Canmore Hotel & Golf Packages

For a small town, Canmore has more than its fair share of world class golf courses, with Silvertip Resort, Stewart Creek Golf Course and Canmore Golf & Curling Club each lying on the edge of town, and Kananaskis Country Golf Course just a half hour drive away. To help save you time and money, several Canmore hotels have put together special golf packages combining accommodation with Canadian Rockies golf at its best.

Grande Rockies Resort has the honour of being the luxury resort partner of Silvertip Resort Golf Course. As such they can put together special golf packages for you, such as the Spring Swing package which includes accommodations for 1 night, plus 1 round of golf at Silvertip Resort, valid from May 17 to June 30 2012. The One Night Birdie package is similar and includes one night of lodging, and one round of golf at Silvertip from June 1 to October 1 2012.

If you are looking for great value, the Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge offers affordable accommodations and is well located for all the golf courses in the Canmore area. Although the hotel does not offer specific golf deals, you could easily build yourself a package at a competitive rate by booking a stay here and organizing your tee times directly at the golf course of your choice.

Stoneridge Mountain Resort offer custom golf packages which can be tailored to your suit your own preferences. Choose between a one, two, or three bedroom luxurious suite, plus golf at Silvertip Resort, Stewart Creek Golf Course, Kananaskis Country Golf Course or Canmore Golf & Curling Club. They will also organize a golf package for you playing at at the Fairmont Banff Springs golf course in Banff.

Silver Creek Lodge offer various golf packages, with the Premier Package including a round of golf at Silvertip, plus 1 night’s accommodation costing $235 per person based on 2 people sharing a one bedroom suite, valid June 4 to September 23 2012. A Late Bloomer Package is also offered from September 24 to the close of the season which includes a 1 night stay plus a round of golf for $184 per person based on 2 sharing a one bedroom unit.

The Holiday Inn Canmore is the closest Canmore hotel to the Silvertip golf course, and it’s no surprise that they offer golf packages which include one night’s accommodation, one green fee person for Silvertip, and a $12 voucher per person to use for breakfast at the BENCH Restaurant & Lounge. Rates for this package are dependent on the room type and your dates of travel and further details can be found by contacting the hotel.

The above packages may be subject to availability, subject to applicable taxes and subject to change without notice. For full details and for reservations, please contact your Canmore accommodation directly.

Canmore Accommodations with Pools and Hot Tubs

There are few better ways to start or end a day in the Canadian Rockies than taking a swim or going for a relaxing soak in a heated pool or jacuzzi. Fortunately there are several Canmore accommodations which feature indoor or outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs, including some with waterslides which are always a big hit with the kids. The following list of Canmore hotels with pools gives you a range of accommodation styles, each of which offers pool facilities where you will be able take that all important dip!

Best Western Plus Pocaterra Inn has impressive pool facilities which families will enjoy, including a large indoor swimming pool with water slide (see above photo), hot tub, steam room, and sauna.

Kids will love the playing on the 3 story waterslide at the Ramada Inn & Suites, while their parents can relax in the indoor pool or hot tub.

Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge is an affordable Canmore hotel which features a jacuzzi tub with mountain views as well as a Nordic style sauna.

At the Quality Resort Chateau Canmore there is an indoor heated swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, and a dry sauna for guests to enjoy.

Guests at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre can take advantage of an indoor swimming pool and hot tub.

Stoneridge Mountain Resort offers luxury all suite lodging and boasts an outdoor heated swimming pool and outdoor hot tub in a picturesque courtyard area with lounge chairs.

Guests at Grande Rockies Resort can relax in the heated indoor pool or hot tub, while the kids can play in the kids’ pool with a waterslide!

After a day in the mountains, guests at the Holiday Inn Canmore can unwind in the outdoor whirlpool.

Stay at a Canmore Hotel When Visiting Banff

Once in the shadow of the world famous town of Banff just 25km further west, Canmore has been transformed in recent years into a destination in its own right with an attractive downtown area, a fantastic selection of restaurants and cafes, and a wonderful variety of eclectic shops and art galleries. The town of Canmore also boasts an excellent network of local hiking and mountain biking trails, the fantastic Nordic Centre for cross country ski enthusiasts, and serves as the main gateway to the stunning Kananskis Country Provincial Park.
That being said, there are still many people for whom the main reason to stay in Canmore is its proximity to Banff and Banff National Park. So, if that’s the case, why would someone choose to stay at a hotel in Canmore rather than a hotel in Banff? Well, we think there are 4 main reasons:
Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, is the fact that hotels in Canmore tend to be cheaper than Banff hotels of the same standard. This is understandable – in Banff you are paying a premium for a location in a well established tourist destination within a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, Banff National Park is just a 5 minute drive from most Canmore hotels, and it takes just 20 minutes to get to the town of Banff, meaning that a 40 minute round trip can allow you to enjoy all that Banff has to offer while still enabling you to save money on accommodation by staying in Canmore. This is especially true for a longer stay when the potential savings might add up quickly.
Secondly, for anyone looking for a fully equipped suite or a condo with 2 or 3 bedrooms and a kitchen, rather than a standard hotel room, there is no doubt that Canmore has far more variety to offer in this area. Several of the newer properties in Canmore specialize in this type of accommodation and also offer many of the amenities that you might expect from a regular hotel such as a pool, hot tubs, and fitness facilities. This type of self contained accommodation also helps with the budget, as with your own cooking facilities you are not forced to eat out in a restaurant every day.
Thirdly, the town of Canmore, despite having become more popular as a destination, is still much less busy than Banff. In the middle of summer it can be difficult to walk down the main street in Banff due to the crowds of tourists, while in contrast, downtown Canmore is much quieter and has retained that friendly local atmosphere that some visitors prefer.
Lastly, for anyone visiting the Canadian Rockies from Calgary or Edmonton, Canmore is a shorter journey than Banff. Although it’s just a 15-20 minute difference, when leaving after work for a weekend in the mountains you might appreciate arriving at your hotel that little bit earlier, especially if you have dinner reservations or young children that need to get to bed.

There is no doubt that Banff is and always will be a popular destination, and there many reasons that people would choose to stay there, however, as you’ve seen, it is also true that staying at a hotel in Canmore can be a great alternative even when your primary goal is to visit Banff and Banff National Park.

Ski Packages at Canmore Hotels

Throughout the winter months Canmore Alberta is a fantastic base for skiing or snowboarding at some of Canada’s best ski areas. The world class ski resorts of Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay are all an easy day trip from Canmore, and on a multi day visit you could quite easily ski or ride at all three of them!
One of the best ways to save money when skiing in the Canadian Rockies is to take advantage of one of the ski packages offered by several Canmore hotels. Like the equivalent ski & hotel packages in Banff, these ski deals combine your accommodations with a ski pass at a lower rate than paying for them separately, and we have listed a few options below:

The Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge is offering ski & stay packages which include overnight accommodation in your choice of room type plus one tri-area ski pass per adult per night which can be used to ski or ride at Sunshine Village, Lake Louise or Mount Norquay. Rates start at $210 per night for a room with one queen bed, or from $238 for a one bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, based on double occupancy.

Quality Resort Chateau Canmore has an Early Bird Ski Package which includes one night’s lodging for two in a King Loft Suite with Fireplace, 10% discount on lift tickets for Sunshine Village, Lake Louise or Mount Norquay, breakfast, sparkling wine on arrival, and discounts on dinner and spa treatments. Rates start at $147 per night with the second night starting at just $69.

Stoneridge Mountain Resort is offering a Ski & Snowboard Package which includes one night’s accommodation in a luxury one bedroom suite with full kitchen plus 2 adult ski passes for Sunshine, Lake Louise or Mt Norquay, with rates starting at $129.95 per person per night. For larger groups, packages with 2 bedroom suites are also available.

**The packages below were valid last winter 2010-2011 and the information is no longer current. Stay tuned for details about ski packages for winter 2011-2012 which will be posted as soon as it becomes available.**

Grande Rockies Resort has interesting seven night multi-stay packages this winter which allow you to stay at the luxury resort either on consecutive nights or on separate occasions. One package is just for accommodation which would suit anyone with a season pass, and the second package includes tri-area ski passes, valid at Norquay, Sunshine Village or Lake Louise. Also available at the Grande Rockies Resort is a Ski and Stay Package, which includes lodging, tri-area lift tickets, full breakfast and free parking, starting at $249 per night.

Mystic Springs Chalets offer a couple of different ski packages. The Stay & Ski in Canmore package includes one night’s accommodation plus 2 adult lift tickets for either Norquay, Sunshine Village or Lake Louise and a large pizza from the local Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company. The Stay & Ski with Family package includes accommodations in a two bedroom suite for one night, two large pizzas, plus two adult and two child lift tickets.

For a change from skiing the ‘Big 3′, why not consider the Nakiska Ski Package offered by the Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre. The package includes your hotel room, one ski pass per person per day for Nakiska Mountain Resort, daily breakfast, plus free parking. The package is valid until March 31 2011.

And finally, the recently opened Holiday Inn Canmore is offering a ski and snowboard package which includes one night’s accommodation, a $12 breakfast voucher per person for Renzo’s Ristorante (on site) and a tri area ski pass per person.

*The above rates are subject to tax and the packages may be subject to availability, subject to minimum room occupancy, and subject to change. To confirm the details and to make a reservation, please contact each Canmore hotel directly.

Celebrate New Years in Canmore

New Years in Canmore is a fun event for all ages, with both family friendly events and lively late night parties on offer. Of course many people come to Canmore at New Years to ski or snowboard, and with Norquay, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Nakiska all within easy reach, there are plenty of options for hitting the slopes.

Find Accommodations

Most hotels and accommodations in Canmore do not offer specific New Years packages as such, but you can bet that they are all open throughout the holiday period. New Years is a busy time in Canmore and you can expect hotel accommodation to fill up, so make sure you book your lodging as early as possible.

To check rates and availability at Canmore hotels during the New Year period, click here
*(note that, due to minimum stay requirements, checking a 2+ night stay will generally give you a larger number of hotels to choose from).

Below you will find a selection of New Year’s Eve events taking place in Canmore on December 31 2011.

Party on the Pond

Canmore’s community New Year’s Eve party takes place at the The 10th Street Pond, on December 31st 2011. Last year’s celebrations included a hot dog and chocolate stand, music, bonfires, skating, family fireworks at 9.30pm and at midnight there was a firework display at Millenium Park. Details of this years event will be posted as they become available.

Drake Pub New Year’s Eve Party

The Drake will be hosting its own celebration with live entertainment from Calgary rock ‘n’ roll cover band Jawbone Hill.
There are 2 options for attending:
Gold Dinner Package – 4 course meal plus dancing, from 6.30pm, $95 + GST
Silver Party Package – dancing & partying, from 9pm, $50 + GST
Tickets available from the Drake Pub.
99 Railway Ave
Tel: 403 678 5131

Sage Bistro New Years Menu

Sage Bistro will be offering a delicious 5 course menu on New Year’s Eve with seatings at 6pm, 6.30pm, 8pm and 8.30pm. After dinner the upstairs wine lounge will be open until the early hours providing a stylish venue to see in 2012. The 5 course menu costs $84 + GST per person, with an optional extra cheese course for $14 + GST. Reservations required.
1712 Bow Valley Trail
Tel: 403 678 4878

Rose & Crown New Years Party

The Rose & Crown Restaurant & Pub will be hosting a party on New Year’s Eve, with doors opening at 9pm. Entrance costs $35 + GST and includes a sandwich buffet at midnight, live band the Electric Squirrels, and party favours.
Tickets can be bought at the Rose & Crown.
749 Railway Ave
Tel: 403 678 5168

New Year’s Eve at the Iron Goat

The Iron Goat Pub & Grill will be throwing a Mayan themed New Years party with live band Funkafeelya. The 3 course dinner plus dance costs $75 + GST or the dance party only from 9pm costs $35 + GST.
703 Benchlands Trail
Tel: 403 609 0222

Come to Canmore for Thanksgiving Weekend

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to start planning your Thanksgiving weekend trip to Canmore and the Canadian Rockies. At this stage, many hotels in Canmore still have rooms available so there is still a wide range of accommodation to choose from. The situation is likely to change as the holiday weekend draws near so it’s definitely best to make your reservations as soon as you can.
Here is a selection of Canmore hotels showing their 2011 Thanksgiving rates as found on their websites on September 29 2011:

Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge is showing some very affordable rates for Thanksgiving weekend, with a room with one queen bed at just $79 per night, a room with two double beds at $89 per night, or a one bedroom apartment with a kitchen for $109 per night.

For a luxury boutique experience, Grande Rockies Resort has some attractive rates for a 2 night stay on Saturday October 8 and Sunday October 9, with a Boutique King Room for $149 per night, a Luxury Suite with one king bed, full kitchen and balcony for $189 per night and a 2 Bedroom Luxury Suite for $229 per night.

Quality Resort Chateau Canmore is showing king and queen suites starting at $149.99 per night over Thanksgiving weekend.

Stoneridge Mountain Resort is offering a One Bedroom King Suite with fully equipped kitchen, fireplace and BBQ for a 2 night stay on October 8 and 9 for $189.95 per night, and a Two Bedroom Suite for the same 2 nights is $269.95 per night.

If you would like to check availability and rates at several Canmore hotels at one time, simply click here and enter you travel dates.

With the wide selection of restaurants in Canmore, including restaurants at the hotels themselves, there will be several options for Thanksgiving dinner. Special Thanksgiving menus are usually advertised closer to the weekend.

The above rates are generally based on double occupancy for the nights of October 8 and October 9 2011. Rates are subject to taxes, subject to change and subject to availability. Thanksgiving weekend is a popular time to visit Canmore, and early reservations are recommended. To find the current availability and rates, and for reservations, please use the links provided.

Canmore Highland Games September 4 2011

Occurring annually on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, this festival showcases Celtic culture through a wide variety of events, including piping and drumming competitions, highland dancing, heavy sports contests and sheep dog demos. The events are capped off with a Ceilidh (translation: big Scottish party), complete with food, dancing and live entertainment.

This year’s event takes place on Sunday September 4th 2011, and further details can be found in the following press release:

It is said that the first Highland Games were organized in Scotland in the 11th century. During the reign of King Malcolm III of Ceann Mór (1058 – 1093), a brae o-mar (flat meadowland) along the River Dee was used in a royal contest to determine who the strongest man in the kingdom was. Competition included a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich, overlooking Braemar, with the winner made royal messenger. Our town of Canmore is intertwined with Malcolm and the Highland Games. The name Canmore is an anglicised version of the Gaelic Ceann Mór, which can be translated as big head, great head or chief. It’s also claimed that one of the inspirations for Baron Pierre de Coubertin, while he was planning a revival of the Olympic Games, was a Highland Games display he saw at the Paris Exhibition of 1889.

On Sunday, September 4, 2011, the Three Sisters Scottish Festival Society proudly present their 21st annual Canmore Highland Games at Centennial Park. This is one of the signature summer events of Canmore – a full day celebration of everything Celtic, including piping and drumming, highland dancing, heavy sports, sheep dog demonstrations, clan tents, Celtic vendors, and traditional food and beverages. As well, you’ll thrill to the powerful impact of pipes and drums played en masse at the grand finale of the Games events.

A pancake breakfast kicks off the festivities with live entertainment by Fiddler’s Green in our heated festival tent. Later, Tiller’s Folly, the Pacific Northwest’s internationally travelled, virtuosic ambassadors of Celtic song, will perform throughout the afternoon. Always entertaining and definitely unique, The Mudmen, a blast of Celtic energy whose members are known to be characters both on and off stage, will perform at the evening Ceilidh. The Mudmen have appeared many times on CBC television, performed on Parliament Hill for Canada Day festivities and recorded the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song. You can see and hear Tiller’s Folly at www.tillersfolly.com and The Mudmen at www.mudmen.ca.

The event continues to inject major revenue to the local economy, calculated to be 1-2 million dollars on average. Around 85% of the 6-8,000 people who attend the Canmore Highland Games are from outside of the Bow Valley, with many staying in Canmore for at least two nights. It’s easy for anyone to order advance ticket packages for the Games or tickets for the evening Ceilidh online through www.ticketpro.ca up to 6 pm the day before, but be quick for the Ceilidh, it’s always a sold out event.

Organizers are pleased to work with the Bow Valley Waste Management Commission towards a “Toward Zero Waste” event. You can help the Games achieve at least 80% diversion from landfill disposal to recycling by dropping off you’re recyclables at the resource recovery stations on-site.

Did you know that the Canmore Highland Games has its own tartans? Designed by local weaver, Dorothy Garen, they are woven by Fraser & Kirkbright Weaving Company and registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans. The colours represent the green forests, blue sky and waters of the Bow River, the black coal underground, the white snow-capped mountains, the fuchsia mountain wildflower and yellow for sunny Alberta. See and/or buy our tartans and get more information on the Canmore Highland Games at www.canmorehighlandgames.ca.

Canmore Rocky Mountain Half Marathon

The 16th Annual Canmore Rocky Mountain 10k & 5k Run/Walk is on September 11, 2011.

Considered one of the most beautiful runs in Alberta, the CAUSE Canada Race is routed through woodlands, beside mountain streams, through a historic mine site and stunning views of mountain scenery. The track is a combination of asphalt and high quality gravel trail with several short climbs and winding paths.

Striving to be the GREENEST race in Canada, all possible products and procedure will be eco-friendly. This includes:

• Recycling virtually everything, resulting in a waste-free Start/Finish zone.
• Exclusively using compostable cups sourced from renewable materials.
• Operating support-bicycles along the race course, as opposed to typical carbon generating support-vehicles.
• Administering a paper-free registration process.
• Serving only BC fruit & locally made baked goods.
• We are Bullfrog Powered with 100% Green Electricity

All proceeds from the race will go towards women’s literacy, numeracy, and business training in Central America and Western Africa. CAUSE Canada’s Women’s Integral Empowerment Program (WIEP) is being made possible by revenues generated through partnerships with athletes like you!

Register online today at www.cause.ca/halfmarathon

Canmore Folk Music Festival July 30 to Aug 1 2011

Folk fans who just didn’t quite get their fill last weekend at the Calgary Folk Festival are going to be flocking down the highway this week for the 34th annual Canmore Folk Music Festival, July 30 to Aug. 1 in Canmore’s downtown Centennial Park.

The longest-running folk festival in Alberta, the Canmore Folk Festival is renowned for its intimate atmosphere, superb music selection and unparalleled backdrop of majestic mountains. Featuring more than 50 craft, community and food vendor booths, three workshop stages, three evening concerts and a free children’s concert, the festival annually draws 3,000 to 5,000 fans daily.

This year, kids will be entertained with crafts, a climbing wall, bouncy castle, clowns, jugglers, story tellers and much more.

Throughout Sunday and Monday on the workshop stages, magic happens regularly when musicians from around the world meld their talents and create the kind of impromptu kitchen party music of which memories are made.

This year’s line-up includes Canadian ukulele maestro James Hill, California’s David Lindley, Vancouver based band Delhi 2 Dublin, Canada songwriter Joel Plaskett and pride of Newfoundland, the Once.
For a full line-up, visit the festival website at www.canmorefolkfestival.com.

The weekend kicks off with a free Festival Friday at the Canmore Civic Centre, where Andy Donnelly from CKUA’s The Celtic Show will be broadcasting live from 6pm to 8pm, followed by live music from Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. On the same evening at 8.30pm there will be a U22 Showcase concert at the Communitea Café showcasing some of Alberta’s most promising young talent. Ken Whiteley entertains the young ones Saturday from 1 pm to 2pm in a free Children’s Concert at the Canmore Seniors Centre, and the advance ticket gates open Saturday at 3.30pm for the first of three nightly concerts.

Advance tickets are on sale via TicketPro on the Festival website, the Tin Box, Stonewaters Home Elements, or the Phone Store in Canmore or the Phone Store in Banff. The final chance to buy tickets at the advance ticket price will be Friday night (July 29) at the street event outside the Canmore Civic Centre. Tickets will also be available at the gate Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

For more information about the Canmore Folk Music Festival, including the schedule of events visit www.canmorefolkfestival.com.

24 Hours of Adrenalin

This exciting annual mountain bike event involves relay teams or solo riders competing to ride as many laps as possible in a 24 hour period. This year’s event takes place on July 23 2011 at the Canmore Nordic Centre, where you can see western Canada’s top mountain bike riders race against some of the best in the world.
The most gruelling way to compete in this race is as a solo rider, which involves up to 24 hours of riding. There are also 2, 4 or 5 person teams who would split the riding between them, meaning that each member of a 2 person team would ride for up to 12 hours, members of a 4 person team could expect to ride for up to 6 hours and each member of a 5 person team would be riding for 4 to 5 hours. The 2 and 4 person teams can be any combination of men and women, and within the 5 person category there are co-ed, female only, and age related sub-categories.
It is also possible to enter a corporate team of 6 to 10 people which could allow some team members to ride for just 1.5 hours, thus opening the event to all skill levels.
24 Hours of Adrenalin has been a big hit in Canmore in recent years, and it’s well worth coming as a spectator to view the race and experience the buzz around town. As the race takes place in the middle of summer, Canmore hotels are likely to be busy during this time, so early reservations are recommended.
For more details about the event, visit the 24 Hours of Adrenalin website.
To find accommodation in Canmore for this event, visit Canmore Hotels.com.

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