Imagine the scene, if you will. You’ve been sipping brandy with your significant other in front of a magnificent granite fireplace, each recounting the adventures of the day spent skiing on the white powder slopes. After awhile, a sense of contented fatigue washes over you, and you make your way up the spiral staircase to the comfy king size bed that awaits you in the vaulted-ceiling loft. Pleasantly tired, you cuddle up under the fluffy duvet and fresh cotton sheets and discuss whether tomorrow should be spent relaxing at the Upper Hot Springs, or if you should take the mountainclimbing lesson you’ve been talking about. Before any decisions can be made, you both drift off into a peaceful, utterly restful sleep.
This may sound like a fanciful dream, but it’s a dream that Charlton’s Cedar Court Hotel has been making come true for many years. Located just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Banff township, Charlton’s Cedar Court is one of the oldest and most charming hotels in an area that prides itself on the very finest the hotel industry has to offer. Designed in a classic alpine style, Charlton’s can offer its visitors the ultimate in comfort, not to mention a fantastic place from which to base the adventure vacation of a lifetime. Whatever the season, Banff National Park has something on offer that is certain to delight and excite any guest, young or old.
About the Area
In 1883, railway workers discovered hot springs at the base of Sulphur Mountain. It didn’t take long for a number of individual concerns to realise the enormous commercial possibilities these springs offered, and they became a source of some conflict. In 1885, the Prime Minister, John MacDonald, decided to step in, and the springs and an area of just 10 square miles surrounding them were officially claimed by the government as a public park and named the Banff Hot Springs Reserve. By 1887, it was decided that a much larger area should be included, and the park was expanded to some 260 square miles and officially named Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the first of Canada’s national parks, and just the second in North America, after Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. Over the following 15 years, the park was expanded still further, to encompass all of Lake Louise, and areas around the Spray, Bow, Red Deer and Kananaskis Rivers. By 1902, what had started as a 10 square mile reserve had become a 4,402 square mile expanse of turquoise mountain lakes, coniferous forests and towering mountain peaks. The size and scope of the national park came under pressure from logging and grazing interests, and the dimensions of the park changed many times until finally settling on its current configuration of 2,564 square miles, in 1930, which is also the year the park’s name was changed to Banff National Park.
Considering the town of Banff has a population of around 8,500 residents (7,000 of which are considered permanent), it’s surprising how well they cope with the four to five million visitors that come to the area each year. However, the town’s infrastructure is well developed, and visitors have easy access to the areas rich and diverse range of attractions.
The Accommodations
Charlton’s Cedar Court Hotel offers a wide variety of guest rooms and suites to suit every requirement, from honeymoon couples to large families on a budget, and everything in between. All guests can enjoy the refreshing indoor mineral pool, or unwind in the hot whirlpool or steam room. Every single room or suite comes with the following:
• Complimentary continental breakfast each morning in the new breakfast room
• Complimentary wireless internet access
• Luxury bathrobes
• Cable TV
• Mini-fridge
• Laundry service
In addition, there are the following types of bedrooms on offer:
Deluxe guestrooms featuring:
• Custom made Canadian furnishings
• One king, one queen or two queen beds, depending on requirements
• Spacious, full size bathroom with complimentary beauty products and amenities
Loft fireplace suites, including:
• Granite gas fireplace
• Ground floor seating area
• Custom cabinetry and unique, original local artwork
• Vaulted ceilings
• Spiral staircase to loft
• Loft bedroom with king size bed
• Full bathroom with stand up shower and luxury amenity package
Kitchenette suites offering:
• Family friendly space to comfortably accommodate up to four people
• Two semi-private sleeping areas with two queen, or one queen and two single beds
• Fully furnished kitchen including four-burner stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishes and cooking utensils
• Full bathroom with amenity package
Special Packages
Charlton’s Cedar Court is delighted to offer a wide variety of packages to suit all visitors. Some of the more popular choices include the following:
• Bed and Breakfast package includes accommodation in any room type, plus full Canadian cooked breakfast for every registered adult at the Evergreen Restaurant in the Delta Banff Royal Canadian Lodge, next door to Charlton’s.
• Hot Springs Package with breakfast includes full Canadian cooked breakfast at Evergreen Restaurant, plus one pass to Banff’s Upper Hot Springs for every registered adult.
• Cedar Escape package includes a bottle of sparking white wine and chocolate truffles waiting for you on arrival, and a gourmet dinner at Evergreen Restaurant on the evening of your choice.
• The Gondola package includes a pass for every adult for a ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain, an 800-metre ascent in a four-person gondola.
