The venerable Banff Springs has long been the poster girl for Canadian tourism...
Written by: Julie Ovenell-CarterJuly 1 is a national holiday–happy 142nd birthday, Canada!–and I wanted to mark the occasion by offering a quintessentially Canadian prize to one lucky TheseBoots reader. And when it comes to Canadian tourism, the iconic brand–after moose, Mounties and maple syrup, of course–has to be Fairmont Hotels, with its chocolate-box assortment of gracious old railway hotels strung out across the country.
I love Quebec City’s Le Chateau Frontenac and Toronto’s Royal York and Victoria’s Empress. But my favourite will forever be Alberta’s Banff Springs hotel, the grande dame of the Fairmont clan in Canada. She helped put Canada on the tourism map more than a century ago and today I can forgive this dowager her tour-bus hordes and over-priced restaurants. These are trivial concerns in the face of such resilient beauty. Add it to your bucket list–and take advantage of the great summer sale on now until June 29.
I’m giving away a $100 Fairmont Hotels gift certificate in a random draw at 5 pm Pacific Daylight Time on Wedneday, July 1. You can use it at any Fairmont hotel, towards a room, a meal–or just a martini in the lounge.
Leave your birthday greetings to Canada in the comment section below, and you’ll be entered to win. And if you link to this contest on Twitter–remember to add RT @theseboots so I know you did–you’ll get a second entry. Good luck!
Randall Shirley
on July 1st, 2009Happy Birthday to a place that has become my home, even if I’ll never quite be able to call it my “native land.” Nonetheless, in the words of St. Judy-in-Heaven, “there’s no place like home.”
Carrie Anne
on July 1st, 2009Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Oh Canada, Happy Birthday to you!
Saran Raksin
on July 1st, 2009Happy Birthday Canada. I’m going to celebrate it in Calgary and the Canadian Rockies for the next five days. My fourth trip to Canada this year and I look forward to more to come.
Laura Crochetiere
on July 1st, 2009CANADA – HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thanks for 142 years of awesomeness. Thanks for your beauty, and your kindness and understanding.
Steve Kaldestad
on July 1st, 2009Happy Birthday, Canada! I’m going down to Granville Island to soak in the scenery and sun.
Tacey Atkinson
on July 1st, 2009Happy Birthday Canada, still glorious and free
I am going to send link on twitter too
Peggy Coonley/Serendipity Traveler
on January 19th, 2010Through a snag with the mail it took awhile, but
The Fairmont Gift Certificate i won for the
Canada Day event has arrived. THANKS
to all for the extra efforts.
I look forward to either sipping wine at
The St. Andrews by the Sea in New Brunswick,
The Fairmont in Boston where the
vintage bar is very nice on a winter’s
eve or The Southampton in Bermuda.
As the owner of Serendipity Traveler,
excellent travel experiences for women
is my business and The Fairmont
is an excellent choice for my clients.
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on January 20th, 2010Glad it arrived Peggy…better late than never! Enjoy your time…sounds like you’re in for a treat!