• The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel was constructed in 1888. It looks like an old hotel in Europe, especially seeing from a long distance. The statue is Mr. William Van Horn, Manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway, in the entrance of the hotel. He indicates by the finger, and says, "The hotel should be built here". He made the luxury hotel at that time by thinking, "If a top hotel is constructed here, tourists will visit" because there is a hot spring in Banff outskirts and the left nature has beautiful scenery. There are 771 guest rooms in nine story. However, because it was built more than 100 years ago, the size of one room is not so big and the modern equipment is set in the room, then it can not be expected like in a wide room at a modern hotel in a relaxed manner. But, it has atmosphere of a historical castle in Europe even inside the hotel including the lobby. The Banff Springs hotel, seen from the surprise corner, looks like just a castle in the forest. Because the hotel is very big, it is better to ask where the room or the restaurants, etc. are first. Another important thing is the hotel charge of the five-stars. One night stay for try was possible but it could not afford another nights.

• Bow River flows near the town of Banff, and the river, seen from the surprise corner, also brings different scenery. Bow Falls just under the Banff Springs hotel is a small waterfall known as the location site of Marilyn Monroe's "River of no return". It looks like a wider brook with different levels rather than waterfall from just a looking for a moment.

• Lake Minnewanka is the biggest artificial lake in the Banff National park of 24km in length and 3.2km in width. It is the only one lake which is allowed to use motorboats in the Banff National Park. It originates in the legend that Minnewanka means "Water of the soul" by native people' language, and the departed spirits meet here.

• Vermilion Lakes that is a generic name of three lakes have different atmosphere than the glacial lakes with plants around the surface of the lake.

These sceneries are seen from the beautiful place called "Surprise corner" on top of Tunnel Mountain in the vicinity of Banff.
The Banff Springs hotel is like a castle seeing from a long distance.		The hotel panorama and front.	Road from the Banff town.
Mr. William Van Horn	Liquor and grocery store, etc. outside the hotel.	The hotel seen from side.	The lobby also looks like inside castle.
The bow river scenery being looked down from "Surprise Corner" on Tunnel Mountain.			"Hoodoo" of strange shape rocks by the river
Head of Bow Falls is small.	Bow River with Bow Falls flows magnificently.
Randol Mountain from Johnson lake	Lake Minnewanka is the biggest artificial lake in the Banff National park of 24km in length and 3.2km in width.
Left side of the lake, Palliser Range	Right side of the lake, Fairhalme Range	Randol Mountain.	Vermilion Lakes.
"Vermilion Lakes" is a generic name of three lakes. A gentle shape is Sulphur Mountain.
Vermilion Lakes have a lot of plants around the sea, different from glacial lakes.

2007/09/01