Taxi Mike's Guide to Banff - Things to do in Banff, Canada!

WINTER

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Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours
Website: http://www.snowyowltours.com • Email: leaddog@snowyowltours.com
Telephone: (403) 678-4369 • Fax: (403) 678-6702 • Toll Free: 1-888-311-MUSH (6874)
Mountain Avenue, Box 8039, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 2T8
From their website: Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours excels in offering you the most unique dog sledding experience in the Canadian Rockies! Snuggle into cozy sleds with beautiful blankets. Experience the thrill and excitement of driving a team of Canadian Huskies in our majestic Rocky Mountain wilderness. Imagine your hand-crafted oak sled as it glides down a pristine mountain trail, led by our experienced professional guides. Let your mind drift as the dogs rhythmic breathing and perfect stride create an ancient Inuit song. Let us take you into this mystical world of the Original Canadian!!

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Holiday on Horseback - Warner Guiding and Outfitting - Winter
Trail Rider Store 132 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB Canada
Website: http://www.horseback.com • E-mail: warner@horseback.com
Phone: 403-762-4551 • Fax: 403-762-8130 • Toll Free: 1-800-661-8352
Box 2280 Banff, AB T1L 1C1
From their website: WESTERN WINTER FUN WITH HOLIDAY ON HORSEBACK - SLEIGH RIDES - Join us on a sleigh ride with your family and friends; the perfect "Western Touch" to your winter holiday. Sleigh rides are available every hour on the hour, 7 days per week, from 10:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. weather and snow conditions permitting. Rides are approximately 45 minutes. Advance reservations are required. Location: Warner Stables, Sundance Road. CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AT SUNDANCE LODGE - "The peace and quiet of a cozy backcountry lodge . . ." If the idea of getting away for a few days to the peace and quiet of a cozy backcountry lodge appeals to you, we have just what you need. Banff Sundance Lodge is the perfect relaxing winter get-away in the mountains! The lodge has 10 sleeping rooms, a large country kitchen, and a cozy living room area where you can curl up by the woodstove and lose yourself in a good book. And after a day spent skiing in the fresh mountain air, you'll appreciate an added comfort from home -- hot showers! Mealtime is always an event - you'll delight in hearty, home-cooked meals and fresh-from-the-oven baked goods - no one ever leaves Sundance hungry. A 16 km ski away from the mountain town of Banff, and just 10 km from the Sunshine turn off. The wide, well-sheltered trail leads you along the tree-lined valley of the Sundance Range, and is considered easy to moderate for cross country ski enthusiasts.

YEAR-ROUND

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SULPHUR MOUNTAIN GONDOLA
Banff SkyCam: Eye on Banff • Website: http://www.banffgondola.com • Email: lift@banffgondola.com
Telephone: (403) 762-2523 • Fax: (403) 762-7493
Mountain Avenue, Box 1258, Banff, Alberta, T1L 1B2
From their website: Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain is located at the end of Mountain Avenue in Banff in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain transports visitors to an elevation of 2,281m (7,486 feet) above sea level at the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff, Alberta, Canada. This offers the best view in the Canadian Rocky Mountains - an unobstructed 360° view of the most memorable mountain scenery you will ever witness! But don't take our word for it - see the view from the top of the mountain for yourself by using the Eye on Banff , a live WebCam mounted on the roof of the summit complex! Views are updated every 10 minutes. Be sure to look through our website; we have quite a bit of information here that can help you make the most of your visit to both Sulphur Mountain and Banff National Park. The links at the top of this page will take you to information on Banff National Park, the Town of Banff, and every available service at the summit of Sulphur Mountain. But most of all, remember this: whether you're spending a few days in Banff or just a few hours, be sure to include Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain in your Rocky Mountain experience. See what over 10 million visitors to the top of our world have found to be the highlight of their visit to Banff! At the summit, enjoy nature on one of our three outdoor observation terraces. For the adventurous, there are trails along beautiful mountain ridges with panoramic views. Hike to new, magnificent vistas and find peaceful moments among the quiet solitude of the superb mountain terrain. Or follow in the footsteps of Banff pioneers such as Norman Sanson, known as Nature's Gentleman, on the interpretive walkways to Sanson's peak. All this and more - set amongst a fabulous mountain backdrop of the magnificent Canadian Rockies....only at Sulphur Mountain.

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Banff Upper Hot Springs / Pleiades Massage and Spa
Website: http://www.hotsprings.ca
Toll Free: 1-800-767-1611 (pre-recorded messages) • Tel: 403-762-1515
Mountain Ave, Banff National Park, Box 900, Banff, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
From their website: All the amenities of a modern facility are featured in this splendid, historic spa and bath house - against a backdrop of Banff's spectacular alpine scenery. You will luxuriate in the comfort of soothing hot springs where travelers have come to "take the waters" for more than a century. Banff's premier attraction offers: Hot Springs and Spa open daily, year-round. Restored 1930's heritage bathhouse. Outdoor mineral spring fed hot pool with views of famous Mount Rundle. Children's wading area in pool. Spacious change rooms with heated floors. Pleiades Massage and Spa offers a variety of massage, facial and body treatments. Outfitter's Gift Store. Restaurant and snack bar. Outdoor terrace restaurant. Reception area designed to accommodate tour groups. Universally wheelchair accessible. Interpretive exhibits on Banff hot spring hydrology and history. Award winning summer interpretation programs. Banff special events. Free parking. Transportation right to pool available from local Public Transit..

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Discover Banff Tours
Website: http://www.banfftours.com
Phone: (403) 760-5007 • Toll Free: (877) 565-9372 • Fax: (403) 760-7651
215 Banff Ave, Sundance Mall, Box 1566, Banff, Alberta T1L 1B5
From their website: We know Banff’s best kept secrets and would like to share them with you! Discover Banff Tours offers a variety of tours year round. Sightseeing - At Discover Banff Tours we believe in small group sizes, enabling guests to interact with our guides. Our sightseeing tours utilize our modern 24 passenger buses. All tours are guided by enthusiastic interpretive guides who love to share their knowledge with you. We provide Banff hotel pick up and drop off, light refreshments, use of binoculars and spotting scopes as well as hands-on interpretive items. Wildlife Viewing - Discover Banff Tours provides wildlife viewing tours during the summer months. These tours will give you your best chance of seeing and learning about wildlife. Hiking - Join our hiking guides on a full day tour that includes 4-6 hours of hiking time -Share the passion for the mountains with our local guides on the classic hikes of the Banff and Lake Louise area - Hikes include Stanley Glacier, Larch Valley, Healy Pass, Ha Ling Summit, Plain of 6 glaciers - Guests must have sturdy footwear and dress in layers in case of weather changes. Whitewater Rafting - Rafting in the Canadian Rockies is suitable for all ages and abilities. Horseback Riding - Would you like to explore Banff on horseback? Join us for a one, two or three hour ride. Hungry? Ride to 3 Mile Cabin on the Evening Trailride/Steakfry for BBQ steak dinner made to order. Come experience the thrill of riding an ATV up 9000 vertical feet. Journey into the past and visit the remnants of the early 19001s Silver Mining town while you summit Paradise Mountain. Transportation to Toby Creek is included and the scenery on the drive into British Columbia is tremendous. Helmets are provide for you and your trip includes snacks and refreshments. Drivers must be 16 or older and a minimum of 100 lbs. For more information call toll free at 1-877-565-9372.

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Adventures Unlimited
Website: http://www.banffadventures.com
Toll Free: 1-800-644-8888 • Tel: (403) 762-4554 • Fax: (403) 760-3196
**NEW LOCATION** 211 Bear Street, Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1A8
From their website: Banff Adventures Unlimited is the one-stop adventure shop, offering activities and tours in the Canadian Rockies. Treat yourself to the luxury of hassle-free booking with access to all of the area’s activities in one place. Summer or winter, we are sure to have a trip that suits. Come in and see us at our new Banff location at 211 Bear Street, open 7 days a week. Winter Activities include: Snowmobiling, Hockey, Dogsledding, Sight Seeing Tours, Sleigh Rides, Ice Walks & Snowshoe, Ice Climbing/Ice Fishing, Scenic Flights & Heli-Skiing/Boarding. Summer Activities include: Rafting, ATV, Horseback, Kayaking, Fishing, Scenic Flights, Sightseeing Tours & Hikes, Bike Rentals, Rock Climbing, Wildlife Tours & Cave Tours.

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White Mountain Adventures
Website: http://whitemountainadventures.com
Toll Free: 1-800-408-0005
#7, 107 Boulder Crescent, Canmore, Alberta, Canada T1W 1K9
From their website: Our focus is on adventure and learning in an outdoor environment. Over the past 17 years our goal has always been to offer more than just a walking, hiking or sightseeing trip, it has been to provide you with the opportunity to escape into the natural world and discover more about it and yourself (not to mention having a great time while doing it, meeting lots of wonderful people, getting out into the fresh air, and marvelling at the scenery!)

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Alpine Helicopters
Website: http://www.alpinehelicopter.com • Email: canmore@alpinehelicopters.com
91 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, Alberta, Canada T1W 1N8
Telephone: (403) 678-4802 • Facsimile: (403) 678-2176
From their website: Alpine Helicopters provides Canadian Rockies helicopter tours, including sightseeing, heli-hiking and heli-wedding tours, from bases in Canmore and Calgary in Alberta and Kelowna and Golden in British Columbia. Experience the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies ...…defy conventional tours and behold incomparable beauty, compliments of Alpine Helicopters Ltd.

SUMMER

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Blue Canoe - Canoe Rentals
Phone: (403) 760-5007 • Toll Free: (877) 565-9372 • Fax: (403) 760-7651
Booking Office 215 Banff Ave., Sundance Mall, Box 1566, Banff, Alberta T1L 1B5
An inexpensive and easy way to experience the Canadian Rockies! Paddle on the Bow River or explore Fourty Mile Creek and the Vermillion Lakes from the centrally located Banff canoe dock.

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Rocky Mountain Raft Tours
PO Box 1771, Banff, AB T1L 1B6
Phone: 403-762-3632 • Fax: 403-762-9205
From their website: The Rocky Mountain Raft Tours specializes in leisurely one and two hour tours along the Bow River. The Hoodoo Float Tour: What we do is just an easy boat ride on class 2 water. It is not a white water trip. We launch on the Spray River and float out on to the Bow River and travel a magnificent section of the Bow Valley that takes you down between Tunnel Mountain and Mount Rundle. We travel away from Sleeping Buffalo Mountain and drift slowly around the Hoodoos and then we land at the towering North Face of Mount Rundle. There we have buses to bring you back. You are on the water for about one hour. Our guests often bring cameras, as it is a sight seeing trip and you can have the reasonable expectation to be dry at the finish. Families and seniors are also more than welcome to join. We have all the different size life jackets to fit everybody so even little children may board the boat! The Rundle Float Tour: We will meet you at the launch site at the base of Mount Rundle’s towering North Face. From there we float East for approximately two hours through the Bow Valley. Wildlife, waterfowl, and wild flowers are abundant on this exclusive section of the Bow River. Our guides land the rafts on the banks of the river and from there we do a three-block nature exploration walk through the forest to meet your bus transportation. We offer morning and afternoon departures from mid June until Labour Day.

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Banff Fishing Unlimited
Website: http://www.banff-fishing.com • Email: info@banff-fishing.com
Phone: (403) 762-4936 • Banff, Alberta, Canada
From their website: Welcome to BANFF FISHING UNLIMITED, Alberta's year round guiding and outfitting service for Fly fishing, Lake Trout charters, and Ice fishing in and around Banff National Park, Kananaskis Country, and Alberta's Rocky Mountain park area. As one of the areas only year round fishing specialists,(Longest running Guide service on the Upper Bow River), we have unrivaled experience and local knowledge of the wide range of lakes and rivers in this region. With over 20 years of business experience, providing successful guided outtings for our clients, we are confident we can give you a memorable and exceptional fishing adventure. The scenery is fantastic and the fishing is great. As the largest and most comprehensive guiding and outfitting service for fishing in the region that includes Banff National Park, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, and Alberta's Rocky Mountain park area, we provide four unique fishing experiences for our clients. Any of our guided trips can give you a truly memorable fishing experience. If fishing amidst the splendour of the Canadian Rockies is in your plans, please contact us at Banff Fishing Unlimited. Through our abilities to network with other outfitters ,we can also arrange fishing trips into beautiful British Columbia. We invite you to preview our guided trips listed below. If you desire, we will customize a fishing adventure to meet your specifications.

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Holiday on Horseback - Warner Guiding and Outfitting - Summer
Trail Rider Store 132 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB Canada
Website: http://www.horseback.com • E-mail: warner@horseback.com
Phone: 403-762-4551 • Fax: 403-762-8130 • Toll Free: 1-800-661-8352
Box 2280 Banff, AB T1L 1C1
From their website: Would you like to explore Banff on horseback? Join us at either of our convenient locations, Warner Stables or the Fairmont Banff Springs Corral, for a one, two or three hour ride. Hungry? Ride to 3 Mile Cabin on the Mountain Morning Breakfast Ride, Covered Wagon Cookout or the Evening Trailride/Steakfry for BBQ steak dinner made to order. With over 300 horses we can accommodate any rider level, from novice to advanced. As we do have some restrictions on age and weight, please contact us for more information at (403) 762-4551 or stop by the Trail Rider Store at 132 Banff Avenue. While your there, check out our collection of cowboy boots and hats for the whole family and take home a little piece of the old west. Holiday on Horseback offers true western heritage experiences in Banff National Park. Exciting horseback riding brings you closer to nature, where you will learn all about life in the west! The cowboys, provided by Warner Guiding and Outfitting, will guide you through a photographers haven to the best fishing spots the Canadian Rockies have to offer. A Holiday on Horseback packtrip takes you and fellow adventurers deep into the heart of Banff National Park. During your journey you may choose to stay in tents, or enjoy a backcountry lodge stay at the historical Halfway Lodge or the beautiful Sundance Lodge. For horseback riding in Banff, contact Holiday on Horseback at 1-800-661-8352

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Minnewanka Boat Tours
Website: http://www.minnewankaboattours.com/
P.O. Box 2189, Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1B9
Phone: (403) 762-3473 • Fax: (403) 762-3479
From their website: Lake Minnewanka lies in the heart of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, just a short 15 minute drive from the town site.We operate three, 48 passenger tour boats on the lake, several times daily from mid May to mid October. This magnificent cruise consists of a 1.5 hour interpretive tour of Lake Minnewanka and surrounding area. Our experienced crew will guide you through this rugged paradise richly steeped in history, native folklore and geology. The narration is entertaining and informative. You will learn about the wildlife and vegetation that inhabit these mountains, the early explorers who named them and the tremendous forces that created them. The highlight of the tour is the Devil's Gap; a glacial path carved through Lake Minnewanka from the foothills of the Rockies. The Lake Minnewanka valley offers some of the most interesting and spectacular scenery found anywhere in the Canadian Rockies. Transportation: Bus transportation is available through Brewster Tours (403) 762-6767, from most Banff Hotels. Ample free parking is available for coaches and automobiles. 2005 Operating Season: Devil's Gap Boat Cruises: May 14 - October 3, 2005 • Charter Fishing & Boat Rentals: May 21 - September 5, 2005 • Scheduled Sailings: 9:00 am (available for groups only), 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, (and 7:00 until September 5, Labour Day, only).

Taxi Mike’s Guide to Banff. Winter Web Edition, 2007/8.

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