Banff National Park is by far the most famous of the National parks in the Canadian Rockies. Banff was also the first National Park created in Canada.
Upon the discovery of thermal springs in the park, the government decided to designate Banff as a National Park in 1885. The name Banff comes from Canadian Pacific Railway investors, who came from Banffshire, Scotland. At 6641 square kilometers, Banff is one of the largest of the National Parks in the Canadian Rockies. Sites in Banff include not only itself, but the beautiful Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the scenic Icefields Parkway drive to Jasper.
Activities in Banff range from skiing to hiking, ice climbing, and even shopping! The town of Banff has become very much a resort town, and although beautiful, it remains difficult for the town to maintain it's charm amidst the millions of visitors each year. You can buy everything you need there, and can lodge at the luxurious Banff Springs Hotel.
Again though, as with all of the Canadian Rockies, the main attraction is the sheer scale and wilderness of this vast area. Beautiful mountain peaks, abundant wildlife, an experience you'll never forget. Rightfully so, a trip to this part of the world makes for the trip of a lifetime.