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

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.

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.

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 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 Golf Well, Eat Well package which includes 2 nights accommodations, 2 rounds of golf at Silvertip Resort per room, 2 rounds of golf at Stewart Creek per room, 2 seasoned 10oz steaks plus side dishes for your in room BBQ, plus a 6 pack of beer per room. For a shorter stay, the One Night Birdie package includes one night of lodging, two rounds of golf at either Silvertip or Stewart Creek per room, plus a $25 food credit for the on-site Habitat Restaurant & Bar.

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, and early risers can get a good deal with the Early Bird Package which includes a round of golf at Silvertip with a tee off between 7am and 8am, plus 1 night’s accommodation for $195 per person, valid Monday to Thursday. The same midweek package with a tee off after 8am costs $215 per person, and from Friday to Sunday the cost would be $230 per person. A Marathon Package is also offered at the weekend which includes a 2 night stay plus a round of golf after 12pm on Friday, and all day golf on Saturday and Sunday for $525 per person. These packages are valid until September 26 2011, and are based on 2 people sharing a hotel room. The packages are also available at a lower rate for groups of 4 in a 2 bedroom suite.

Windtower Lodge & Suites is offering a Golf Stay & Play package which include lodging for 2 in a one bedroom suite, a hot buffet breakfast, and green fees plus a rental cart at Stewart Creek golf course. Prices for this Canmore golf package start at $315 per person.

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 Renzo’s Ristorante. 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.

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.

Hotel Vacancies for August Long Weekend

The August Long Weekend is almost upon us, and what better place to spend it than in the heart of the Canadian Rockies? Canmore will certainly be busy this holiday weekend and as the weekend draws near it’s becoming more and more difficult to find a Canmore hotel with vacancies. To help with your search we managed to find a few places with available rooms, but these are booking up quickly, and it is especially difficult to find a vacancy for Saturday night.

The Best Western Pocaterra Inn still had a limited number of rooms available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, with either a King room for $239.99 per night or a Deluxe King for $249.99. If you are just staying Friday or Sunday night, they also had a standard room for $199.99.

The Hotel of the Rockies no longer had availability for Saturday, however they were able to offer a standard room on Friday and Sunday for $169.

If you are looking for a suite with a kitchen, the Lodges at Canmore still had a 2 bedroom suite open for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights for $280 per night.

Econo Lodge Canmore had just one room available for Saturday night, a kitchenette room at $159.99, however on Friday and Sunday availability was much better and they were also able to offer a standard room for $149 or a superior room for $159.

Quality Resort Chateau Canmore was fully booked for Saturday and Sunday, but was able to offer a Loft Suite for Friday night for $159.99.

The message is clear – if you are coming to Canmore for August Long weekend and you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, you need to act quickly to guarantee yourself a place to stay.
You may also be interested in staying down the road in Banff this weekend and there are several Banff accommodations that still have vacancies – to find out what’s available, visit Banff Hotels.org.

Have a great holiday weekend in the mountains!

*The above rates are subject to applicable taxes, are generally based on double occupancy, subject to availability, and subject to change. August Long Weekend is notoriously busy in Canmore and availability is likely to change quickly. To confirm rates and for reservations, please contact the relevant Canmore accommodation directly.