Post Hotel & Spa

Alberta may be flyover country to the urban leisure traveler, and coastal folk who ski are apt to check out Whistler or Tahoe, even Park City or Vail before venturing this far into Western Canada. That’s their loss, though, and that many more available rooms around Lake Louise, the jewel of the Canadian Rockies, in the heart of the picturesque Banff National Park.

This WWII-era ski lodge that would become the Post Hotel was given a thorough going-over by one of Canada’s leading architecture firms—the red roof remains, but beneath it is a thoroughly contemporary take on a rustic tradition. Public spaces are warm and inviting, wood-paneled with timbered ceilings; of special note is the library, complete with track-mounted ladders, bookshop style.

Guest rooms are comfortable, with robust pine furniture and massive beds. Many feature natural stone fireplaces and jacuzzi tubs, and most look out over the Lake Louise countryside from private balconies. The larger suites come with loft bedrooms and separate sitting areas.

It’s a skier’s paradise, to be sure, but Lake Louise is no less appealing in the off-season, and rates are lower. Fly-fishing and white-water rafting are local religions, and there are six golf courses within 90 minutes of the hotel.

As for dining, don’t expect ski-lodge cuisine—the Post hotel’s restaurant is one of the finest in Alberta, with a wine cellar to match and a (fairly casual) dress code. No moose jerky here; head chef Hans Sauter is Swiss-trained and has worked in 5-star hotels worldwide for the last 35 years.