Banff Avenue

One street does most of the talking in Banff, and it points straight at a mountain. Banff Avenue runs north from the bridge over the Bow River through the town centre in Alberta, and at its far end Cascade Mountain fills the frame, a limestone wall that makes even a coffee run feel like a Rockies setting. The street grew with the town itself, which began after the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the area in the 1880s and the nearby hot springs were set aside as the seed of Canada's first national park.

Most of the street is shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and outfitters, with the usual mix of souvenir stores and outdoor gear on offer. It is a good place to arrange the practicalities of a Rockies trip, whether that is renting skis or bikes, booking a tour or collecting picnic supplies. The Banff Park Museum National Historic Site sits at the southern end beside the river, in a log-framed building dating from 1903 that holds an old-fashioned natural history collection. A short walk from the avenue are the Cascade Gardens, whose terraced paths and pools lie behind the Park Administration Building, and the Cascade of Time Garden, and the Bow River trail leads from the bridge toward Central Park and Bow Falls.

Visitors will notice that wildlife has no regard for the street grid. Elk wander through town, particularly in autumn and spring, and visitors are expected to keep a respectful distance. Mountain views open up at nearly every intersection, so a casual stroll often becomes a photography walk.

Evenings are lively in summer, when patios fill and the sidewalks stay busy well after dinner. Winter is quieter and snowier, with a more local feel and lights in the trees, though sidewalks can be icy and good footwear matters. The Roam Transit buses run along the avenue and connect to the Banff Gondola, Banff Upper Hot Springs and Lake Louise routes, which is useful because parking in town is tight in July and August.

Walking the full length takes less than half an hour, but most people take much longer. The avenue suits first-time visitors, families and anyone staying in town who wants to eat, shop and then hike without a car. Entry to the national park itself requires a valid park pass.