Ski Banff @ Norquay

The closest ski area to Banff of the three covered by the one pass, Norquay/Mystic Ridge is considered to be Banff's 'local hill'. The skiing is fairly limited and best suited to intermediates. Norquay/Mystic Ridge makes a good first day venue - it's somewhere to regain your snow legs before venturing to Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. The scenery is stunning, as is the on-piste convenience. As with all three resorts, you can have a free guide to show you around and this makes for a great addition to your first day back in the saddle. There are a few challenging pistes to push more advanced skiers, but once these are conquered you may well want to head for the more extreme challenges of Lake Louise.

Most people choose to stay 6km away in Banff, where the majority of accommodation is found. Unfortunately it does lack 'Alpine' ambience and is generally a summer resort. There is a wide range of accommodation, restaurants and fun, lively nightlife. It can get very cold in winter, but in the evenings there are plenty of bars in which to warm up.