Lake Louise

It's almost impossible, upon first seeing Lake Louise, not to gasp. The beautiful, milky blue lake rests at the foot of Victoria Glacier, which rises majestically behind it, capped by snow and ice year-round. The lake has become one of Canada's best-loved and most-visited resorts. Set on the lake itself, the Fairmont Château Lake Louise Hotel, built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, is now the focus of shopping, dining and recreation whilst the village itself, is composed mainly of resorts and the small Samson Mall. The village of Lake Louise is actually located inside Banff National Park and the entire area offers a host of leisure opportunities, including skiing, hiking, fishing and biking. Moraine Lake is a short distance away and is perfect for a day trip. As with most of the Rockies, the area affords incredible opportunity for sightseeing and photography. Visitors can take the Lake Louise Gondola located on the grounds of the Ski Area, which affords spectacular views of the Rockies.