20. Lake Louise, Alberta
Why to go: This might just be the most photographed lake on Instagram. The deep turquoise color of glacial Lake Louise is gorgeous in the summer, but it turns into an ice-covered playground in the winter. You can skate, watch ice-carving competitions, and play shinny hockey. There’s also dogsledding through Kicking Horse Pass; horse-drawn sleigh rides along the lakeside path, a 4.1-kilometer cross-country skiing loop across and around the lake; and downhill skiing 10 minutes away at Lake Louise Ski Resort. Of course, there are plenty of places to sit and take in the unbelievable scenery of the surrounding Banff National Park.
Where to stay: The Post Hotel & Spa—40 minutes from Banff and a two-hour drive from Calgary—can trace its roots back to 1942, when the original lodge was built by a Banff guide. Now, it’s a Relais & Chateau property at the heart of Lake Louise village, with polished pine beams, grand stone fireplaces, and rich, red accents that scream rustic luxury.
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