WWW2007 Newsletter -- April 13, 2007 (Issue #10)

This is the tenth issue of the WWW2007 Newsletter. In this issue:

WWW2007 less than a month away!
What to do in Banff?
Where to eat in Banff?
Hotel space very tight

1. WWW2007 less than a month away!

WWW2007 starts in less than four weeks! Over 750 attendees have registered already, and we are expecting 1000 by conference time.

The WWW2007 organizers look forward to welcoming you in Banff for a great conference and many memorable experiences. In this issue of the newsletter we bring you a short list of attractions and options for dining in the town of Banff itself. The next issue will bring other options at short drive distances from the town.

2. What to do in Banff?

During the day:

Banff Gondola: Located just 5 minutes from downtown Banff, the Banff Gondola will take you to the top of Sulphur Mountain, which is 2,281 metres (7,486 feet) above sea level. At the summit you will enjoy the spectacular panoramic view and occasional encounters with wildlife (usually squirrels and mountain goats that want to steal your lunch!). Several scenic hiking trails await casual as well as experienced hikers. For a preview, check the live webcam.
Banff Upper Hot Springs: Although most people now associate Banff with skiing or hiking, in the early days of the park, travelers streamed in to visit the curative mineral hot springs. While the original lower pools are no longer open, the Upper Hot Springs Pool, located 5 km uphill from downtown Banff, offers a swimming pool filled with hot, sulfurous waters, as well as a restaurant, snack bar, and home spa boutique.
Lake Minnewanka Boat Tours: Among the most popular tourist activities in Banff, this 90-minute long boat tour will take you through the Lake Minnewanka valley, which offers some of the most interesting and spectacular scenery found in the Canadian Rockies. Experienced tour guides will tell you about the wildlife and vegetation that inhabit these mountains, the early explorers who named the peaks, and the tremendous forces of nature that created this landscape.

At night, most of Banff's larger hotels and restaurants offer some form of entertainment. However, for a more lively selection, head to downtown Banff Avenue. This is a brief list of the most popular destinations in town:

Aurora, 110 Banff Ave., phone (403) 760-5300: cocktail lounge.
Barbary Coast, 119 Banff Ave., phone (403) 762-4616: a bar and restaurant featuring live music, from rock to jazz.
Outabounds, 137 Banff Ave., phone (403) 762-8434: Banff's most popular dance club. Thursday night is ladies night.
Rose and Crown Pub, 202 Banff Ave., phone (403) 762-2121: one of the best places to listen to live music.
Wild Bill's Saloon, 203 Banff Ave., phone (403) 762-0333: you can watch tourists in cowboy hats learning to "line dance".

Note that there is some construction on Banff Avenue during Summer 2007, which will disrupt some of the traffic flow for cars and people. However, there are many one-of-a-kind bonus activities planned for Banff this summer to help compensate for the construction-related issues.

3. Where to eat in Banff?

Banff offers a great variety of dining options which are sure to please those interested in the best Alpine cuisine as well as those on a budget. The most popular destination is Banff Avenue, but several fine restaurants are located in the best hotels.

Regardless of your dining choices, advance reservations are highly recommended, since May is the start of "high season" for tourists in Banff.

Here are a few examples to tempt your palate:

Buffalo Mountain Lodge, 700 Tunnel Mountain Road, phone (403) 762-2400: brings together the best of regional ingredients, including Alberta beef, lamb, pheasant, venison, trout, and B.C. salmon
Coyotes Deli and Grill, 206 Caribou St., phone (403) 762-3963: an attractive bistro-like restaurant with excellent contemporary southwestern cuisine, offering lighter, healthier food.
Grizzly House, 207 Banff Ave., (403) 762-4055: the specialty here is fondue, from cheese to hot chocolate, and everything in between, including seafood, rattlesnake, frog legs, alligator, ostrich and buffalo.
Maple Leaf Grille and Spirits, 137 Banff Ave., phone (403) 760-7680: the menu features regional meats, produce, and fish prepared with a sophisticated hand. The Bison stroganoff is exceptionally rich.

For those on a tighter budget:

Aardvark Pizza, 304a Caribou St., phone (403) 762-5500: offers all-day and all-night pizza, open daily to 4am.
Evelyn's Coffee Bar, 201 Banff Ave., phone (403) 762-0352: for great home-baked muffins and rolls.
Jump Start Coffee and Sandwich Place, 206 Buffalo St., phone (403) 762-0332: offers sandwiches, soup, salads, pastries, and picnics to go.
Other options are the deli case at Safeway (Elk Street), or the food court in the basement of Cascade Plaza Mall (Wolf Street and Banff Avenue).

4. Hotel space very tight

The room block for WWW2007 conference attendees at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, as well as in many of the overflow hotels, is almost completely full. If you have not made your reservation yet, please hurry. The Banff Springs is a truly remarkable and unique hotel, which will make your stay in Banff memorable.

For more information, visit http://www2007.org/hotel.php

If you have trouble getting the nights you need, then please try one of the 10 overflow hotels for WWW2007.

The WWW2007 Newsletter will be sent periodically, roughly once every month leading up to the conference. The newsletters will be archived at the 'Media and Publicity' section of the WWW2007 Web site.

Contact the WWW2007 Publicity Chair, (Denilson Barbosa, denilson@ucalgary.ca) with news and/or announcements for upcoming editions of the Newsletter.

We have made every effort to keep the circulation of the newsletters amongst those interested in receiving them. If you are not in this group, please accept our apologies; we ask you to send an email to contact@iw3c2.org requesting to be removed from our mailing list.