who coexisted in relative peace for the next 9,900 years. In the late 1700's, a smallpox epidemic washed over the Great Plains, killing half the native population and seriously weakening the survivors. Buffalo hunters had also reduced the thundering herds to a shadow of their former selves, eradicating a major source of food. Territorial conflicts broke out among the tribes, who had received horses and firearms from trading partners to the east. Rumours of European traders and missionaries began arriving, and soon after explorers began to trickle into the area. Most of the travellers were in the employ of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and were seeking new areas to trap and trade furs. Fur trading and mining exploration remained the primary activities in the region until the 1850's, when surveying expeditions, including the famous Palliser Expedition, came to chart the Southern Rockies and northwestern prairies. Their maps were used in the
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There: By Air: Banff is serviced by Calgary International Airport ( +1 403 735 1200/ http://www.calgaryairport.com ), located approximately 80 miles away. Its terminals house the following airlines: Alaska Airlines ( + 1 800 426 0333/ http://www.alaskaair.com ) Air Canada ( +1 800 776 3000/ http://www.aircanada.ca ) American Airlines ( + 1 800 433 7300/ http://www.aa.com ) Canadian North ( +1 800 661 1505/ http://www.canadiannorth.com ) Continental ( +1 800 525 0280/ http://www.continental.com ) Delta ( +1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com ) Jetsgo ( + 1 866 440 0441/ http://www.jetsgo.net ) Northwest ( +1 800 225 2525/ http://www.nwa.com ) QuickAir ( + 1 800 551 7845/ http://www.quikair.ca ) United ( +1 800 241 6522/ http://www.ual.com ) US Airways ( +1 800 428 4322/ http://www.usairways.com ) WestJet ( + 1 800 538 5696/ http://www.westjet.com ) Zoom Airlines Inc ( +1 866 359 9666/ http://www.flyzoom.ca ) The Banff Airporter ( 1 888 449 2901/ http://www.banffairporter.com ) and the Banff Canmore Airport Express ( +1 877 992 2633/ http://banffairporttaxi.com ) offer transit options to and from the airport. Rental Car companies include: Tilden Rent-A-Car ( +1 403 762 2688 ) Banff Rent A Car ( +1 403 762 3352 ) Avis ( +1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com ) Budget ( +1 800 527 0700/ http://www.budget.com ) Hertz ( +1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com )
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Keeping yourself occupied in Banff should never be a challenge. Dozens of activities for young and old alike make Banff an ideal place to indulge in all your favorite cravings. Skiing Most people who come to Banff are looking for the crisp, clear powder snow and soaring peaks that the region is famous for. There are three big ski areas in the park. Banff Mount Norquay , only a five minute drive from Banff, is excellent for beginners. Sunshine Village is huge, encompassing five mountains with 12 lifts. The terrain ranges from bunny hills to the more challenging, like Delirium Dive, a 50-degree slope infested with cliffs and so dangerous that it is open only a few days of the year. Lake Louise Ski Area has the best terrain of the three, and is host to the World Cup downhill races. Cross country ski trails can be found at Banff Mount Norquay , Lake Louise Ski Area and at the Canmore Nordic Centre . Shopping Should you ever find yourself in desperate need of a plush stuffed moose, carved buffalo horn, or expedition-grade ski gear, chances are you will find it somewhere along Banff Avenue . From the Bow River Bridge to the Cascade Plaza, both sides of the Avenue are lined with hole-in-the wall stores, restaurants and nightclubs. The shopping is unparalleled anywhere in this part of Canada, and many people come to Banff for no reason other than to shop. Where else can you find a complete Christmas shop squeezed between a high-end furrier and
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