The main street of Banff—Banff Avenue—is lined with an impressive selection of stores and restaurants for a resort town. While you will find some stocked with kitschy bear and moose themed t-shirts, you’ll also find some big Canadian names, like locations of the Bay and Roots. If you are interested in ammolite, the gem created from the fossilized mollusks known as ammonites, a number of jewelry stores sell pieces incorporating this colorful and unusual gem found only in the Canadian Rockies. (While ammonite can be found around the world, they mysteriously only have the rainbow of colors that characterize ammolite here.) One of my favorite shops to pick up some gifts was the Banff Provisions General Store. You will find maple syrup, of course, but also some more gourmet Canadian offerings like Vancouver Island salt and local jams and jellies. John Newton traveled on Collette’s Canada’s Winter Wonderland tour as part of AFAR’s partnership with the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), whose members provide travelers with unparalleled access, insider knowledge, and peace-of-mind to destinations across the globe. For more on John’s journey, visit the USTOA blog..
