Long time reader, but it's my first post. My husband and I went to Banff a few years ago and we'd love to find another place like that. By that, I mean a place with so many different things to do (like the adorable town) in addition to nature.

I love hiking and exploring, but my husband really enjoyed being able to take the gondola to the top of a montain, canoe on Lake Louise and just drive through the beautiful area. I also loved the so-cute town with shops, lodges and restaurants.

We've been to beautiful national parks since, but just haven't found one with a town like Banff.

Any ideas??
Thanks in advance!

You are going to get a lot of suggestions.
My list includes: Sedona, AZ; Monterey, CA; Newport, RI.

Aspen, Colorado and Santa Fe, NM

Jackson, Wyoming

If hiking, nature and the gondola ride are essential, along with the village/shops, try ski towns or areas---Vail, Co; Whistler, BC; Park City, Utah. Of those, only Whistler offers a lake in addition to the mountain (as far as I know).

ski resorts are a great idea. thanks, enzian. We've been to Lake Placid and loved it for lots of the same reasons. I guess I just never think of that kind of a place in the off-season. Great idea!

Any ideas closer to the East coast? We live in NY.

Stowe, Vermont.

How about Acadia in Maine. It is a beautiful park - you have mountains, the ocean, lakes, and you have Bar Harbor, which is a lovely town. It is truly one of my favorite places.

Stockbridge (and Lenox/Lee) Massachusetts, especially when the Tanglewood Music Festival is on. Great blend of art, theatre, dance, music, neat shops, good restaurants, pleasant inns and B&B's all in a pastoral setting that is quite lovely.

Aspen and Sedona are the best options in the US; however, Aspen has the town you're looking for and Sedona doesn't.

What time of year? But here are some ideas:

Ithaca NY and the Finger lakes
Burlington VT or any VT ski area
Upper New Hampshire
Camden,Maine
Montreal, Ottawa or Quebec
Western PA(Gettytsburg, Lancaster,Lewisburg area)
Upper Hudson Valley--so many lovely towns like Rhinebeck, Millerton, etc.
Catskill Mountain Region

If you want to venture backout west, I vote for Portland Oregon, Seattle and the Pacific Northwest!

Gee, I live in Seattle and I wish it were like Banff, but it isn't--not even a little bit.

Nantucket
Traverse City and north to Petoskey etc in Michigan
Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA (less nature, more walking around)
Portsmouth, NH and the White Mountains an hour away

Jackson N.Hampshire.Jasper Alberta Canada.