Banff sunset from our hotel room.
Fog hung over Lake Louise as we braved the chilly morning and walked the trail along the lake, hoping to see some wildlife. Nothing, not even a bird. Back at the hotel, an excited man ran past us shouting, “Grizzly.” We learned later that he had indeed seen a grizzly and the hotel staff had ushered everyone on the walking path back to the hotel grounds. We had missed the sighting by minutes.
Just before noon, we checked out of the Fairmont and drove to Banff, and yes, another hotel in the Fairmont chain, the Fairmont Banff Springs. Although the architectural style is stated to be Canadian Chateau, to me the building looked neo-Gothic, and was definitely grand. And again, another upgraded room—a suite on the top floor.
We deposited our roller bags in our room and walked into town—a pleasant twenty-minute jaunt—to sightsee and shop. On the return trip, we strolled along the Bow River. I turned a corner in the path, and there stood an elk. At first, I thought he was a statue, as he was dead still, but then he made eye contact and quickly looked away, more interested in grazing on a patch of grass.
That evening we dined at Eden in the Rimrock Resort Hotel. We began our three-course meal with a duck pâté and halibut cheeks in cauliflower butter sauce. For entrées, David had the brined pork tenderloin and I had the lamb with sumac glaze.
May 24, 2018—Canada 2015: Day Trip from Banff to Calgary.
My mother stayed at the Fairmont, too. Definitely on my Canadian vacation itinerary! The sumac glaze is an interesting touch!