Canmore
Canmore, Alberta, seen from Chinaman's Peak. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
A mountain town 20 minutes east of Banff, set beneath the Three Sisters peaks. More lived-in than Banff, it is a base for hiking, climbing, and cross-country skiing, with a strong main-street food scene. The Canmore Nordic Centre hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics cross-country and biathlon events.