Lake Louise, Banff. Photo courtesy Banff Lake Louise Tourism.

Destination: Banff, Alberta
Why You Should Go: Nestled within the Rockies, Banff is an outdoor lovers paradise. The town of Banff is actually found within Banff National Park, home to stunning mountain ranges, the picturesque Lake Louise and acre-after-acre of unspoilt beauty. There are three main ski mountains in the region — the Lake Louise Ski Area, Mount Norquay and Sunshine Village. Lake Louise is the largest of the three, in fact it’s one of the largest ski areas in North America, with 4,200 acres of terrain and 139 runs, which equates to an extremely diverse range of terrain, perfect for all levels.

While the slopes definitely dominate this region, you’ll find tons of more outdoor activities including dogsledding through mountain valleys, ice skating on Lake Louise or even heli-snowshoeing. We suggest heading over to the Fairmont Lake Louise post-activities and grabbing a hot chocolate (or better yet a glass of wine) at the Lakeview Lounge.

Not relaxed enough? Warm up at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Discovered in 1884, this natural phenomenon is now one of the area’s most notorious attractions.