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Summary

Canadians named this picture-perfect small town in Alberta as the place they want to move to

It's not Banff! ⛰️

A mountain town. Right: A person on a street.

A cute small town in Alberta with postcard-worthy street.

Editor

This little mountain town in Alberta is the kind of place people fall in love with as soon as they visit. Charming streets are framed by jagged mountain peaks and endless views.

It's often overlooked, thanks to the more popular nearby hot spots like Banff, but it recently got put under the spotlight in a Narcity poll.

Canmore was named among the small towns Canadians would love to move to, and the dreaminess of this mountain town says it all.

If you live, or are flying into Calgary, Canmore is a quick one-hour drive away. While it's pretty close to the city, you'll feel like you've been transported to another world. Small-town streets here are framed by the breathtaking mountains, giving just a stroll around town a dreamy quality.

The streets are also lined with everything from cute boutiques and cozy coffee shops to delicious restaurants. You'll actually find what's been called "one of the dreamiest bookstores to visit in Canada," Cafe Books, in this town. It's a charming little shop, perfect for grabbing a good book to curl up with as the weather gets colder.

While summer and winter are bustling here, it's also the perfect escape in the fall. There are a ton of hiking trails, leading you to incredible lookouts and scenic lakes. The untouched wilderness of this place is what makes it special and has people flocking to the area.

There are easy options that take you into the great outdoors here, like Grassi Lakes with its sparkling emerald waters, or more adventurous tours like going to the famous Moraine Lake. Canmore is also just 30 minutes from the more popular town of Banff, making it easy to take a day trip.

If you want to explore the Kananaskis Country more, you can take a guided adventure tour with Buffalo Stone Woman.

Canmore also has a great balance of amenities and peacefulness. Bodhi Wellness is one of the spas here, where you can wind down in the hot tubs and take in the incredible views.

This fall escape might just have tempted you to make a permanent move by the end — you've been warned.

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

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    • Editor

      Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. After working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, she joined Narcity with a move to B.C., drawn to the beauty of Western Canada. Since then, she's documented her experience moving to Vancouver, covering everything from local events to bucket-list travel destinations across Canada's West Coast.

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