Hotel at a Glance: Windtower Lodge & Suites

With its cedar-and-stone façade set against the snow-capped Canadian Rockies, Windtower Lodge & Suites calls to mind a Swiss chalet. But the lodge is actually located in Canmore, Alberta, a town famed for its abundance of outdoor recreation and its proximity to Banff National Park, which the New York Times has praised for its “spectacular mountain views.”

• Home away from home: All guest rooms and suites offer flat-screen TVs and Keurig coffeemakers; suites also have fireplaces and balconies.
• Hot buffet breakfast: Fuel up for a day of exploring the landscape with a included morning meal for two.
• Organic meats and produce are used to create the hearty cuisine at The Wandering Elk. Step onto the patio for nice views of the surrounding mountains.
• Driving? Use the heated indoor parking (fee applies).

Canmore, Alberta: Charming Rocky Mountain Town near Banff National Park

Canmore’s captivating natural setting in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies has served as a backdrop for such movies as Brokeback Mountain and Legends of the Fall. Head to Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park to enjoy the scenery while ice skating, cross-country skiing, hiking, or mountain biking, or explore a sprawling wilderness of mountains, glacier-fed lakes, and limestone canyons at Banff National Park.

Downtown Canmore centers on Main Street, a three-block shopping boulevard lined with brewpubs, art galleries, and boutiques. Monthly events such as art festivals and mountain-bike races keep the town buzzing during the day; an eclectic live-music scene entertains crowds late into the night. Though Canmore has come a long way since its early days as a coal-mining site, its mining museums and commemorative statues keep the past alive.