Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise http://ow.ly/7ozYf was on the short list as the honeymoon location for William and Kate. The Canadian Rocky Mountain Alberta location is world renowned. Opened in 1890, the hotel is considered the birthplace of Canadian mountaineering. Phillip Abbot was the first man to fall to his death just shy of the summit of Mount Lefroy. Immediately thereafter, two Swiss mountain guides were hired by the hotel to guide guests up the mountains. When I stayed at the hotel several years ago in spring I witnessed two small avalanches. I still recall the powerful rumblings of the rushing snow just across the lake. The famous lake once was known as Emerald Lake due to the blue/green colour of Lake Louise. In honour of Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the name was changed to Lake Louise. The Swiss influence from fondue to mountain exploration is still evident at the Chateau to this day. Take a stroll around Lake Louise.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Balcony View
The Fairmont Banff Springs is another hotel in the Fairmont family befitting the Royal Couple. Banff Springs is fondly referred to as the “Castle in the Rockies.” The hotel is built of rundle rock and sits within a protected national park. It’s an all-year resort hotel known for its cuisine, exemplary service, spa, indoor and outdoor heated pools, original art collection, golf and year-round leisure opportunities in a mountain setting. The hotel is just a few minutes’ from the town of Banff. I got a real kick out of enjoying a beef sandwich in town at a great cafe with the fitting name of The Bison www.thebison.ca on Bear Street. I then walked a few blocks to the Bow River where I rented a canoe from Blue Canoe http://bit.ly/bJQlXG on Bow Avenue.
If you have not relaxed outdoors in a heated pool, snow-capped mountains soaring towards the sky yet seeming close enough to touch, then you haven’t lived. Banff Springs is blessed with natural spring waters and spectacular mountain scenery unrivalled anywhere in the world. I haven’t covered every single corner of the hotel but from the multitude of angles I’ve viewed there isn’t a bad view of the landscape.
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
No wonder high profile film stars since the beginning have stayed here and made movies here, too. Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s film “The River of No Return” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf5Q5kmgZ_k . The song Marilyn sings always breaks my heart. The Fairmont Banff Springs converges at the Bow Valley and Spray Rivers. The celebrated golf course follows part of the Bow River. In 1992 the government of Canada declared Banff Springs a National Historic site. In the 1990’s 25-million was spent on the Art Center. The Conference Center ranks with the best of facilities. The Alberta Rockies have been well received over the years by the Royal Family. I so enjoyed my visit to both Fairmont locations as I and everybody in my tour group were made to feel special in an individual way.
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Thinking of a visit to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, here are a few websites to make your search easier:
Fly, take the train or bus or even hop on your bike.
Fairmont BMW programme
www.fairmont.com Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise http://bit.ly/rEeUoG http://twitter.com/#!/FairmontCLL
http://www.fairmont.com/banffsprings/
West Jet Airline www.westjet.com http://twitter.com/#!/westjet
Air Canada Airline www.aircanada.com http://twitter.com/#!/aircanada
VIA RAIL www.viarail.ca http://twitter.com/#!/via_rail Take VIA Rail across Canada for a winter wonderland experience.
www.banffgondola.com Catch a town bus to the Gondola!
Banff Roam Bus
http://www.brewstertransportation.com/ Calgary to Banff, Alberta and to the Rockies as well as many other locations. Motor Coach Charter to travel in comfort and style. http://twitter.com/#!/brewstercanada
www.fairmont.com Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise http://bit.ly/rEeUoG
www.calgarytower.com I enjoyed lunch at Calgary’s famous landmark, the Calgary Tower, at 101- 9 Avenue. The Panorama dining room lives up to the name. This is a “must-do” on your bucket list.
http://www.river-cafe.com Telephone 403-261-7670 The River Cafe in Calgary, Alberta has a wonderful location adjacent a river. The day I visited a family of ducks waddled by. Cute as a pin. The website interior pictures are lovely and truly reflect the rustic and elegant ambiance of the restaurant. The River Cafe just won Tourism Calgary’s 2011 White Hat Awards for “Best Restaurant” and is a leader in sustainability. Ask about the six course “Fish and Game Tasting” menu. www.twitter.com/RiverCafeCalg
http://wp.me/pDQWN-eJ Cocktails info
www.whyte.org Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, 111 Bear Street, Banff, Alberta. Telephone 403-762-2291 Here you’ll find unique exhibitions in beautiful surroundings.
http://www.banffrafting.org/ River rafting is almost at your doorstep in Banff, Alberta.
www.hotsprings.ca You can buy a new swimsuit and take a dip in the termal waters. Massage is available. Toll Free 1-800-767-1611 403-762-1515
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ab/banff/index.aspx Banff Park Museum, 91 Banff Avenue, Banff, Alberta. You’ll find this delightful museum on the main street adjacent a park.
http://www.banffpark.tv/buffalonationsluxtonmuseum/ Birch Avenue. Telephone: 403-762-2388 Excellent examples of the Indians of the Northern Plains and Canadian Rockies natural landscape are to be found at this museum. Gift shop.
www.num-ti-jah.com Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, Lake Louise, Alberta. The lodge has lovely river and mountains views. Excellent base camp for skiing and mountain climbing adventures. Twitter account: @NTJLodge
http://www.mpljasper.com/hotels/chateau_jasper/ Chateau Jasper, 96 Geikie Street, Jasper, Alberta. Toll Free: 1-888-8JASPER
www.thebison.ca 213 – 211 Bear Street, Banff, Alberta. You’ll find the highest quality selection of gourmet sandwiches. Food gift shop. Try the Sylvan Star Grizzly Gouda (Canada Cow Raw); Bleu Des Causses (cow, France); Chevre Noir (Canada Goat) award winners.
http://www.banfflakelouise.com/
Banff Gondola
http://www.mountroyalhotel.com 877-442-2623 Looking for plain and simple accommodation right in town? I was so satisfied with The Mount Royal Hotel that I wouldn’t mind a repeat visit ’cause i had the best eggs over easy with bacon in the hotel’s restaurant I’ve ever had bar none! The Mount Royal opened in 1908. My room had a great view to the main street. But I enjoyed peace and solitude the entire night. One point about the town of Banff. You never know when you’re going to see perhaps one of Santa’s reindeers. About 10: pm one summer’s eve I heard rustling in the bushes as I walked past a tiny park on main street. Lo and behold a cute deer chewing on a leaf. Cannot say who or what you’ll see come December.
www.banffcentre.ca The Banff Centre. Toll Free: 1-800-413-8368 Perfect spot for a pre or post theatre cocktail. You’ll see live performances on a world scale such as Pride and Predjudice. The Three Ravens Wine Bar is the go-to spot for dining with a mountain view. Even if the dining room or the bar didn’t have the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountains as backdrop…the Ravens is the elegant place to find the best in food and wine.
http://www.banffmapleleaf.com 137 Banff Avenue, Banff, Alberta. Chef Morne Burger travelled from Cape Town, South Africa, his birth place, to learn the art of creating unique dishes in London, England and finally to Banff where he dishes up pizzas, using local game. I want to try his “Sticky Maple & Jalepeno Duck Wings”.
www.giorgiosbanff.com 219 Banff Avenue, Banff, Alberta. 403-762-5114. This is a family spot worth checking out. Bring the kids and celebrate granny or grandpap’s birthday with AAA Alberta beef. Special seating for up to 200 guests. If you love Italian like I love Italian then you won’t be disappointed with this Trattoria on two floors. Imported parma ham, olive oil and cheeses. Classic homemade pasta and traditional thin crust pizza baked in a special wood burning oven. New and Old World wine list.
www.skilouise.com Twitter account: @SkiLouise http://bit.ly/sVYmjZ
http://www.santespa.com Before or after visiting Calgary, Alberta check out the Institut de Sante’s Living Better Centre. There’s a new foot treatment at the spa! Wendy Smeltzer, Medical Director, has over 11 years of specialized experience in cosmetic medicine. 230 – 508 24th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta Telephone 403.228.2772
Email your special request. calgary@santespa.com (Victoria, British Columbia location, too.)
If you’re not familiar with Banff and Lake Louise, you’re missing out. With three exhilarating ski areas and almost 8,000 acres of terrain, you’ll find slopes to suit every level and desire. One interchangeable lift ticket covers three distinctive areas: Mt. Norquay, The Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village. It also grants access to bus systems that whisk you from hotel to the slopes. The best thing about it: the season runs from November to May, giving you tons of time to carve your turns.
Mt. Norquay: Mt. Norquay, just 10 minutes from the town of Banff, is widely considered to be Banff’s best family ski resort and a handy place to warm up your mountain muscles. Skiers and riders will find terrain for all levels, including spectacularly groomed runs and a terrain park. This ski area has the only night skiing in Banff National Park and a tubing park if you are keen to try a different way of cruising down the slopes.
Sunshine Village: Skiers and riders swear by Sunshine Village’s natural snow, panoramic views, the casual intermediate slopes and access to true steeps. Once you’re up at the village it will seem like an entirely different winter world. Cross the border into British Collumbia. on the Great Divide Chair to enjoy powder stashes in the sheltered gullies.
The Lake Louise Ski Area: With runs spread over four mountain faces, The Lake Louise Ski Area has views to die for and enviable slope conditions that change with the weather and direction of the sun. Warm up with a few groomers on the front side or challenge yourself on the double black-diamond backside bowls. The unique layout allows families and groups of varying abilities to ski together. Beginner, intermediate and expert runs are options from the top of nearly every lift.
Banff’s vibrant apràs-ski scene offers a variety of experiences that will help you unwind after a long day at the hill. Choose from regionally inspired appetizers at a hotel lounge, a pint of locally made beer at the pub or a Swiss fondue next to a crackling fire. Banff is a ski town to the core – just walk the streets to find an après-ski experience that will fit you like a custom boot.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can get to Banff and Lake Louise this winter visit the Ski.com special deals page or give us a call at 800-299-0656 and speak with one of our experienced Mountain Vacation Specialists.
Banff Whyte Museum Gmoser, Louis, 1961 copyright photo
Photos courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Photos Bow River / Fairmont Banff Springs & Banff Gondola copyright May DeLory
