he Rocky Mountaineer train journey is one of the best ways to experience the sweeping beauty and ever-changing landscape of western Canada. The historic train route was created over a century ago, linking the country and introducing the world to a new and rugged land of towering mountain peaks, glacial lakes, roaring waterfalls, abundant wildlife -- bear, elk, deer, moose, bald eagles, osprey, mountain goats, bighorn sheep -- and pristine vegetation. With departures from Vancouver, B.C., the two-day journey -- 280 miles each day -- climbs from sea level to over 5,000 feet through the Canadian Rockies and Continental Divide to Banff or Jasper, with station transfers to Calgary for your departure cities. All travel is done in daylight – there are no sleeper cars -- with overnight accommodations in the hillside town of Kamloops. It’s a popular excursion with none other than Bill Gates and family once renting an entire coach.

Photo courtesy of Deb Roskamp

To witness the wonders of such beauty truly enhances the soul, and to do so in the comforts of a luxurious rail coach only makes it better. Travelers enjoy plush seats in glass-enclosed coaches, along with attentive stewards who offer passionate and insightful narration throughout the journey. Rocky Mountaineer’s all-inclusive packages include trips to the white linen-clad tables of the dining room, where award-winning chefs prepare three-course meals using regional ingredients from British Columbia and Alberta. Dishes like baked wild salmon; slow roasted Alberta bison; wild British Columbia mushroom chowder; and pickerel, a white, sweet tasting fish, should not be missed. Also, try a Caesar, Canada’s answer to the Bloody Mary.

Banff and Lake Louise
After your railway journey, it is essential that you spend quality time in the Rocky Mountain communities of Banff and Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Canada's first and foremost National Park. The park is a year-round protected wilderness area offering a remote alpine beauty that one must see to believe. There is an endless array of vacation possibilities available, including a dip in the world-famous hot springs.

Photo courtesy of Gary Avrech

Where to Stay
The Fairmont Banff Springs Modeled after a Scottish baronial castle, the opulent Fairmont Banff Springs is like its own bustling village, hidden in the mountains. An adult Disneyland comes to mind with its army of impeccably uniformed staff, mammoth ballrooms, elegant restaurants, stately lounges, designer shops and recently renovated European-style spa. If it’s activities you want, this world-class resort is the hub. Make sure you start your day with the phenomenal breakfast buffet at the Bow Valley Grill.

The Backstory
"If we can't export the scenery, we will import the tourists" was the selffulfilling prophesy of William Van Horne, General Manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway, who recognized the tourist potential of the hot springs near the railway station at Banff, Alberta. His vision was to design a luxury hotel amidst the stunning mountain scenery of the Canadian Rockies above the confluence of the Bow and the Spray Rivers overlooking the beautiful Bow Valley -- and the only way to get there in 1886 would be via a railway. The hotel officially opened on June 1, 1888, and was declared a historical site by the Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1992.

If Walls Could Talk
In 1956, Marilyn Monroe was staying at the hotel while filming River of No Return, directed by Otto Preminger. During the filming, she sprained her ankle and was on doctor's orders to be transported in a wheelchair. Needless to say, fierce arguments broke out among the bellmen as to who would get to push Ms. Monroe around the hotel. The dilemma was handled in the only civilized way – each morning the young men drew straws.

Photo courtesy of Deb Roskamp

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise approximately a 20-minute car drive from Banff, the Fairmont Chateau rests on its namesake lake, which itself is set against the backdrop of Victoria Glacier. Perhaps the most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies, this is one time where man really got it right. The location lends itself to the tranquility and stillness of the outdoors, a good place for a walk in the woods or a stroll around the lake, which is frozen in the winter. You can enjoy the property’s world-class amenities or simple things like a good book in front of a cozy fireplace.