Total experience beyond normal poutine
Lake Louise Ski Resort in Alberta, Canada, is one of the most picturesque destinations you’ll find to hit the slopes. Here’s a few tips on visiting:
Getting there — Lake Louise is an easy 2-hour drive from Calgary National Airport. American Airlines, Air Canada and Delta all have flights, although none are direct from Boston. West Jet, which partners with American, offers regular flights to major cities where you can connect, and it has roomy, comfortable planes on the routes.
Upon arrival — Renting a car is a great idea. You won’t need it to get around once at Lake Louise, but the drive to your destination from the airport is worth enjoying. Stop off in the town of Banff for a bit, have a great meal and maybe even an overnight stay. There is a fee for all vehicles entering the Banff National Forest, which you have to do to reach Lake Louise, but to celebrate 150 years of its national parks, Canada has waived all fees for 2017.
Where to stay — Lake Louise has many choices, from condo rentals to hotels. But the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is an iconic choice. Tucked into a nook of the mountain range up against spectacular Lake Louise, it is upscale, yet family friendly. With many choices for dining right there, you can call it home for most everything but skiing. It also offers other outdoor winter activities, including skating, ice hiking, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing. Its shuttle service to the ski area and back is seamless. To learn more, go to www.fairmont. com/lake-louise/.
How to ski and ride the mountain — You’ll want at least two full days on the mountain, and with even more days you won’t ever get bored. The ski-school program for kids is robust. Expect your children to find their way all over the mountain with their pro guides. Adults may want to hire an instructor or guide for the first day, or half-day. Learning the great spots where powder sticks, and hearing about the surrounding peaks and the history helps set a nice foundation for a great ski experience.
Iconic moments on the mountain — Check out the Temple Lodge, which was the site of the original lodge on the mountain nearly a century ago. Dine midday at the Whitehorn Bistro for an upscale experience with gasp-worthy views. The deck there was made for selfies. You can also ski where the world champions ski — the men’s downhill World Cup is held here in the spring. The run used for the competition, or at least parts of it, are often open to the public. You can also ski alongside it or above and below it to get a glance at that renowned championship run.
Iconic moments off the mountain — Skating on the lake, outside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, is an experience you will never forget. Smooth ice on a real lake, mountains surrounding you, and and ice palace entrance punch up the wow factor. High Tea at the Fairmont Chateau is sublime as well, as you nibble on perfect bits while looking out on that lake through giant arched windows. Not tea time? Take those same seats and nosh on the resort’s poutine.
Making tickets affordable — Of course, the American dollar is strong in Canada right now, which makes purchases there rather delightful. Lift tickets purchased ahead of time at a discount can be found at skibig3.com, a site that links the three local ski areas, Lake Louise, Sunshine and Mount Norquay. Liftopia. com also offers discounts for Lake Louise. Of course, you can save by skiing and riding midweek while also avoiding the local weekend crowd. Ski-and-stay packages are available.
For more details on Lake Louise go to www.skilouise.com.