When You Go    The Canadian Rockies

Getting There: Flights to Calgary International Airport are available from a number of U.S. cities. Web links and phone numbers for the major airlines are available at this magazine’s Airlines page. Calgary is only 90 minutes by car from Banff. It is recommended to rent a car for the best flexibility for visiting the Canadian Rockies. See this magazine’s Autos page for Web links and phone numbers to the major car rental companies.

Train service to Calgary is available through Rocky Mountain Railtours (1-800-665-7245). Bus service to Calgary, Banff, and Jasper is available through Greyhound (I-800-661-8747, Canada or 1-800-231-2222, U.S.).

Staying There: 

Entry Regulations: Citizens of the U.S. must provide proof of citizenship upon entry into Canada.

Currency Exchange: Current rates are very favorable to the U.S. dollar. Visitors may exchange their currency at Canadian chartered banks, offices of foreign exchange and credit unions. Traveler checks are widely accepted.

Climate: Mountain weather can change rapidly. Pack accordingly. Mean September and October temp is 55high and 33 low.

Duty Free Allowance: up to 40 ounces of liquor or 24 12-oz cans of beer (Sleeman's creme beer is highly recommended).

A recommended guide book for the Canadian Rockies is Frommer's British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. The book includes researched recommendation on lodging, eateries, actities and tours, transportation, etc.

Lodging:

Waterton Chamber of Commerce, 403-859-2224.
Crandell Mountain Lodge, 403-859-2288.
Kananaskis, 403-591-7711, www.deltahotels.com.
Banff-Lake Louise Tourism Bureau, 403-762-8421, www.banfflakelouise.com.
Jasper Park Lodge 780-852-6012
Canadian Pacific Hotels (Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper): www.cphotels.com.

Activities:

Waterton Lake cruise, 403-859-2362
Cameron Lake Boat Rentals, 1-800-215-2395
Athabasca River rafting and canoe tours, 1-888-Float or 1-800-565-7547.
Skiing, 1-800-661-1676, Tour Canada West, 1-800-205-9378.
Helicopter Skiing, 1-800-661-9252 and 1-800-661-6060.
Trail of the Great Bear, 1-800-215-2395, an international 2,000+ mile tour trail linking sites of Montana's and Canada's Rockies