Kimberley

A cross between quaint and kitschy, Kimberley is rich with Tyrolean character. The Platzl ("small plaza," in German) is a pedestrian mall of shops and restaurants modeled after a Bavarian village. Chalet-style buildings are as common here as log cabins are in the national parks. In summer, Kimberley plays its alpine theme to the hilt: merchants dress up in lederhosen, and gimmicks abound—and the promotion works. The Canadian Rockies are a popular destination for German tourists; Kimberley catches their attention, and sometimes there's as much German as English being spoken in the Platzl. Aother key attraction is the Sullivan Mine which, for generations, was the town's backbone industry. It ceased operations in 2001 and has since been transformed into an Intepretive Centre.