In the Alpine wonderland of the Canadian Rockies, a majestic glacier towers above the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Lake Louise. Here The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise offers travelers a mountain hideaway just two hours by car from Calgary, Alberta. Long known as the Diamond in the Wilderness, the historic resort began as a summer retreat but now remains open year-round. In 2004, Condé Nast Traveler rated it among the four best hotels in Canada and one of the 20 top hotels in North America.
The property dates from 1890, when railway magnate Cornelius Van Horne constructed a one-story log cabin for visiting adventurers and alpinists. The hotel acquired its storybook architecture over the next few decades. By the 1920s, glamour had arrived—a full symphony orchestra serenaded guests during dinner. Luminaries of stage and screen came to stay, including Douglas Fairbanks, Lionel Barrymore, Marilyn Monroe, and Alfred Hitchcock.