some of the best things to do in banff is shop and and sightsee. the gondola ride up to mount. sulphur is incredible and the view is incredible. there is a huge platform on top of the mountain which allows you to reach the very highest peak, but for those of you who cant take a minor decrease in oxygen, i dont recommend this. also, make sure your not quick to spend your money there. all the stores sell pretty much the same stuff and you have to walk around to each store before you know your getting the best deal and if your american, there is no currency exchange in any of the stores, so exchange your currency before you get to banff. banff consists of many side streets with hardly any stores, just keep on the main street because your not missing out on anything. the hotels in banff stay booked throughout the year. i recently bought a hotel room for 3 people and spent just $75 for a night. the beds werent as comfortable, but when your in a place that costs a lot of money to do anything, its best that you take the best deal you can get even when it means sleeping on a bumpy mattress. make sure that when you go to banff, its on a clear day. i recently went and had to deal with the harsh winds and snow blowing straight into my face which makes it a hard time to do anything and mount sulphur is no fun when the winds are harsh and the temperature is close to 20 degrees F. the restaurants in banff are nice, seeing as there are only a few. they dont serve much and they are expensive! a place called earls serves decent food and at a huge cost. if your going to save money and eat a decent meal, just go to mccdonalds on the main road. though, there are some disadvantages to going to this place. i would never say no if given the opportunity to go again. compared to the U.S, canada is heaven on earth to me. people are friendly, the air is clean, the mountains are spectacular, and the skiing areas could not be better. overall, if your going to take a trip to a place as fantastic as this, dont give it any second thoughts!