| Grand Railways Hotels and other,Famous Doors of Hospitality
by Jerry W. Bird
 Canada is dotted with famous hotels, inns, lodges and resorts; a few having existed since pioneer days, while others are but faded memories. Some of my favourite haunts remain as attractive and popular as ever, keeping up with the times, yet retaining their unique charm - those built during the hey day of Canada's two great continental railways. Victoria's elegant Empress, the Hotel Vancouver, the palatial Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise, Edmonton's Macdonald, Saskatoon's Bessborough, Regina's Hotel Saskatchewan and Calgary's Palliser are all prime examples.
Further east, there's Winnipeg's Fort Garry, Toronto's Royal York, Quebec's Chateau Frontenac, Montreal's Queen Elizabeth and Ottawa's Chateau Laurier. How can one forget the Algonquin, a tudor style resort on the Bay of Fundy at St. Andrews by the Sea, a pleasant bus ride from St. John, NB. We enjoyed the Mother of all Lobster Feasts on the grounds of that historic property during a convention I helped stage for CGA-Canada. We have participated in many such events, worked on projects or enjoyed memorable stays at most of these superb hotels, the Banff Springs in particular. For several months, a suite in Edmonton's Macdonald Hotel served as our advertising agency's branch office.
Romantic Dream Vacation: Coast to coast rail trip, with overnight stops at several of these nostalgia-inspiring properties, including Victoria's Imperial Empress, Banff Springs Mountain Majesty and Quebec's charming Chateau Frontenac. It's a romantic, fairyland vacation for folks of any age. From Vancouver or Halifax. Train connections by Via Rail Canada, Royal Canadian Pacific and Rocky Mountain Rail tours. Contact Railways of the World Tours; fax (604) 681-6595, airhwy@dowco.com Harrison Hot Springs Resort, near Vancouver also 'springs' to mind. It recalls a legend of CPR's glory days, when high rollers, from movie stars to royalty rode the Canadian Pacific Railway, staying at hotels and resorts at or near the main line. I am touched by that same spirit with each visit to The Harrison. And its always a happy return. We launched Air Highways Magazine there, when the BC Aviation Council selected me to speak at its 1996 Conference. Our publishing group is working on a history of that great resort and others for our Suite 2001 Program.
Reservations and information on many of the above mentioned hotels, including those in the fotomation sequence and vintage hotel posters are available from Fairmont hotels www.fairmont.com Canada's Hotels continues with "Hotels along the Yukon" Fotomation- series of souvenir posters available
at Canadian Pacific Stores. Catalogue: http://www.cphotels.ca Hot Trends and Thriving Spas
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