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Moraine Lake Lodge- Banff NP, AB
While I prefer historic hotels, exceptions are made in certain circumstances. Sometimes, location is everything. In other cases, outstanding design will win me over. Both situations apply to Moraine Lake Lodge. It was not an easy decision with Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise just down the road, but it was the right decision. Nestled on the banks of beautiful Moraine Lake, the lodge has a location that can’t be beat. Although tent rental in the area dates back to 1912, followed by four cabins in 1922, today’s compound dates to 1988. At that time, renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson was retained to build a new facility that would blend seamlessly into…
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Moraine Lake & Larch Valley- Banff NP, AB
Moraine Lake is impossibly beautiful. It is exactly what you would imagine when picturing an idyllic alpine lake; brilliantly blue-green from glacial rock flower, surrounded on all sides by towering snow capped mountains. It is so impressive, it has been featured twice on the Canadian twenty dollar bill. It is also one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada, which means you will be sharing the experience with a crowd of others. Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to escape the crush. Much like Lake Louise, the parking lot at Moraine Lake fills up early; when it is filled, the road is closed. So, either show up before dawn, or…
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Lake Louise & Lake Agnes- Banff NP, AB
Lake Louise, with its grand hotel, towering snow capped mountains peaks, and impossibly emerald water is perhaps the most popular destination in the Canadian Rockies. Or maybe it just feels that way, due to the crazy crowds. Arriving early is key here, if you are not staying at the Chateau. Just after dawn the parking lots are full, and by mid-morning, the area trails are packed. That said, it is worth any inconvenience to visit this spectacular glacial lake. The sad, but fortunate truth is that many Lake Louise visitors just snap a quick picture before heading off to their next destination; this means it isn’t as crowded as it…
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Icefields Parkway- Banff NP, AB
To really get an idea of the unique character of the Canadian Rockies, explore the Icefields Parkway. Traveling through Banff and Jasper National Parks, this historic parkway showcases all that is magical and special about the region. From stunning blue glacial lakes to a collection of retreating glaciers, it provides countless opportunities for once in a lifetime adventures. Predated by the 1885 Glacial Trail, the current parkway has its roots in a 1931 Great Depression relief project, which employed 600 men to hand constructed a single track road between Lake Louise and Jasper. Completed in 1941, the Icefields Parkway was modernized in 1961 to accommodate increased tourist traffic. Today, the…
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Fairmont Banff Springs- Banff, AB
Some hotels are so fabulous, they are destinations in themselves. Unique properties with outstanding architecture and character, that you would happily travel to the ends of the earth to explore. Fairmont Banff Springs is one of these properties; fortunately, it is also located in one of the most beautiful parks on the planet, which provides even more incentive to book a stay. Banff Springs is a product of the golden age of railroad travel, one of several luxury hotels constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway across the Rocky and Selkirk Mountains to increase ridership numbers on western routes. Hopeful to draw European tourists to Canada, CPR’s general manager William Cornelius…
