Life In The Rockies At Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Lake Louise is a natural paradise, the likes of which I've never seen elsewhere. Take the time to really experience and absorb the beauty, the rugged nature and the ever-changing vistas. Lake Louise itself is lovely, but put on your ice skates in early winter and skate the lake front to back. In summer, rent a kayak and row the whole lake, slowly, in the beaming sunshine. Still at just the lake itself, put on cross-country skis in the winter and do a loop across the whole lake, up into the surrounding mountain and back to the Chateau Lake Louise for a fondue, hot chocolate, dinner overlooking the lake or even a drive down to the village below. Before leaving, either hike up to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, way up in the mountains above Lake Louise, where they have to haul supplies all the way up — makes that cup of tea quite special, right? You can also venture again up the steep mountain side on horseback — straight up — and then DOWN at the end! You will NEVER forget that cup of tea!

Day Trips

There may not be many spots with the big name allure of being able to visit Lake Louise, Banff and Jasper, all a few hours apart or less. Calgary too, if you want to add a big city with rodeos and cowboy hospitality.

Where to eat?

Considering that you are 'in the middle of nowhere' atop the Rockies, you will be thrilled by the variety of dining options. The Chateau Lake Louise has a series of great fine dining establishments, where you can sample the finest wine, food and beverages, often overlooking the lake itself. The Walliser Stube has raclette, or fondue — a whole restaurant devoted to this Swiss experience! Bundle up and head outside (in winter) to the ice rink, the frozen castle and the Ice Bar, actually ON the lake, frozen, of course!

Then head next door, Deer Lodge has 2 other associated lodges within a few hours drive, and they serve outstanding food at all of them.

Down the hill to the village of Lake Louise itself, be sure to visit The Post Hotel (with a reservation, of course) for fine European cuisine and service.

I will mention the "town" of Banff, which has the famous Banff Springs Hotel, with its dining establishments — look for the one out back, overlooking the golf course from a sun-drenched open patio (in summer)

In town, there must be over 100 restaurants in Banff itself — see why I put "town" in quotation marks? LOL. The one that sticks with me is a fondue (again?) place named The Grizzly House on the main street that specializes in rare and unusual meats. You WILL remember an Exotic Fondue Dinner: Daily Exotic Fish, Alligator, Rattlesnake, Ostrich, Frog Legs, Buffalo and Venison.