The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, or maybe better known as Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies,” has been high on my bucket list for years… so this Summer when I booked a show in Calgary, I knew I had to take advantage of being so close and plan a trip. My best friend Kierston joined me, and we had one of our absolutely favorite girls trips!

The hotel is in the heart of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s known for its insanely gorgeous views, an award winning spa, and close proximity to the town of Banff. It’s the perfect base to explore the beautiful surroundings!

I squeezed this trip into my insanely busy tour this summer, so we only had two full days to see as much as possible. Day 1, we checked in early and stored our bags so we could take a short drive to see this incredible view of the hotel from across the Bow River (shown above). It felt nice to stretch our legs after the drive in from Calgary! We had lunch and cocktails on the Rundle Bar patio (which we frequented several times during our stay) and spent some time exploring the hotel — the grounds were stunning and we enjoyed beautiful warm and sunny weather.

We opted to choose Fairmont Gold for our stay, which offers an elevated and exclusive experience. This includes a separate check-in area

Fairmont Gold guests are all booked on the 4th and 5th floors, where there is an exclusive lounge that serves breakfast in the mornings, and canapés in the afternoon with a full service bar. It also offers a beautiful library and lots of private areas to lounge or congregate with your group. It was wonderful to be able to grab a quick bottle of water or coffee on our way in/out from out adventures! Plus the Gold concierge team was always there to help with anything from dinner reservations to navigating the expansive hotel.

Through our Fairmont Gold concierge, we booked an adventure day to see the two iconic lakes that Banff is known for best - Lake Louise and Moraine Lake! Our guide for the day picked us up in a Sprinter van and drove us first to Lake Louise, which is also home to the Fairmont Chateau hotel on the lake. Our guide had made us reservations to paddle the lake in a canoe — which was truly the highlight of the whole trip! If you’re able to, I highly recommend getting on the water at one of these beautiful alpine lakes. Our paddle lasted an hour, and then we enjoyed a packed lunch that the hotel also arranged.

From there, we drove to Moraine Lake. There is a short hike up to the viewpoint, and the second you catch sight of the lake it truly takes your breath away! I’ve never seen water SO blue! If I ever get to visit Banff again, i’d love the opportunity to get out and paddle on this lake next. It was truly an incredible day and while i’m usually a do-it-myself planner when it comes to trips, it was SO incredibly nice to have this day entirely planned by our guide and it took away any stress that typically comes with planning adventures. 10/10 recommend!!!

The dining options inside the hotel were all so yummy. The had lunch twice on the Rundle Bar patio, which was also a great spot for sunset cocktails! The view is breathtaking with the Bow River running below into the abyss of the mountains. My favorite dinner experience was at the Italian restaurant on site called Castello. We saved it for our last night, and it was the perfect ending to the trip. The room was so vibey, with a tree in the middle of the room and twinkle lights strung throughout. It’s a must at least once during your stay! Also worth noting — I was so happy to see a coffee shop in the lobby of the hotel. As a self pronounced coffee snob, I can assure you the lattes get 5 stars!

The amazing thing about the Banff Springs is what a destination the hotel is in itself. The amenities are extensive, including a beautiful outdoor swinging pool with mountain views. During our stay, there was a pop-up activation called ‘Banffchella” that featured signature cocktails and ice cream on the outdoor terrace. Such a cute idea for summer!

We also made sure to book spa appointments since the spa here is SO iconic, and let me tell you it did not disappoint! Kierston and I both gave our massage therapists a 12/10 and the facility is very lux.. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take photos as there were other people using the spa and we wanted to respect everyone’s privacy, but there are several soaking pools at different temperatures to enjoy before & after your treatment, including a stunning center mineral pool that had major healing energy vibes.

Last but certainly not least: our room! We had a 2 bedroom suite with a cozy living room in the middle. It was recently renovated and everything felt so clean and new, but still maintained the historical charm of the hotel. The beds were so comfy and it was the perfect thing to come back to after a long day of exploring. I also LOVED the Le Labo products in the bathroom - one of my favorites!