People who visit Alberta's all-season town of Canmore (population 16, 000) have big-city expectations. Once a coal town, Canmore gained notoriety during the 1988 Winter Olympics and has been booming ever since as a recreation hot spot. Just 70 miles from Calgary, Canmore is nestled in Alberta's Bow Valley, surrounded by mountains and wildlife. It's the perfect locale for fishing, climbing, canoeing, all kinds of winter sports, and more. Banff National Park is 7. 5 miles from the resort, and Lake Louise is an hour away. In town, you can find galleries, quilters, stained-glass artists, and blacksmiths.