New Years in Lake Louise

If you are planning to celebrate New Years in the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise is well worth having on your shortlist of potential destinations. With attractive hotel packages, awe inspiring scenery, and world class skiing on your doorstep, New Years in Lake Louise is sure to provide an experience to remember.
If you are looking for a New Year package at a Lake Louise hotel, we have listed some interesting options below:

New Years at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Surrounded by magnificent views on the shore of Lake Louise, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise boasts an idyllic location for any occasion, and will indeed be a memorable place to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2011. Throughout the Christmas and New Year period the hotel is offering a special Holiday Package which includes your hotel accommodation, one sleigh ride per stay, daily breakfast, and self parking. The package is valid from December 1 2011 to January 5 2012 with rates starting at $329 per room per night.
Click here for details and to check availability.

In true Fairmont style, the Chateau Lake Louise has a wide variety of fun activities and events taking place during the holiday period, with several options for both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day:

New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet – December 31
In the Victoria Ballroom, a family friendly New Year’s Eve dinner buffet will be offered on December 31 2011, including face painting and kids’ entertainment.
6-9pm
Adults $89, Children 6-12 yrs $44.50

Fairview Dining Room – December 31
An adult only New Years celebration featuring a four course New Year’s Eve menu.
6-10pm
Adults $95

Glacier Saloon – December 31
See in 2012 in a fun pub style atmosphere in the Glacier Saloon, including a live DJ. (not recommended for children)
10pm-2am

Lakeview Lounge – December 31
A sophisticated venue for enjoying your favorite drink and celebrating New Year’s Eve.
9pm-12.30am

New Year’s Day Brunch – January 1
For your first meal of 2012, the famous New Year brunch at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is sure to please the whole family, with an impressive buffet including children’s specialties, taking place in the Victoria Dining Room.
1st Seating 10.00-11.00am
2nd Seating 12.30-1.30pm
Adults $59, Children 6-12 yrs $29.50

As well as the dining options above, there is a whole host of festive activities taking place at the Chateau Lake Louise on December 31 and January 1 including Ice Walks, Snowshoeing, Cross Country Skiing, Fondue Lessons, and Children’s Sledding.
To check availability and rates for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Click Here.
For details of New Year events and activities, take a look at the official Chateau Lake Louise Christmas Guide.

New Year at the Lake Louise Inn

At the time of writing, the Lake Louise Inn still had rooms available for a 2 night stay or longer over the New Year period. To check current availability and rates, click here.
If you are interested in a special package, the Lake Louise Inn also has a 2 night deal for New Years, which includes accommodation for two nights, plus a New Year’s Eve dinner buffet. This package is valid for arrivals on December 30 or 31 2011 and rates start at $220 per night.

Deer Lodge New Year’s Eve

Deer Lodge is offering a one night special package for New Year’s Eve. The New Year’s Eve Extravaganza Package includes accommodations for one night, plus a gourmet dinner with a glass of sparkling wine on December 31 and a buffet breakfast on New Year’s Day, with rooms starting at $450.

*The above rates are generally based on double occupancy, are subject to applicable taxes, subject to availability, and subject to change without notice. To check current rates and availability please use the links provided.

Ski Packages at Banff Hotels

With the opening day for Banff’s 2011-2012 ski season just a few weeks away, now is a great time to be thinking about visiting the mountains for a few days of skiing or snowboarding. A great way to take a ski vacation in Banff Alberta and save money is to take advantage of one of the many Banff ski deals on offer where the hotels offer a great value package including lodging and lift ticket. These Banff ski packages include Tri-Area lift tickets, which can be used at any of Banff’s 3 mountain resorts, namely Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, or Mount Norquay, and considering a day pass can cost over $75 per person, the prices for the ski and hotel packages are very reasonable indeed:

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has two different ski and stay specials to choose from this winter, each of which includes passes plus accommodations at Banff’s most famous luxury hotel.
If you are just looking for a room and a lift ticket, the Ski & Play for Free is the most economical of their Banff ski packages. Starting at $299 per night the package includes your overnight accommodation, 2 Tri-Area ski passes per room per night, free storage for your skis and boards, 15% discount on equipment rentals at the Banff Springs Ski Shop, plus bus transportation to the resorts. If you do not wish to hit the slopes, you can replace each ski day with a $100 resort credit per room per night.
The Luxury Ski the Canadian Rockies Package includes your overnight accommodation, 2 Tri-Area lift tickets per room per night, transportation to the mountain, daily breakfast (a la carte or buffet), plus a daily pass to the Willow Stream Spa. Rates for this special start at $419 per night.
The above hotel & ski packages at the Fairmont Banff Springs are available from November 11 2011 to May 23 2012, subject to availability.

The Mount Royal Hotel has a 1 day ski deal available which includes 1 night’s accommodation, breakfast at Tony Romas, a 1 day Tri Area lift pass for skiing at Sunshine Village, Lake Louise or Mount Norquay, plus bus transportation to and from the hill. Prices for this Banff ski package start at $140 per person based on double occupancy of a standard room.

Banff Lodging Company is offering specials at several of its Banff accommodations which include lodging, breakfast, plus one Tri-Area lift ticket per adult per day. Their nightly rates based on 2 adults sharing a room start at $270 for a superior room at the Inns of Banff, $278 for a superior room at the Ptarmigan Inn, $298 for a one bedroom condo at the Rocky Mountain Resort and $298 for a standard room at the Caribou Lodge & Spa.

The Banff Park Lodge has specials throughout the winter including hotel and lift ticket, with prices ranging from $104 per person per day for a 5 or more night stay for early and late season skiing and from Jan 3 to Feb 16 2011, up to $164 per person per day for a 3 night stay or longer over the Christmas and New Year holidays. These rates are based on double occupancy, are valid Sun-Fri and a supplement starting from $30 per room is added for Saturday night stays. Ski shuttle transportation is extra, costing $5 per person per day.

For lift ticket & hotel deals in Banff with condo or suite style accommodations with a kitchen, the Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets has several options including a Ski & Stay package which includes your accommodation plus one Tri-Area lift pass per adult per night plus one ‘cook your own’ breakfast delivered to your condo. Rates vary depending on dates of travel and accommodation type, for example a one bedroom condo from Jan 8 to Feb 15 2012 is advertised at the reduced rate of $281 per night. This package does NOT include transportation to the resorts.

* The above Banff package rates are generally based on double occupancy and are subject to applicable taxes, subject to availability, subject to change without notice, and blackout dates may apply. For current information and for reservations, please contact the Banff hotels directly.
If you are coming to Banff for New Years Eve 2012, you may wish to view some special New Years hotel packages by clicking here.

Thanksgiving Special Menus

If you are planning to spend thanksgiving weekend in Banff, you will no doubt be searching for a special meal to mark the occasion. While all Banff restaurants will be open for business as usual, you may find that the following special Thanksgiving menus will make your holiday weekend that bit more festive:

The Juniper Bistro is offering a special 3 course menu for Thanksgiving on Sunday October 9th and Monday October 10th, costing $26 for adults. Start with a spiced carrot & parsnip soup with candied pecans & creme fraiche, followed by roasted turkey with turkey confit mashed potatoes, gravy and seasonal vegetables, with a home made sticky toffee pudding for dessert. There is also a children’s menu for $8 with a small portion of turkey with regular mashed potatoes & gravy followed by vanilla ice cream with maple caramel sauce for dessert.

The Evergreen Restaurant at the Delta Banff Royal Canadian Lodge have put together a mouth-watering Thanksgiving menu, starting with mushroom scented chicken bouillon with wild mushroom and fois gras ravioli, followed by a sorbet, and then a main course of free range turkey with cornbread chorizo sausage stuffing, sage gravy, organic buttermilk mash, and fresh vegetables. Dessert is a pumpkin Amaretto cheesecake with vanilla bean ice cream. This Thanksgiving special will be served on October 8, 9, and 10 with seating from 5-10pm and costs $54 for adults. The restaurant will also have their regular children’s menu available.

Melissa’s Restaurant are serving a Thanksgiving dinner from 4-10pm on Sunday October 9 and Monday October 10 which includes a salad and bread starter followed by roast turkey with stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes and vegetables for $22.95, or $13.95 for children. Dessert is not included in the price, however pumpkin pie will be available as an extra for those who have saved room for it!

The Keg Steakhouse at the Banff Caribou Lodge is serving a Thanksgiving Sunday brunch from 11am – 2pm which will include roast turkey, yams and all the trimmings as well as breakfast items, costing $17.99 for adults and $8.99 for children under 12.
At the same venue, there will be an evening Thanksgiving buffet from 4pm to 10.00pm featuring roast turkey, prime rib, shrimp, salad bar, dessert bar and much more, costing $27.99 for adults and $10.99 for children.

The Chinook Restaurant at the Banff Park Lodge will be serving a Thanksgiving brunch on Sunday October 9th from 10am to 2pm. The buffet will include all the usual brunch favorites as well as some Thanksgiving specials. The cost is $31 for adults, and $21 for children 6-12 years. Be sure to bring a good appetite!

At the Rimrock Resort Hotel, a Thanksgiving dinner is being served in the Primrose Dining Room on the evenings of October 8, 9 and 10. The delicious menu, costing $45pp can be seen here (pdf). A special children’s menu (pdf) is also available for $22.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel are offering a Thanksgiving dinner buffet from Friday to Sunday (6-9pm) in the Bow Valley Grill for $54pp ($27 for children 6-12yrs). The Bow Valley Grill is also featuring a Thanksgiving brunch on October 8, 9 and 10 with seating from 11am to 2pm, costing $43pp ($21.50 for children 6-12yrs).

The Bison Restaurant is offering a Thanksgiving special on Monday October 10th which includes a water chestnut & crispy bacon soup or a harvest salad with gorgonzola to start, followed by Alberta roasted turkey breast, confit turkey legs, sausage stuffing, with smashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy as the entree. There is pumpkin creme brulee & chai cookie for dessert, and this 3 course meal costs $35.

*The above prices do not include tax or tip.
Please contact the above restaurants directly to book your table.
To avoid disappointment, early reservations are recommended for Thanksgiving events at all Banff restaurants.

Thanksgiving Weekend in Banff

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you are planning to spend Thanksgiving weekend in Banff you should consider making your Banff hotel reservation as soon as possible while availability is still good.
To check availability and rates at several Banff accommodations for Friday October 7, Saturday October 8 and Sunday October 9 2011, click here and enter your travel dates.

If you are looking for a special hotel package for Thanksgiving weekend, you may wish to try the Fall into Savings Package at the luxury Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Although this package is not specifically for Thanksgiving, it is available over the Thanksgiving weekend. The package is available for a minimum 2 night stay and gives you a bigger saving the longer you stay. For example a 2 night stay qualifies for a 25% discount, a 3 night stay would get you a 30% discount, and a 4 night stay or longer would save you 45% off the nightly rate. At the time of writing (Sept 26), we managed to find a rate of $292 per night for a Fairmont Room for a 2 night stay on the nights of October 8 and 9 2011. In addition to the discounted room rate, this package gives you a Value Card which can be used for discounts on food and beverage, spa treatments, golf, bowling and bike rentals.
To check rates and availability for this package, click here.
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel boasts several excellent restaurants and is offering a variety of options throughout the weekend for Thanksgiving dinner and brunch.

Although most Banff hotels are not offering Thanksgiving deals as such, there are many other properties which still have vacancies for Thanksgiving weekend. For a complete list of accommodations in Banff, please visit our hotel, motel or condos & chalets pages.

Many hotels and restaurants in Banff will be offering special menus for Thanksgiving dinner or Thanksgiving brunch.
Click here to see some great options for Thanksgiving dinner in Banff.

* The above rates are generally based on double occupancy and are subject to applicable taxes, subject to availability, and subject to change without notice. For current information and for reservations, please click on the links provided.

Subaru Banff International Triathlon – Sept 10 2011

Against the spectacular back drop of the Canadian Rockies, athletes from across North America will be competing in the second annual Subaru Banff International Triathlon on Saturday September 10 2011. The setting for the race could not be more scenic, with the swim taking place in Two Jack Lake, the bike race around the stunning Minnewanka Loop and then into the town of Banff, followed by the run along the banks of the Bow River, with the finish on Banff Avenue in the heart of downtown Banff.
The race will include three distances, with the Olympic distance starting with a 1.5km swim, followed by a 38km bike ride and finishing with a 10km run, and the shorter Sprint distance including a 500m swim, 25km bike ride and 5km run. New for 2011 there will be a Super Sprint distance which includes a 300m swim, 12km bike ride and 5km run. There will also be relay teams in all distances.
Our interactive Banff Triathlon Map shows an overview of the full course, as well as all start and transition zones and allows you to zoom in to view detailed close ups of any section of the course. To view the Banff triathlon course map, click here.
For further information about the race, visit the official race website.

Dragon Boat Festival August 13-14 2011

Now in its 4th year, the annual Banff Dragon Boat Festival is set to take place on the weekend of August 13 to 14 2011.
Dragon Boat races take place each day from 9am to 3pm on Lake Minnewanka, a pristine alpine lake surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, approximately 10km from downtown Banff. Originating in China more than 2000 years ago, the 40ft long boats have a dragon’s head and tail and are decorated in vibrant colours, with a team of 20 paddlers and a drummer beating the rhythm, which can be heard from the shore, adding to the spectators’ excitement.
The event is lots of fun for participants and spectators alike, and while you are waiting between races there is of course the beauty of the Lake Minnewanka area to discover with its scenic beaches, hiking trails and picnic tables. As parking at Lake Minnewanka is limited, spectators are encouraged to take the free Dragon Express Shuttle which runs every 30 minutes from 8am to 4.30pm, with departures from the Brewster Bus Depot, Mount Royal Hotel and Banff Ave/Fox St in downtown Banff. There is also a shuttle every 15 minutes from the Overflow Camping parking lot on the Lake Minnewanka Loop Road.
As part of the Dragon Boast Festival celebrations there will also be cultural performances from 3pm to 6pm august 13 in Banff Avenue Square.
For further information, as well as some stunning photos from last year’s event, visit BanffLakeLouise.com.

Special Venues for Banff Weddings

There can be little doubt that the town of Banff, situated in the heart of the majestic Canadian Rockies, is one of the world’s most idyllic locations for that very special wedding day. Once you have your heart set on getting married in Banff, the following list of Banff wedding venues should provide a good starting point for turning your wedding dream into a reality that you and your guests will remember for years to come:

The Juniper Hotel & Bistro
For a Banff wedding venue that offers all the facilities you need in one convenient location, it is difficult to beat the Juniper Hotel & Bistro, Banff’s trendy mountain oasis, which specializes in celebrations for up to 110 guests. The Juniper Terrace provides a spectacular outdoor setting for a wedding ceremony, surrounded by Banff’s iconic mountain peaks and overlooking the sparkling Vermillion Lakes, and the Juniper Bistro & Lounge, serving some of Banff’s finest cuisine, offers the ideal location for your wedding reception.
For more information about Banff wedding packages for a variety of group sizes and budgets, visit www.thejuniper.com.


Banff Park Lodge
Centrally located in downtown Banff, the Banff Park Lodge offers a wide variety of wedding reception rooms, suitable for all sizes of wedding party up to as many as 450 guests. Being a popular venue for conferences, they have an extensive range of catering menus and have all the necessary facilities for dealing with larger groups.
To find out more about using the Banff Park Lodge as a venue for your wedding reception, visit www.banffparklodge.com.

Buffalo Mountain Lodge
With a peaceful location on Tunnel Mountain, Buffalo Mountain Lodge is a good choice for anyone looking for Banff wedding venues with the look and feel of a traditional Canadian Lodge. There are 3 function rooms which can be used for a wedding reception, and groups of up to 90 people can be accommodated. Their renowned Rocky Mountain Cuisine is available in a variety of special menus and is sure to please even the most demanding foodie in your wedding party!
To find out more about their wedding package or elopement package, visit www.crmr.com.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Sometimes known as the ‘Castle in the Rockies’, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel offers a fairy tale setting for a marriage ceremony or wedding reception, and boasts several function rooms which can accommodate wedding groups from 12 to 220 people. Food service and attention to detail is top notch and during the summer rarely does a weekend go by without at least one happy couple tying the knot at this popular Banff wedding venue.
For more information about wedding packages at the Banff Springs, visit www.fairmont.com.

Rimrock Resort Hotel
Perched on the slopes of Sulphur Mountain with commanding views over the town of Banff and surrounding peaks, the Rimrock Resort Hotel is a luxury Banff hotel which offers several function spaces for wedding ceremonies and receptions for up to 400 people.
To download their wedding package brochure or banquet menu, visit www.rimrockresort.com.

Tribute to Phil Michaud at the Whyte Museum

On Saturday April 9 from 7-9pm, the opening reception for the exhibition White Mountain will take place in the Main Gallery at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff Alberta. The exhibition is a tribute to artist Phil (Gaspar) Michaud (1935 – 2010) who lived and painted in Banff from 1964 to 2001. The exhibition, which runs from April 9 to June 12 2011, documents the journey of an artist from the prairies, through the foothills, to the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, and features Phil’s last body of work “White Mountain”.

Also opening the same evening is the exhibition Reckonings: Michael Cameron & Karen Maiolo, featuring the work of 2 contemporary Bow Valley artists.

Short opening speeches introducing both exhibitions will take place in the Main Gallery around 7pm.

For more information about these and other exhibitions at the Whyte Museum, visit www.whyte.org

Prince William and Kate Middleton to Visit Banff ?

**Update – it now appears that Will and Kate have in fact included a visit to Banff National Park as part of their Royal Tour, and spent the night of July 6 at a remote hotel near Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies backcountry.**

It has been announced that Prince William and Kate Middleton will be visiting Canada from June 30 to July 8 2011, just 2 months after their much anticipated Royal Wedding on April 29. Although their Canadian honeymoon schedule is still somewhat vague, it seems certain that they will be ending their tour in Alberta on July 8. The obvious question from the Canadian Rockies is, will the royal couple be paying a visit to Banff, Canada’s own crown jewel? The Canadian Rockies are no strangers to royal visitors, with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip having visited in 2005, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939. July would be an ideal time to visit Banff National Park, when views of the magnificent mountain peaks and pristine lakes would offer the perfect last impression from the final section of what is sure to be a wonderful tour of Canada. If they do pay a visit, there can be no Banff hotel more fitting for a future king than the Castle in the Rockies, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel where the luxurious Presidential Suite would seem like the obvious choice for the newlyweds.
One thing is for certain, if Will and Kate do spend part of their honeymoon in Banff, it will be a huge boost for tourism in the whole of the Canadian Rockies, as the natural wonders of this region will be seen on TV by millions of people throughout the world.
In addition to Alberta, the royal couple will be visiting Ottawa, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and the North West Territories.

Award Winning Films From the Banff Mountain Film Festival 2010

After treating festival goers to 9 days of awe inspiring speakers, seminars, and the very best in mountain films and literature, the 2010 Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival came to an end on Sunday November 7th.

For those of you who missed the announcement of the Best of the Festival award winners on Sunday evening, here is a list of the 2010 award winning films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival:

Grand Prize: Mi Chacra
Directed and produced by Jason Burlage
Set in the Peruvian Andes, this film documents a year in the life of Feliciano who lives in a farming community above the Sacred Valley, and works both as a farmer and as a porter on the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Like many in his rural village, he struggles with the lure of seeking a better life for himself and his family in the city.

Best Film on Exploration and Adventure: Crossing the Ditch
Produced by Greg Quail and Douglas Howard
Raw adventure as two friends attempt to be the first people to successfully cross the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand by kayak.

Best Film on Mountain Culture: A Life Ascending
Directed and produced by Stephen Grynberg
Set in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, this stunning and emotional film brings us an up-close and personal view of the lives of mountain guide Ruedi Beglinger and family who operate a backcountry ski mecca based out of the Durrand Glacier Chalet.

Best Film on Mountain Environment: L’Eau Qui Fait Tourner La Roue
Directed and produced by Jean-François Amiguet
An almost mesmerizing experience showing the intricate operations of an over 100 year old watermill in Switzerland and the beautiful simplicity of the life of Monsieur Cristinel who still operates the sawmill approaching 90 years of age.

Best Film on Climbing: The Asgard Project
Directed and produced by Alastair Lee
High adrenaline, stunning cinematography and hilariously entertaining characters find epic rock climbing in Spain, Italy and California before arriving at Baffin Island in Canada’s Arctic with the goal of making the first free ascent of the north face of Mt Asgard, one of the world’s toughest rock walls.

Best Film on Mountain Sports: Eastern Rises
Directed by Ben Knight and produced by Travis Rummel
An amusing film about fly fishing in the remote and wild landscape of the far east of Russia.

Best Short Mountain Film: The Longest Way
Directed and produced by Christoph Rehage
A year long walk through China compressed into a 5 minute film.

Best Feature Length Mountain Film: Summer Pasture
Directed and produced by Lynn True and Nelson Walker
Set in eastern Tibet, this film chronicles one summer in the life of a nomadic family and the challenges that modern life presents to their culture and traditions.

People’s Choice Award: A Life Ascending
Directed and produced by Stephen Grynberg
Set in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, this stunning and emotional film brings us an up-close and personal view of the lives of mountain guide Ruedi Beglinger and family who operate a backcountry ski mecca based out of the Durrand Glacier Chalet.

Radical Reels People’s Choice Award: Dream Result
Directed and produced by Rush Sturges and Tyler Bradt
High adrenaline paddling in Canada, Chile and Scandanavia.

Special Jury Award: Fly or Die
Produced by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen
Free solo climbing and base jumping with Dean Potter.

Special Jury Award: Cross Country Snowboarding
Directed by Adam Brodie and produced by Geoff McLean
Hilarious short film about Nordic snowboarding.

Award for Creative Excellence: Salt
Directed and produced by Michael Angus and Murray Fredericks
Photographer, Murray Fredericks, camps out in isolation on Lake Eyre in Southern Australia to find inspiration from the 360 degree horizon and featureless landscape, which results in stunning cinematography, photography and an interesting glimpse into Murray’s own life.

Audio Post-Production Award: A Life Ascending
Directed and produced by Stephen Grynberg

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