LAKE LOUISE, AB - I remember tears rolling down my cheeks when I first saw the Eiffle Tower. I gasped with disbelief when I took my first step on the Great Wall of China. But even those amazing moments can’t top what I’m feeling as I look through the floor-to-ceiling Palladian windows in the aptly named Lakeview Lounge of the fairytale-like Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

There, across legendary Lake Louise, I see Victoria Glacier and the stunning Rockies — their snow capped peaks look like icing on a cake — being mirrored on the calm surface of the turquoise coloured water.

I’m totally paralyzed. Is this a painting I’m looking at, or an illusion? Something this beautiful can’t be real. Sure I’ve seen lots of pictures of this scene but never did I think it would surpass my wildest expectations.

How glad I am that during a recent layover in Calgary, I decide to rent a car and drive the 1.5 hours it takes to get to Banff and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise with my parents for a little R&R.

The drive itself — the winding road cuts through amazing Banff National Park — is simply mind-boggling and each one of the 13 scenic viewpoints we stop at to take pictures is more beautiful than the last.

Before reaching Lake Louise we stop at Banff’s glacially-fed Moraine Lake, another one of Canada’s natural wonders which is equal to Lake Louise for breathtaking beauty.

 

 

Left: Lily and her parents hiked to the top of mountains and were rewarded with breathtaking views like this. Right: From the Lakeview Lounge in the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise the view of the Rockies is perfectly framed.

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Being outdoor enthusiasts, we have much to keep us busy here. There are plenty of trails to follow — most wind beneath mighty evergreens, along crystal clear lakes and eventually lead to peaks that look down on some of the most gorgeous scenery in the world.

One of the most popular trails here is the Rockpile, which provides hikers with an easy climb to a point where you get a magnificent 360 degree view of stunning Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks below — this is one of the most photographed spots in all of Canada. It would be hard for anyone to take a bad picture from here.

It does get crowded on the trail during the day but who can blame so many people for wanting to admire the beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We didn’t think anything could top Moraine Lake for good looks until we take a seat in the Lakeview Lounge and peer out on the majesty that surrounds Lake Louise.

While admiring the natural eye candy from some comfy lounge chairs, a server arrives and offers us a selection of teas from a cart which looks like a prop on the set of the hit TV series Downton Abbey.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is renowned for its Afternoon Tea and my mother and I are treated like princesses.

The server impresses us with her knowledge of teas — “we have 20 varieties of loose teas,” she tells us. The choices range from a simple Fairmont Earl Grey to a complex Kyoto Cherry green tea. There’s even an Ontario Ice Wine white tea. My personal favourite is the Kea Lani orange pineapple blend that has orange notes and velvety sweet pineapple highlights — a refreshing and fruity tea.

An array of finger sandwiches, buttermilk scones, homemade pastries and perfectly decorated sweets, all neatly presented on an elegant silverware tower follow.

Thankfully, there’s lots of calorie burning activities right outside this castle-like hotel that sits like a crown amongst a forest of tall pines.

We start by taking a light stroll along the Lake Louise shoreline — the paved trail has no elevation and is a flat, easy walk suitable for anyone. The only thing that will slow you down here is stopping to admire the views. I strike a model’s pose while sitting on some rocks along the shoreline and get my parents to snap a few photos of me looking out on the remarkable view.

 

 

Left: The treats served in the Lakeview Lounge are indeed very special.  Right: From the rooms at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Lily saw the Rockies at their very best.

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We all agree that we’ll have to do more if we want to burn off the pastries we consumed at the Lakeview Lounge. The Lake Agnes trail, for instance, is a moderate 3.4 km, one way hike with 385 metres of elevation that leads to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, a treasure chest of more than 100 different kids of teas. On the way up you pass Mirror Lake and a magical waterfall.

The Lake Agnes Teahouse is a great resting place for hikers to refuel on exotic blends but we are tempted again by more mouth watering pastries. Who can resist?

More seasoned hikers can elect to continue along the trail for another 1.6 km until they reach the Big Beehive — don’t let the name confuse you, there are no stinging bees lurking around here.

Just when you think you’ve taken enough pictures of Lake Louise to share with the next three generations of your family, the Big Beehive stings you with a panoramic view of the lake and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise that words can not describe.

If hiking is not your game, you might want to opt for a day of canoeing on calm Lake Louise, while spotting for wildlife dancing through the forest.

Fairmont’s Sunrise Canoe Experience — for guests who are able to wake up before the crack of dawn — rewards early risers with a zen experience that includes crisp mountain air and a deafening quiet that’s only interrupted by the sound of animals rustling through the forest. Your Facebook friends will be so jealous.

Or, like me, you can get up just minutes before the sun peaks over the Rockies and, with a coffee in hand while bundled up in a cozy Fairmont bathrobe, watch the sunrise from the comfort of one of the hotel’s fabulous lakeside rooms.

My only dilemma — should I wake up the rest of the family?