Banff, Canada - July 2023
We landed in Calgary and took a bus from the airport to our hotel, the Fairmont Banff Springs. The drive to hotel took us through the picturesque town of Banff.
A little background about our hotel as our journey begins. The Fairmont Banff Springs is a luxury resort located in Banff National Park, Canada. It is styled after a Scottish baronial castle and offers spectacular mountain and valley views, a championship golf course, a luxury spa, and a range of dining options. The hotel has 739 guest rooms and suites, including ADA-compliant accessible rooms. It also features event spaces and meeting professionals for conferences and events. The closest airport to the Fairmont Banff Springs is Calgary International Airport, located approximately 80 miles (130 km) east of the resort. The hotel offers a variety of accommodations, including Fairmont Rooms, Suites, and the exclusive Fairmont Gold experience. The Fairmont Banff Springs is a year-round destination, offering a range of activities and amenities for guests to enjoy.
The Fairmont Banff Springs offers a variety of dining options and shopping experiences. The hotel is home to 12 acclaimed restaurants, pubs, and bars, offering something for every taste, from casual bites to fine dining.
For a unique and diverse dining and shopping experience, the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Canada, has you covered.
Fairmont Banff Springs offers guests a truly authentic Western Canadian dining experience in each of its many restaurants and lounges. Bringing guests the freshest ingredients from local farmers is a great source of pride for the Fairmont Banff Springs and the community within which it resides. From high-end menu items found in The Vermillion Room to the casual eateries of Waldhaus Pub & Patio, there is something for every palate at the Fairmont Banff Springs.
Restaurants
• Stanley’s Smokehouse (seasonal)
• Castello Ristorante
• 1888 Chop House
• The Lookout Patio
• Waldhaus Restaurant
• Grapes Wine and Bistro
• Samurai Sushi Bar and Restaurant
• The Vermillion Room
• STOCK Food & Drink
• Rocky Mountain Afternoon Tea
Bars and Lounges
• Ramsay Lounge
• Rundle Lounge
• Waldhaus Pub & Patio
These restaurants, among others, provide a diverse dining experience, from casual bites to fine dining, against the incredible backdrop of Banff National Park.
Shopping Options at the Fairmont:
The Fairmont Store
Located next to the spa on the lobby level The Fairmont Store is a one-stop shop, offering a wide range of merchandise, from postcards to souvenirs of every kind. The Fairmont Store also carries Sundry and Convenience items, if you forgot your toothbrush or have a headache we can help you with what you may need. The Fairmont Store also has a wide assortment of snack food and drinks that will get through a busy day of touring. If you want a memory of Banff and the Fairmont Banff Springs we have a huge assortment of souvenir clothing for Ladies, Men and Children in a variety of colours and designs. We also carry fashion designer clothing for Ladies and Men, The Fairmont Store has something for everyone.
Mountain Galleries
Mountain Galleries at Fairmont Banff Springs has made a commitment to support and promote Canadian artisits exclusively. Their unique collection represents both major and mid career Canadian artists and includes some of the finest examples of museum quality contemporary clay, glass, bronze and stone sculpture. Paintings range from abstract impressionalism to magic realism. The Gallery sells original, limited edition and open edition prints. In addition to the Banff location, there are galleries located at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort.
Castle Jewels
Its name says it all! Castle Jewels located next to the front lobby, features fine jewellery fit for Royalty, in a wide assortment of prices to fit all pocket books. Castle Jewels carries unique jewellery for both Ladies and Men that you won’t just find in any old jewellery store. We are one of the few Signature Stores for Ammolite by Korite, the Canadian Gem Stone found locally here in Alberta one of the rarest Gem Stones in the World. We carry Sterling Silver to 18K gold, semi-precious to precious Gem Stone, from International known designer such as Fredric Sage, and Parade to runway designers Doves and Stephen Webster. We have that special piece that will create a lasting memory for all discerning tastes.
Chateau Mountain Sports
Chateau Mountain Sports is an independent outdoor retail store within Fairmont Banff Springs. We offer the best brand names in summer and winter essentials and accessories such as The North Face, Spyder, Icebreaker, Oakley, Smith, Dale of Norway, Sorel and many more.
Avenue Road
Banff's only full-service footwear and apparel boutique for discerning men and women - is home to a host of luxuriously affordable designer fashions from Canada and around the world. Our team of expert stylists will have you looking and feeling your best, and is proud to offer exclusive personalized shopping-and-styling sessions, either in your room or in-store.
Herrington's Floral Design
Specializing in events and weddings, Herrington's Floral Design is a luxury flower shop and boutique. With a team of world-class floral designers and international design experience, the finest flowers are sourced to provide floral masterpieces tailor-fitted to your unique tastes and needs.
Snowflake
Snowflake has a long history with Fairmont Banff Springs offering the best of Canadian-made leathers, furs, sweaters, outerwear and accessories.
The Canadian Pacific Store
Experience first-hand the luxury and graciousness of the 'Golden Era' of travel. The Canadian Pacific Store was created as a window into the Historic world of Canadian Pacific. It was a time of romance and refinement, a time when the word 'travel' was synonymous with indulgence...a time to remember. You will find luxurious travel luggage for the discerning traveler, a library of the finest rail books, reproduction Canadian Pacific travel posters and China created for Royalty. The Canadian Pacific Store blends the past with the present prominently featuring Fairmont In-Room Amenities: From Fairmont Bed linens, pillow and duvets, we can even sell you the amazing beds that are used in all our Fairmont rooms. The Fairmont bathrobes, Le Labo bathroom amenities, Fairmont Tea and the alarm clock at your bedside, are a few of the Fairmont in room items we offer. If you would like to create your own Fairmont feel at home we can assist you with this. The Canadian Pacific Store is located on the lobby level adjacent to the elevators.
Qiviuk Boutique
Qiviuk is the Inuvialiut word for down, the inner, insulating blanket of the Canadian Arctic Muskox, the softest, warmest and most luxurious fibre in the world. This amazing coat allowed the Muskox to survive the last ice age as it roamed the earth along with the wooly mammoth. Jacques Cartier Clothier and the Inuvialuit of the Canadian High Arctic have formed a unique and successful alliance to produce and manufacture Qiviuk with social and environmental sensitivity.
The Quest
The Quest has a tradition of offering original First Nations and Antler carvings. We also showcase unique collections of fossils, minerals and art jewellery. We guarantee worldwide shipping. Experience diverse and unique collections. Visit the Quest website or Instagram to learn more.
Stone's Jewellery
Opening in early July. Stone's Jewellery is everything but ordinary. Family-owned & operated since 1972, Stone's specializes in hand-crafted jewellery made in Canada with unique stones and gems from around the world. Visit the Stone's Jewellery website to learn more.
Nesters Market
Nesters Market carries groceries and more including movie rentals. The Nesters Liquor Store has a good selection of wine, cold beer and spirits. Conveniently located on the ground level of the Conference Centre.
Banff by Scooter
Experience the thrill of driving a modern Vespa around beautiful Banff National Park! Scooter rentals are available on site, in the Conference Centre. *Seasonal Summer offering only.
Pulse Boot Lab
Pulse Boot Lab provides best-in-class custom ski boot fitting. Better fitting boots mean better skiing! Visit the Pulse Boot Lab website to learn more. *Seasonal offering only from now until May.
Alberta Boot Company
Alberta Boot Company has designed and manufactured premium western footwear since 1978. Each pair of boots is handcrafted using only the finest North American leather. Throughout its storied history, the company has outfitted celebrities, royalty and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with handmade footwear.
As anyone could tell from the detailed description above, the resort hotel was simply amazing.
As we checked in to the hotel we wandered the grounds and walked through many of the restaurants and shoppes listed above. We finally found our way to the Rundle Lounge for drinks and a few snacks before dinner.
For dinner we took the shuttle into town and settled on a Lupo for Italian overlooking the city.
After a wonderful dinner we walked through town back to a tram stop for the final short ride back to the resort.
The following morning I found myself alone while my wife worked. I decided to try my luck at the local golf course, The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course.
Words can not describe the golf course, the beauty of the scenic views and the gentle pace of play for such a beautiful golf course.
Dinner the next evening found us at Three Bears Brewery with a group of 50 folks or so. The food was great and the atmosphere was fabulous.
The following morning we took a bus to Lake Louise. The lake is one of the most beautiful places one might see in their life. You would be blessed to ever set foot near these places. We spent the mid-morning walking around the resort and perimeter of the lake.
We had the pleasure of lunch at the beautiful Fairmont Château Lake Louise.
After lunch we returned to the hotel and walked to the Banff Waterfalls at the base of our resort.
That evening we had a special group dinner in Water Valley.
The following morning we traveled to Lake Minnewanka for a quiet boat ride around the lake.
We returned to town for lunch at the Bluebird. Again fabulous food and drinks for all.
After lunch rode the Banff Gondola to the top of the world to see Canada beauty on full display. The top of the destination included walking trails, a museum and restaurants. We were lucky enough to enjoy drinks and live music.
Our last evening we spent with dinner at the hotel and soaking up some of the written history of the hotel and resort to share with others.
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