Never been to Banff but just spent a week in ANC and Denali National park and Preserve. And to me, Denali alone is worth going to ANC for. Yes, it's about a 3.5 hour drive, and its not all scenic, at least not until you start getting closer to Mt. McKinley, or Denali, but it is a spectacular park.

As someone else suggested, go to the Alaska forum. I got a ton of great suggestions from folks like "jackal" in that forum.