Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Canadian Rockies this Summer

The Canadian Rockies in Alberta must be seen to be believed. And there’s more to these snow-capped beauties than their towering spires and glacier-fed tributaries where wildlife thrives and natural beauty blossoms in panoramic fashion. From resorts to outdoor activities, the values and options are many, with something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

10. As the cornerstone to the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banff and Jasper National Parks are home to a variety of species. Visitors will have the chance to catch a glimpse of eagles, elk, big horn sheep, mountain goats and if you dare black bears and grizzly bears gorging on grasses in the valleys they call home.

9. Canmore Golf & Curling Club — the local club equivalent of the neighborhood bar on the popular TV sitcom “Cheers” — is a friendly, everyone-knows-your-name place, with a fun, playable course outside during summer and a sheet of ice for curling inside during winter (“To curl is to live!”).

8. World-class, iconic, renowned resorts including The Fairmont Banff Springs and The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge where pampering, history and delightful amenities offer an exquisite counterpoint to the roughing-it options which proliferate in this majestic wonderland

7. Kananaskis Country combines an unspoiled oasis of nature with recreational park and resort amenities at Delta Lodge. An outdoor enthusiasts’ treasure trove, area activities include mountain biking, hiking, ATV use, fly-fishing, hunting, and golfing. Enjoy accommodations, meals, shopping, swimming, restaurants and other resort amenities at Delta Lodge.

6. The area’s golf-and-resort destination (www.canadianrockiesgolf.ca) — “Canadian Rockies Golf: Historic. Dramatic. Untamed.” — combines six acclaimed courses, 135 holes, value-laden packages and options, and idyllic summer weather

5. The town of Canmore offers resort and residential lifestyle choices at Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club and Silvertip Resort, including Silvertip’s brand-new luxury vacation club.

4. The unique opportunity to visit Banff and Jasper National Parks is unlike any other. Within these national parks are town sites thriving and welcoming of guests from around the world. They make no apologies for the small town feel and take every precaution to live in harmony with the wildlife they call neighbour.

3. Icefields Parkway is one of the world’s great drives. Along the journey you will be mesmerized by the stunning vistas, tranquil lakes, teaming waterfalls and towering peaks above. Before you are even aware the three-hour journey is complete and your camera is filled with a story like no other on earth.

2. Friendly hosts who are genuinely happy to welcome visitors and ensure they bask in the glory that is the Canadian Rockies

1. Majestic, snow-capped mountains soar overhead in every virtual direction, reaching upwards of 10,000 feet from the roughly 5,000-foot base altitude; the aesthetic is almost unfathomably striking and unforgettable

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The critical acclaim and unique attributes of the six golf properties which comprise “Canadian Rockies Golf: Historic. Dramatic. Untamed.” include:

Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club (www.stewartcreekgolf.com/golf, 877.993.GOLF)
Golf Digest rated 4 Å“ stars
Surrounded by the spellbinding Three Sisters Mountains, practically close enough to touch during play
Audubon-certified course preserves habitat for plentiful wildlife

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (www.fairmont.com/jasper.com, 866.540.4454)
Featuring the “wild side of the Rockies” — elk, caribou, coyote, bear and wolves inhabit the national park
Widely regaled as one of the world’s best resort courses
Designed by Stanley Thompson, the 18 holes carve contours at the feet of mountains

Kananaskis Country Golf Course (www.kananaskisgolf.com, 877.591.2525)
Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed courses are islolated, nestled in rural countryside
36 holes played beneath breathtaking Mt. Lorette and Mt. Kidd, after which the courses are respectively named
Features immaculate lush fairways, famed island-like 4th green on Mt. Kidd course, 140+ silica sand bunkers and the cascading Kananaskis River

Canmore Golf and Curling Club (www.canmoregolf.net, 888.678.4785)
Valley-based property requires players use all clubs in their bag, narrow fairways challenge all levels of golfers
Tree-lined course, friendly community atmosphere provides intimacy and camaraderie
Located at base of Bow Valley, glacier-fed streams lace through course

Silvertip Golf Resort (www.silvertipresort.com, 877.877.5444)
Home course of PGA Tour Member and 2006 Players Champion Stephen Ames
Golf Digest rated 4 Å“ stars and lauded for environmental sensitivity and maintenance practices
600 feet of elevation change, including dramatic par-4 18th with extreme altitude drop from tee to fairway, fairway to green

The Fairmont Banff Springs (www.fairmont.com/banffsprings, 866.840.8402)
Historical course and castle-like hotel with regal ambiance, award-winning Willow Stream Spa and exquisite resort amenities
27 holes of golf — 18 Stanley Thompson-designed holes including the 200-yard, par-3 Devil’s Cauldron, 147 bunkers, and the 9-hole Tunnel Course
Panoramic beauty, picturesque-mountain setting nestled between Sulphur Mountain and Mount Rundle

July 22, 2009   Posted in: Canada