Visiting Banff

Photo courtesy of Doug Leighton/
Banff Lake Louise Tourism

CSCW 2006 is set in the Banff, Canada, in the center of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Banff is Canada's oldest national park and the third oldest in the world. The hot springs there were discovered in 1883 by employees of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the National Park around them was designated in 1885.

A world-wide tourist destination since its inception, Banff has something to offer for everyone. Breathtaking scenery, stunning hiking trails, historic importance, some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world, fantastic shopping and scrumptious food - everything to make a great backdrop for a great conference.

Photo courtesy of
Banff Lake Louise Tourism

CSCW will be hosted at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Work on this hotel, modeled after a Scottish baronial castle, was started in 1886 and completed in 1888. It was the first hotel in the park and is still considered by many a 'must see' if you are in Banff. It is a beautiful 20-minute walk from the hotel to downtown Banff, but hotel shuttles are also available.

To help you get the most out of your trip, we have assembled some information about Banff for you and your family. As you can tell, there's lots to see and do here.

Banff 101

Banff weather
Organized tours
Eating out in Banff
Outdoor entertainment
Indoor entertainment
Nightlife fun

Information on Getting to Banff and Getting Around in Banff is on our Transportation page.

Banff Weather

The Rocky Mountains can have almost any type of weather in early November. They can have full snow coverage, so ski equipment might be in order. Or there might have been a long, mild fall, leaving many of the hiking trails still open. The average high in November is 0 Celcius (32 Fahrenheit), and the average low is -8 Celsius (17 Fahrenheit) with 1.2 inches of precipitation. For more up-to-date weather information, check out Environment Canada's forecast.

Organized tours

We've put together a fabulous tour of Banff and Lake Louise with a trip up the Banff Gondola included. The tour is Sunday, November 5th, from 1-6pm, and costs $50/person (includes Gondola fees).

Free guided lunchtime walks will be offered from noon-1pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Space for both these events is limited. Sign up at the registration desk.

Eating Out In Banff

Banff offers a diverse selection of dining options, from cooking rattlesnake on hot rocks at your table to the finest haute cuisine available anywhere. The following restaurants are among the favourites of employees at SMART:

The Banff Springs Hotel - try the Sunday brunch, it's worth it!
Magpie and Stump - great TexMex fare in a rustic setting
The Grizzly House - try some fondue or cook shark on a hot rock! One of the more unique dining experiences in Banff.
Joe Btfsplk's Diner - hard to say, easy to enjoy. A 1950's era diner, right down to the red vinyl cushions and delicious milkshakes.
Le Beaujolais - fine French dining in the heart of the Rockies
Melissa's - big portions and reasonable prices
Rose and Crown Pub - voted for by nearly everyone. It's a great place to eat and has a wonderful view from the balcony. You must be over 18 years of age.
Coyote's Deli and Grill - eclectic Santa Fe-style food in a dinner-style setting

Here is a pretty good list of more dining ideas in Banff.

Outdoor Entertainment

At this time of year there could be almost any time of outdoor activity. A few options are

Skiing and snowboarding - Some ski hills open in early November, but the quality and quantity of snow are very season and hill dependant. Check the following web sites before you go to see if skiing is a realistic option. The mostly likely to be open are

Photo courtesy of
Banff Lake Louise Tourism

Other local resorts include:

If you are a fan of cross country skiing, there are some great options in the Banff area. Again, this will depend on what the weather holds for fall of 2006. For more up-to-date information

The Canmore Nordic Center (about 20 minutes east of Banff) was designed for the 1988 Winter Olympics
This link has a list of trails in the Banff area put together by Parks Canada
You can ski or hike into the Sundance Lodge for an overnight adventure.

If you don't feel like bringing your winter equipment with you, there are a number of places in Banff, including the ski resorts, where you can rent equipment.

Hiking - By November, there is almost always snow cover, especially at higher elevations. Having said that, valley bottoms are usually snow free or have only minimal coverage at this time of year. Lake Minnewanka makes for a good valley bottom hike (out and back - make it as short or as long as you want)! Here is some information on more day hikes in the Banff area created by Parks Canada. There are also some nice, short hikes in the Banff town site itself for those with less time.

Photo courtesy of Banff
Lake Louise Tourism

Gondola Ride - A great way to get a bird's eye view of Banff and the Rockies is to ride the Sulphur Mountain Gondola for only CDN$22.50 - a great favourite.

Cave Tour - You have been admiring the outside of the mountains - why not see what's inside? The cave are located in Canmore, 20 minutes east of Banff.

Dog Sled Rides - Again this may depend on the snow, but these are a unique way to see the surrounding area.

Trail rides - Another interesting way to see Banff and the surrounding area is on horse back (or sleigh rides if there is snow)

Holiday on Horseback

Indoor Entertainment

Looking for something to do inside? Here are a few ideas:

Museums - Learn a bit about Banff and the Rocky Mountains

The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies is a great way to spend an afternoon learning more about your rocky surroundings
Visit the Cave & Basin Historical Site to see the caves where the hot springs were first discovered
The Banff Park Museum is a national historic site of Canada dating back to 1903

Hot Springs - It was the discovery of these hot springs in 1883 that really put Banff on the map. Another must-see for people visiting Banff, it is the great way to relax after a busy day and soak up a little history. Click here to learn more.

The Banff Centre - A school for the arts and then some. Come to see art, theatre and so much more. Click here to learn more about what is happening at the Banff Centre.

Shopping - Need I say more? The best way to shop in Banff is to start at one end of the strip (aka Banff Avenue) and then come back the other way.

Candy Stores - Everyone at SMART said you need to stop at the Banff candy stores. Conveniently located along Banff Avenue, the stores range from old-fashioned candy stores to sweets made right in front of your eyes. A must to keep your shopping energy up.

Mountain Chocolates - gooey goodness made right in front of you
Welch's Chocolate Shop - like stepping into a candy time machine

Movies - Maybe you are just looking to kick back, relax and watch a movie. Click here to see what is playing at the Lux Cinema Center.

Nightlife Fun

The Banff nightlife can be as exciting as the daytime activities. This is a pretty complete list of great places for the +18 crowd to go.

If you require any more information please contact me.

Local Arrangements Chair

Shannon Goodman, Smart Technologies, Canada
local@cscw2006.org