The Canadian Rockies in Southern Alberta, British Columbia

BANFF, Alberta – The Canadian Rockies demand to be seen and shared. Saturated in primary colors, people race to take pictures for their Instagram accounts. No filters are needed. The colors dazzle the eye in the crystal-clear alpine air. Red canoes on turquoise lakes. Deep, blue skies framing snow-capped mountains. River cascades sparkling like diamonds. Wildflowers in rainbow hues.

Southern Alberta and British Columbia offer views that cannot be experienced elsewhere. Elk can be seen crossing the road or moose grazing at the lake’s edge. Visitors text pictures from restaurants in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.

Resort towns and national parks abound along the Icefields Parkway. For almost 150 miles, the scenic highway from Lake Louise to Jasper curves below magnificent mountain ranges and past rampaging waterfalls, dense forests and alpine meadows. Banff is Canada’s oldest national park, established in 1885. Jasper, at 4,247 square miles, is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Equally stellar are Kootenay and Yoho national parks.

Banff and Lake Louise

The jumping-off point for the Canadian Rockies is Banff, located 80 miles west of Calgary. This town lies within Banff National Park and is internationally known for its ski resort and grand hotels. Summer visitors are a mix of families, bikers, college students and outdoor adventurers. Banff Avenue, a part of which is pedestrian-only, is at the center of an entertainment district that encompasses restaurants, brew pubs, hotels, hostels, shops and art galleries.