3 Reasons to Buy a Home in Banff

The town of Banff sits within the boundaries of Canada’s most popular national park with the same name, nestled in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It’s the country’s highest town at more than 4,500-feet in elevation, surrounded by soaring peaks, home to abundant wildlife while offering a thriving gastronomic scene, a wide range of shops, galleries, and museums.

If you purchase one of the Banff homes for sale, you’ll have access to some of the world’s most stunning landscapes, thrilling outdoor adventures and much more. 

It’s a Year-Round Playground

There are so many recreational activities possible here in every season, it’s almost impossible to get bored living here. During the colder months of the year, you’ll have easy access to the slopes, including Lake Louise Mountain Resort, the largest single ski area in the country with four mountain faces and 4,200 skiable acres. Mount Norquay is a local favorite, one of Canada’s oldest ski resorts, while Sunshine Village offers nearly 3,500 skiable acres straddling the Continental Divide. As it gets more snow than neighboring resorts, it offers a long ski season that often begins in November and stays open until late May. Those who don’t ski or board can still enjoy an enchanting wonderland and a wealth of other winter sports like ice skating, ice fishing, canyon ice walks, and sleigh rides.

The spectacular mountains, surreal blue lakes, alpine meadows, glaciers, and waterfalls make for some fantastic hiking too. There are over 1,000 miles of defined trails here that will lead you to all of the above and then some.

Wildlife Watching

For wildlife enthusiasts, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place than Banff. If you go for an early morning stroll right through town, don’t be surprised if you spot an elk grazing near the road or deer wandering right down the middle of Banff Avenue. Embark on the drive of a lifetime along the 142-mile stretch called Icefields Parkway that runs from Banff to Jasper and you’ll not only enjoy dazzling scenery, but lots of animals. There are over 50 species of mammals and 260 species of birds that inhabit the area. Just some include bighorn sheep, black and grizzly bear, lynx, elk, woodland caribou, and marmot.

Lake Louise is one of the top destinations for viewing grizzly bears – here, you might witness them feeding along the shoreline or in the meadows from above while riding the ski resort’s gondola. It’s a prime grizzly bear breeding area, with visitors often surprised to see that the campground is enclosed by an electric fence to prevent the animals from getting in. 

The Food Scene

As mentioned, Banff boasts a thriving culinary scene despite being tucked away in the Canadian Rockies. You won’t have to sacrifice good eats for scenery as there are a ton of restaurants serving a diverse array of delicious cuisine. Many restaurants serve dishes based on the succulent local Alberta beef, including Melissa’s Misstake that features Albertan Angus beef. But you’ll find everything from lobster and Canada’s version of Tex-Mex to everyone’s favorite comfort fare, poutine.