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Banff named No. 1 as TripAdvisor.com lists its top 25 Canadian destinations

Spanning the country from the peaks of British Columbia to the piers of Nova Scotia, TripAdvisor.com has listed Canada's Top 25 travel destinations, beginning with Banff, Alta.

Ensconced by the Rockies, Banff is largely considered one of the most beautiful locations in the country. Luxury lodges, fine dining, animated nightlife, a thriving arts scene and a close proximity to attractions such as Lake Louise and Banff National Park contribute to the selection as Canada's No. 1 destination.

Sticking with the West Coast, the next three selections are all found in B.C. - Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler respectively.

Vancouver, named after British Capt. George Vancouver in the 1790s, is the third-largest metropolitan city in the country. Nestled within the great outdoors, the proximity to city-side beaches and waterfront forests add to the allure of the city's Olympic history.

Considered one of the most British-influenced cities in North America, Victoria, B.C.'s attractions features authentic tearooms and coffee shops, unique restaurants, antique galleries and historic museums. With the most cycling routes of any location in Canada, visitors can easily tour the city as they enjoy the picturesque setting.

The world caught a glimpse of Whistler, B.C. during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The magnificent mountains were featured in many of the skiing events, but this alpine village known as a premier winter destination has blossomed into a lovely location for a summer vacation.

Heading east to Ontario, Niagara Falls rounds out the Top 5 with its featured museums, luxury casinos and, of course, the falls. A close proximity to the Canada/U.S. border contributes to its uber-tourist appeal, attracting gamblers to vacationers, partygoers and sightseers.

Other notable mentions include Jasper, Alta., Charlottetown, P.E.I., Mont Tremblant, Que., and Tofino, B.C., known for its gorgeous beaches that Trip Advisor recently named the best beaches in Canada.

Here is the complete list of Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice 2011 Top 25 Destinations in Canada:

1. Banff, Alberta
2. Vancouver, British Columbia
3. Victoria, British Columbia
4. Whistler, British Columbia
5. Niagara Falls, Ontario
6. Quebec City, Quebec
7. Montreal, Quebec
8. Toronto, Ontario
9. Halifax, Nova Scotia
10. Tofino, British Columbia
11. Jasper, Alberta
12. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
13. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
14. Calgary, Alberta
15. Ottawa, Ontario
16. Mont Tremblant, Quebec
17. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
18. Whitehorse, Yukon
19. Edmonton, Alberta
20. Kelowna, British Columbia
21. Winnipeg, Manitoba
22. Windsor, Ontario
23. Kingston, Ontario
24. Thunder Bay, Ontario
25. London, Ontario

(CP Photo)

18. Whitehorse, Yukon