Two weeks in Bora Bora might not be realistic for you this winter, but fun in the sun can be overrated. There are many world-class accommodation options within a two-hour drive of Calgary; any of them make celebrating the seasonal frost cooler than cruising on a catamaran. Here, five quick passport-free getaway options for Calgarians feeling winter wanderlust.
Stone Ridge Mountain Resort, Canmore
A touch closer to Calgary than Banff, with the same magnificent Rocky Mountain backdrop, StoneRidge offers one-, two- and three-bedroom condominium-style suites with year-round award-winning service. The resort also gives its guests the option of combining their stay as part of an adventuresome package (Dogsledding, skiing, and a relaxing spa and dining deal, just to name a few), letting you experience the best Canmore has to offer.
Delta Lodge, Kananaskis
This outdoorsy resort is nestled in the woods near “Calgary’s closest mountain,” Nakiska, and is a great place to take the family for a weekend away. Delta plays up the winter fun with a seasonal hockey rink, skating pond and toboggan hill, just steps away from the door of your room. The Lodge also provides many of the comforts that made its sister hotel, Calgary’s Delta Bow Valley Inn, an accommodation fixture of the city: the Summit Spa & Fitness Centre and Obsessions Deli, to name but two.
Bighorn Meadows Resort, Radium
While Bighorn is admittedly ideal when planning summertime golf trips or a visit to the nearby water sport haven of Lake Windermere, right now is the best time to experience the mineral hot springs of Radium. Stare down the coldest winter conditions while soaking outdoors in the naturally heated waters of Canada’s largest mineral springs pools. After you’re well marinated, return to Bighorn’s secluded grounds or hit the quaint village of Radium for a romantic dinner.
Fox Hotel & Suites, Banff [pictured]
Boasting downtown Banff’s “only suite style property,” the Fox is the latest offering from the Banff Lodging Co., which owns eight other hotels in the area. The 117-room luxury hotel was designed with the rocky landscapes and waterfalls of Banff’s wilderness in mind, and every detail — particularly its centrepiece, the subterranean Cave & Basin Hotpools — gives it an opulent cache among tourists.
Riverside Chateau, Bragg Creek
Only 30 km west of Calgary, Bragg Creek’s Riverside Chateau is a Canada Select five star resort and is surrounded by several of Alberta’s treasured outdoor attractions: Kananaskis Country, the Elbow Falls, and Bragg Creek Provincial Park are all within a close distance. The artistic hamlet of Bragg Creek is also just a few minutes walk away, but you may not feel like going out once you climb into your splendid suite’s king-sized bed, decked out with 650 thread count sheets and Canada goose down comforters.
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Image courtesy of Banff Lodging Co.
