Bound for Banff

The birthplace of Canada’s national park system is the place for a luxury winter getaway with world-renowned skiing, grand hotels, award-winning spas and decadent cuisine.

stay

This ones easy. The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is the place to stay when you stop into town just ask past royalty and celebrity guests (including Marilyn Monroe!). The hotel is stunning, with an abundance of dining options, an award-winning spa, indoor/outdoor pools and a bowling alley (a hidden gem). From $340/night, www.fairmont.com/banff-springs

play

Find your way to the towns ski hills including Sunshine Village, with the area’s longest ski season and Canada’s highest altitude, family-friendly Mount Norquay and the Canadian Rockies largest hill, the Lake Louise Ski Area just 40 minutes down the road. Also on offer: tubing, snowshoeing and, our favourite part, the best après around. www.skibanff.com

eat

There’s lots of European-inspired cuisine in Banff but our favourite is Swiss-Italian style, Ticino Restaurant. A local favourite for almost 40 years and the fondue is hard to beat. We go all out with the Swiss cheese fondue ($36/for two), followed by the Fonduta Mar-E-Mont with Alberta beef and shrimp ($28.50 per person) and finish the feast with the traditional Swiss chocolate fondue ($9.50 per person). www.ticinorestaurant.com

spa

The Red Earth Spa in Banff Caribou Lodge provides a huge variety of healing treatments. We like the organic body treatments that soothes our whole body and face with a scrub, wrap, massage and mini-facial, all while under a Vichy Hydrotherapy Shower (from $149). www.bestofbanff.com/redearthspa

Sara Samson