City Style and Living - Winter 2008/2009 - (Page 52)

Want to know a little secret? Although the Banff Centre is known for its cultural activities and conferences, it is also a great place to stay. Located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, partly up Tunnell Mountain, the views are understandably spectacular. Living in Calgary, it can be easy to forget that the faint images of snow-capped mountains are just hours away. As we drive toward the entrance, amidst forest, we ask ourselves why anyone would you live anywhere else when the Canadian Rocky mountains are forever in view? The Banff Centre, founded in 1933, has wisely retained a cozy logcabin décor, and much of the furniture in the rooms is handmade. Though there is dining at the Banff Centre, we venture into town instead. During our stay in the Professional Development Centre, we awaken to freshly fallen snow, with mount Victoria seemingly just meters away. The huge windows overlooking the mountains and pine trees gave us the feeling that merely by observing, we were participating in the unfolding scene. There is a certain reverence that mountains command and in the changing light, that takes us from morning to afternoon and evening, we are entranced by the mountains’ eternal and varying aspect. Absolutely nothing is more awe-inspiring than mountain views and that is the pleasure of staying at the Banff Centre. www.banffcentre.ca BANFF CENTRE Perks: Wireless high-speed internet access; Complimentary local calls; certain guest rooms have private walkout balcony. Bottom Line: e spectacular views, rustic log cabin feel and mountains will remind you why winter is a wonderland. SuTTON pLACE C LOCKWISE FROM TO P LEFT: the log cabin feel at Banff Centre; the lobby of Sutton place; inside the room at Banff Centre; the ballroom at Sutton Place Perks: Indoor, heated swimming pool and spa; Complimentary newspaper and mineral water in room Bottom Line: e hotel’s great location and extras like a welcome platter may just get you mor acquainted with our provincial capital. CSL 52 | WINTER 2008/09 | citystyleandliving.com COURTESY TRUDIE LEE, SUTTON PLACE Do you have one of those 24 hour, nine to five jobs that doesn’t include vacations? What better way to turn a business trip into a mini vacation with the family than a drive up to Edmonton. The Sutton Place is ideally situated downtown, close to shops, restaurants and transportation- while you are at work, your family can spend the day enjoying our capital city. Wood paneling throughout the hotels’ lobby and rooms, and the courteous service make the hotel seem homier than a high rise might suggest. Upon our arrival into the business class hotel, an hors d’oeuvre welcome platter awaited us. Batter fried shrimp, chicken wings, vegetables and a complimentary cocktail were just the snack for us (we were peckish from our road trip from Calgary). This was an inviting, satisfying welcome. After resting in our room for a few hours, we headed downstairs for supper. Our dinner at the cozy Central Park Lounge was lovely, next to the wood burning fireplace. The seared rack of lamb served with mashed potatoes and vegetables was a hearty Winter dinner that capped off our evening. Our comfortable room, equipped with working desk, two Queen sized beds and dining area were well suited to a makeshift office, and doubled as a living room space. In the morning, our continental breakfast featuring tea, coffee, orange juice, fruits, cereal and pastry was just enough to sustain us for our trip back to Calgary. www.edmonton.suttonplace.com http://www.banffcentre.ca http://www.edmonton.suttonplace.com http://www.citystyleandliving.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of City Style and Living - Winter 2008/2009

City Style and Living - Winter 2008/2009 Contents Editor's Note Behind the Cover The District Events Wrap It Up To Market To Market Culinary Conversation Need It Want It Kitchen Restaurant Inspiration Dancing the Cocoa Covet Prêt-à-porter Inspired By... Giving Anatomy Of... Casanova Fragrance Profile Focal Pointe Passport 24 Hours In... The Staycation Ombudsperson Horoscopes Final Thought

City Style and Living - Winter 2008/2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.