Five of TripAdvisor's 2008
Travelers Choice Awards go to...
“We are thrilled to be chosen #1 for Canada by the world’s largest travel community,” says Julie Canning, President and CEO of Banff Lake Louise Tourism. “These awards confirm what we Albertans already knew to be true” added Derek Coke-Kerr, Managing Director for Travel Alberta, “Alberta offers world-class vacation experiences, not only in the iconic Rocky Mountains, but in our cosmopolitan cities as well”.
In its inaugural year, the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards honor the world’s top destinations, earning their distinction from those who know them best- real travelers. TripAdvisor’s Destinations Awards represent the opinions of millions of travelers. The winners were determined by a combination of Trip Advisor’s travelers’ favorite places and overall popularity on TripAdvisor.
The Winners…
Banff
The world famous resort town of Banff is located in the centre of Banff National Park, flanked on all sides by Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Countless visitors travel to the town each year, lured by the cozy resorts, unparalleled recreational opportunities and some of Canada's finest shopping and dining. Sunshine Village Ski Resort and Norquay are home to deep powder, deluxe mountain lodgings and some of the world's largest ski and snowboard events.The national park itself offers opportunities for camping, hiking excursions and wildlife viewing. Banff has also built a reputation as a popular weekend retreat destination during the warm summer months. With renowned restaurants, decadent spas, eclectic boutiques and bustling nightclubs offering something for any taste, Banff has ensured that guests will continue to visit the town year-round. Banff is 90 miles from Calgary and just a short trip to the mountain areas of Lake Louise, Kananaskis Country and Canmore.
Lake Louise
The town of Lake Louise has its own charm. Small but well-appointed with restaurants, accommodation and stores, the town site is an ideal getaway destination in summer when trail riding, hiking, and mountain biking predominate. Wildlife is also a major draw with elk commonly sighted from the road and even the occasional bear. Alpine, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding are popular activities in quiet Lake Louise, 35 miles east of Banff, as are ice fishing, skating, dog sledding and ice climbing. In summer, the area attracts almost as many visitors to its trails, waters and rock faces.
Jasper
Surrounded by scenic wilderness, Jasper National Park is Canada's largest Rocky Mountain Park and one of North America's largest natural areas - spanning 10,878 sq. km (4,200 sq. mi.) of awe-inspiring, scenic splendour. Shimmering glaciers, abundant wildlife, crystal clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, deep canyons and evergreen forest surrounded by towering, rugged mountain peaks are what your eyes have been waiting to see.Jasper is an internationally recognized, four-season destination with so much to see and do to suit everyone's tastes. Whatever spectacular time of year you choose to visit - just be sure you plan to stay awhile. You'll want to have enough time to enjoy Jasper's many exceptional offerings.
Canmore
Canmore is a gateway to the Alberta Rockies and the mountain parks. Traveling from Calgary, this vibrant mountain village is only a few minutes short of the national park toll booths, but it is far from being a coffee stop on the way to Banff. In many respects Canmore is the Banff of 20 years ago. Not yet overwhelmed by high-end boutiques, Canmore retains a quaint low-key character where locals still form the better part of a cafe's clientele.
The streets are packed with home-grown bakeries, bookshops, galleries and sporting shops. Year-round the stores are kept busy by the added influx of skiers, hikers and bikers looking eagerly into the surrounding mountains. The soaring peaks, clear lakes and deep forests of the region attract campers by the hundred in summer. In winter, visitors are more likely to spend their night in a cozy chalet than outside, but the outdoors remains the central attraction. The Canmore Nordic Centre, for one, has miles of groomed cross-country ski trails on the town's doorstep.
Calgary
Calgary is an attractive and dynamic city situated on the banks of the Bow River and close to Alberta's majestic Rocky Mountains. The Calgary Stampede is undoubtedly Calgary's best-known visitor attraction. This event, featuring a large parade and world-class rodeo, draws more than a million people each year.
The host city of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games takes pride in its sporting legacy. Canada Olympic Park is a multi-purpose athletic facility designed for skiing, snowboarding, bobsleigh and luge during the winter, and mountain biking during the summer. The Pengrowth Saddledome is the home of the NHL's Calgary Flames, as well as being the venue for countless events and concerts throughout the year. Other attractions, including the Glenbow Museum, Calgary Tower and Eau Claire Market are other great places to visit year-round.
For the complete 2008 Travelers’ Choice list, go to www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations
About Travel Alberta
Travel Alberta is the Destination Marketing Organization for the province of Alberta, Canada.For more information contact:
Rose Mary Cortes (USA)
Ruder-Finn, Inc.
Tel: (212) 593-6398
Email: cortesr@ruderfinn.com