Conference kaosws::canada

    Firstly, congratulations !
    
    To answer your question ... yes Canada is extremely suitable for
    honeymooners ... Banff is beautiful, summer or winter ... take
    a trip into the rockies, up to the ice fields and to beautiful
    Lake Louise and you'll be convinced.
    
    One of the traditional Canadian honeymoon spots is Niagara Falls,
    but I think your choice is preferable ... much QUIETER!  Niagara
    Falls is a tourist zoo!
    
    I cannot help with the famous Banff Springs Hotel though ... It is
    possible to book flights and get significant discounts on the hotel 
    rates and car rentals ... so don't overlook the so called package
    holidays ... they aren't all "escorted" tours ... most in N. America
    are Fly-Drive packages which are D.I.Y.
    
    Look in other notes in here for Banff and Calgary etc for more info.
    
    Stuart

    There is a hotel right on Lake Louise which is spectacular. The hotel
    rents canoes and VERY exciting horse back rides (if looking between
    the ears of your horse to see the valley a couple of thousand feet
    below is exciting) Of course you could take the short drive (1/2 hour
    from Baniff) and still get these services. If you want to "do it right"
    I would stay at Lake Louise, it is far nicer.
    
    
    							Derek

    I sure the folks in Calgary will jump, in but I did live in there for
    10 years, so perhaps I can offer some opinions.
    
    As Stuart said, Banff is a fabulous anytome of the year.  The Banff
    Springs Hotel is a great place to stay; I stayed there during DECUS
    once.  Chateau Lake Louise is supposed to be good, but I haven't stayed
    there myself.  Both hotels were built many years ago, when the railways
    were being built.  You won't find any chrome and aluminum, and in fact,
    thinks might appear a little dated.   If you're looking for big, old
    hotels that sort of resemble castles, you'll be happy.
    
    The Banff Springs overlooks the Bow River (you can go down the Bow in a
    white water raft...), has tennis courts and a golf course.  You could
    stay in Banff or Lake Louise and from either location take in many
    sights within a 2 hour drive.  Other than the hotel and the lake, there
    isn't much at Lake Louise - Banff is much larger with many more
    services.
    
    Calgary is the closest international airport.  It takes a Calgarian
    ablut 60 minutes to getto Banff, mere mortals might take 90.  It's a
    good highway all the way - most of it's a divided 4 lane highway. 
    Renting a car at the airport shouldn't be a problem.
    
    From Banff, you can visit many other spots - Lake Louise, Columbia Ice
    Fields, Jasper, Calgary, and south eastern British Columbia.  The only
    "problem" I foresee is the time of year - August is high season for
    Banff and area, so it'll be crowded.  I suggest you reserve early...
    
    Garry, who still says there is no downhill skiing east of Canmore!
      

    I assumed that there would only be minimle time for out of hotel
    experiences due to the fact that it was a honeymoon. A lazy paddle on
    Lake Louise, or even better, let a horse do the work, that seemed like
    honeymoon stuff to me. You are quite right, there is more to do in
    Bannif.
    
    
    							Derek

    
    Well what can I say,
    
    
    	I am most impressed and pleased with the response I've received so 
    	far, I have infact had a mail with prices, phone numbers even the 
    	best places to eat. It's very interesting listening to the replies
    	especially about Chateau Lake Louise, I've also seen this hotel and
    	made a note, it looks a more than ideal setting, and listening to
    	the different opinions, it will be very close as to whether I will
    	choose Banff Springs or Chateau Lake Louise. 
    
    	Thanks for the tip in .3 Garry about booking early, I hope to be
    	booking towards the end of April as long as thats not too late !
    	I also take Stuarts point in .1 about Niagra falls, if my geography
    	serves me correct, Niagra's on the East coast and this being the 
    	case, even though its cheaper to get there from the UK, I think the
    	scenary and the national parks are better on the West coast (hope I
    	havn't offended anyone, & please correct me if I'm wrong I'm just 
    	going by brochures here)
    
    	I think you could be right in note .4 Derek, I hope to be spending 
    	quite a bit of time in the hotel, after all as you say, it is a 
    	honeymoon after all !
    
    	I take it the river flowing past the Banff Springs hotel is fast
        flowing, ie not suitable for 'paddle down the river ?'
    
    	Thanks again for the response, it has been more than useful, if
        anyone has figures on the Chateau Lake Louise hotel, I would also
    	be interested.
    
    
    
    					Many thanks Dave C.

    Dave,
    
      My In-Laws went to Calgary on holiday a few years ago. I will be
    down in the Solent (TRUCKS is a Solent node, right ?) soon, and am 
    prepared to bring their photos of Lake Louise etc, if you are
    interested.
    
    Regards,
    Wayne.

    Right at the Banff Springs Hotel, the Bow River is VERY FAST FLOWING!!!
    It's a very short walk to a huge set of rapids that are probably 
    impossible to go down, but it's amazing what some people will do.
    Above the rapids, there are several placid lakes where you can rent canoes.
    Below the rapids, you can take a "float trip" from near the hotel to 
    Canmore.  A friend of mine use to (still does?) run the float trip and I 
    recall him saying it was fairly tame - I don't think anyone gets wet, but 
    this is from a guy who probably wants to go down the rapids at the hotel... 
    There are many white water trips available in the immediate area or
    within 2 or 3 hours of driving.
    
    Regards,
    
    Garry
    

    
    
    	Thanks for the hint on 'paddling', I think I'll go to lake louise
    	for a canoe trip. I have often wondered what white water rafting 
    	is like, if there is an organised trip, I may well try and get on
    	it if there is a 'trip for beginners'. 
    
    	.5 I would love to see the pictures Wayne if it's not too
    	inconvenient, as you rightly point out, TRUCKS is in the Solent
    	and I'm located in F4/2. If you require any further instructions
    	on how to find me, my number should now be up to date on ELF,
    	of just mail me direct either on trucks or Dave Coggon @SBP.
    
    
    				Thanks 
    
    					Dave C.

    Have you considered a honeymoon in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada ?
    Sarnia is very similar to Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake,
    Lake O'Hara, and other locations mentionned in this topic:
    1) It is in Canada
    2) It is on a Lake (OK: technically, Point Edward is at the southernest
    tip of Lake Huron).
    For more information, please consult topic 53.*

>    Have you considered a honeymoon in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada ?
>    Sarnia is very similar to Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake,
>    Lake O'Hara, and other locations mentionned in this topic:
>    1) It is in Canada
>    2) It is on a Lake (OK: technically, Point Edward is at the southernest
>    tip of Lake Huron).
>    For more information, please consult topic 53.*

For something comparable to Sarnia, think of, say, Swansea (Wales)... 
refineries, chemical factories ... beautiful at night with all those lights 
against the sky ... real romantic ... 

I leave it to you to decide ...

Stuart

    Actually Stuart I would compare Sarnia to New Jersey, say Jersey City,
    or Bayonne...
    
    Pieter
    
    "Been there, done that"

    Problem with Jersey City and Swansea is that there is no Grand Canal.
    THAT is Sarnia's biggest advantage.....
    
    Glenn
    
    (The Grand Canal has the market "locked up")

    	The honeymooners will never fly here in Canada till they
    colourize (notice the u) and add silent french sub-titles.
    	That Irish guy Jacki-O Gleason is really a hoot.
                        
    	The luck of the Irish be with ya
     

    I hope one of the things you find beutiful about Canada is that it's
    people can't seem to help but turn everything into the same sad, tired
    old joke.
    
    Oh I just know I'm going to regret this.  

    re. -1
    Who's joking?
    Get a life, get married, go to Sarnia.

    Here! Here!

    Sarnia.