Canmore, Canada, started out in the 1800s as a small coal-mining town. Many coal towns have come and gone since then throughout Canada, but Canmore continues to thrive – on tourism. After the 1998 Calgary Winter Olympics, the secret got out and Canmore’s population exploded from around 3,000 people to more than 12,000 today, and it’s one of the best of the Canadian Rockies.

Like any city or town located in the Canadian Rockies, Canmore is surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty. Some of the best hiking in the region can be found here just steps away from your Canmore hotel or accommodations. Incredible mountain vistas, pristine rivers, streams, waterfalls and lakes, and abundant wildlife – perfect for a vacation getaway or holiday in the Rockies. And after your hike there are plenty of pubs and restaurants for you to choose from in downtown Canmore where you can relax and refuel.

And don’t forget the opportunities for sightseeing and guided tours, whitewater rafting, golf and nightlife. Then there are Canadian Rockies train tours, corporate planning retreats and limitless summer and winter outdoor recreation. Some of our favorites are rock climbing, cross-country skiing and kayaking.

Canmore is just 25 kilometers southeast of Banff down the Trans Canada Highway where the town straddles the Bow River. At its highest point the town’s elevation is 1,480 meters, or about 14,856 feet. While Canmore resides in the Bow River valley, it is of course surrounded by peaks, such as The Three Sisters, Mount Lady MacDonald, Mount Lawrence Grassi and Grotto Mountain.  The closest international airports are at Edmonton, Alberta and Calgary, Alberta.

Official site: Canmore Kananaskis

Vacation sites:

• Canmore at CanadianRockies.net
• Canmore at Rockies.com

Lake Louise, Alberta is the best place in the Canadian Rockies to mix water sports with your hiking, cycling and other outdoor recreation.

Compared to Banff town just to the south, Lake Louise is quiet and more laid back, with only a few bars and restaurants to complement its excellent motels, boutique hotels, and resorts like Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. It consequently is a great getaway destination in Western Canada and one of the best in the Canadian Rockies. From sightseeing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, backpacking and skiing to a majestic alpine wedding, Lake Louise is the vacation place of choice for millions of Banff National Park visitors every year.

Well known among photographers and painters, Lake Louse also offers plenty to see and do for those of us who aren’t mountaineers: there are plenty of short walks, day hikes, backpacking trips, or off-trail scrambles. Victoria Glacier overlooks Lake Louise, which in summer is a lovely turquoise color: perfect for canoeing. In the winter the lake freezes over and you can ice skate or just marvel at the ice sculptures – natural and man made.

About 61 kilometers northwest of Banff, Lake Louise is also higher at 1,536 meters, or 5,039 feet. While Banff is the highest incorporated city in Canada, Lake Louise – which is much smaller – is the highest permanent settlement. The closer international airports are at Edmonton, Alberta and Calgary, Alberta.

Official site: Discover Lake Louise

Vacation sites:

• Lake Louise at CanadianRockies.net
• Lake Louise at Rockies.com

Jasper, Alberta is a small alpine town surrounded by the Canadian Rocky mountains that is the gateway to the largest national park in Canada: Jasper National Park.

It consequently is one of the best vacation destinations in not just Alberta, but all of Western Canada — certainly its one of the best of the Canadian Rockies. From resorts and boutique hotels, sightseeing, whitewater rafting, golf and wildlife tours to weddings opportunities, it has it all. Furthermore, you can enjoy half-day train tours, gondola sightseeing on Whistler Mountain or any summer and winter activity you can think of. Some of the things we love to do in Jasper include mountain biking in the summer, ice climbing in the winter, and other guided tours.

A small town that avoids much of the trappings of many resort towns. Jasper is located 290 kilometers northwest of Banff, Canada.

Official site: Jasper National Park

Vacation sites:

• Jasper at CanadianRockies.net
• Jasper at Rockies.com

If you enjoy picturesque mountain towns like Flagstaff, Arizona, then you’ll love Banff, Alberta; it is a Canadian Rockies vacation jewel.

Banff, Canada is a vacation paradise located in Banff National Park. From great hotels, sightseeing, whitewater rafting, golf and nightlife to weddings opportunities, it has it all. Furthermore, you can enjoy Canadian Rockies rail tours, corporate planning retreats or any summer and winter tour opportunity you can name. Some of our favorites are backpacking, mountain climbing and other guided tours.

Banff National Park is only an hour from Calgary, 15 minutes from Canmore, 15 minutes from Lake Louise and 2 hours from Jasper and Jasper National Park.

Banff National Park of Canada is a beautiful mountain town that offers so much.

Official site: BanffNationalPark.com
Vacation sites:

• Banff at CanadianRockies.net
• BanffTravel.com

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Buffalo Wild Wings is just that place. They are located next to Walmart on Woodlands Village Blvd, across from Motel 6.

They are the biggest of the Flagstaff sports bars in our fine city with big screen TVs everywhere. I can watch my inferior sports teams lose up close and personal. I think I need to convert to being an Arizona Cardinals fan.

Buffalo has a mixture of townies, locals, students those who have never quite found employment or a life. I love them all, except for the pompous, obnoxious Dallas Cowboys fans.

They got a ton of great beer on tap and their chicken wraps are quite legit. This is the place for serious sports aficionados.

Remember: friends don’t let friends become Chicago Cubs fans.

Check back with me often as I will give you my expert opinion on where to go and where not to go in Northern, Arizona. Don’t take me too seriously. It’s not like I’m a real journalist – although I am paid pretty bad.
Buffalo Wild Wings
2700 S. Woodlands Village Blvd.
Suite 550
Flagstaff, AZ 86001-2975
Phone: 928-774-3550

And, when I come into a town, I love to find some great mocha and good wi-fi at no charge. I won’t pay for internet. That’s un-American. That’s a basic reason I hate Starbucks.

Here are some great Flagstaff coffee joints.

Campus Coffee Bean – South Milton

On your way to Snowbowl, as you go north on Milton, Campus Coffee Bean at 1800 S. Milton is an eclectic student, ski bum hangout with a great selection of green tea. And they offer four different wi-fi connections. They don’t have a lot of seating near electrical outlets. I love their blends of coffee.

Macy’s – Beaver Street – near NAU

Macy’s is on 14 South Beaver Street, across from Beaver Street Brewery. This is a cool vegetarian and European coffee house that students, locals and yokels adore. The yokels are cool. Some of them even shower once every presidential administration.

Their wi-fi is free and reliable. They are into that vegan crap. Well, if you are into eating stuff has no taste or value, then this is your haven. I love eating something with real taste or something recently shot.

Rendezvous – Hotel Monte Vista

Now, if I want a real taste of old Downtown, Flagstaff, AND if I want secure wi-fi, Rendezvous Coffee House and Martini Bar is my choice. I love drinking coffee in the historic Monte Vista Hotel. I don’t go there a lot because all of seating offered are stools. They don’t have any booths like the rest of the coffee shops in town. They are a martini bar in addition to being a coffee shop. If you need secured Flagstaff wi-fi, this is the place to go. Rendezvous has more character than any place in town. Clint Eastwood has been spotted there. Paul McCartney has been seen there with his new girl. They have live music from local singers. Some have talent. Some are probably even blogging for dollars.

Late for the Train – on the way to Snowbowl – Grand Canyon

This is one of my favorite Flagstaff coffee shops. I love the mocha. I love their blends of coffee and it is a really relaxing, community Flagstaff atmosphere. You can caffeine up on the way to or coming back from ski. They have leather couches and a fire place for couch potatoes like me and the wi-fi is pretty good. They have food with real calories.

Rick Carlisle

With more than 8,000 people jamming our site on the first night of the blizzard, some of you got error codes that affected your ability to see Flagstaff via our web cams.

FlagstaffWebcam.com apologizes for the inconvenience.

FlagstaffWebCam.com has been relaunched and will be merging with the new FlagstaffTravel.com – Flagstaff’s first continuously updated adventure portal. We will have more information soon.

In the meantime, we cherish your comments, criticisms and suggestions as to what you want to see in our site.

And, please everyone: do a snow dance.
Rick Carlisle
Adventure Editor