One Day Getaway Kananaskis

This week we were feeling a bit of the no vacation slump. A lot of the people we know are headed away on their summer vacation and ours is not until the end of August. We’re visiting family, our usual, which is very lovely and necessary but sometimes you just need a real “vacation”. Our solution to this was to book our “one day getaways”! Frankly, our two and four year old do not sleep all that great in a hotel and we are stuck after bedtime, so one night and two full days seem like plenty, when you stick close to home. Luckily we live in Calgary Alberta and there are so many places within a few hours.

This weekend the mountains were calling and we decided to check out the newly renovated Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. In the old days, this place was a Delta and it was beautiful, but a wee bit dated. Marriott Hotels did not mess around with this one! It is stunning! The modern, but mountainy (not a word, but you know what I mean) decor is show stopping! We both started thinking this on Wednesday and we booked Thursday morning for the Saturday!

We really decided to book once we saw their family programming. Kids as young as four, or families are invited to do different activities around Kananaskis country. We signed up to do the “footprints in the sand” excursion, which was free, even if you just send your kids. We went and it was low-key and awesome! Kids had a fantastic time playing in the sand. They also have a beautiful children’s facility where you can take your children to play or leave them with the childcare, depending on the time of day, for a reasonable fee. Because of this and the discounted rate for hotel guests, we were thinking of leaving the kids in childcare for a few hours and checking out Kananaskis Nordic Spa, which I’ve heard so many good things about, and is next to Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. We ran out of time, but we are totally making this a priority our next time out.

The next thing that made me think we needed to book was “kids eat free” at many of the restaurants on the property when you are a hotel guest! I thought they were joking, but no, they were not! My kids have been given beautiful meals, including dessert even and it been completely free! Now I must say kids under 6 eat free, and kids over 6 eat at a reduced rate! Super! Even if you choose not to stay on the property, the kids meals are very reasonable. We planned to have lunch at Forte Restaurant, but ended up eating lunch and dinner at the very cool Blacktail Bar. The service and food were excellent, and between the two meals we tried the ahi tuna, flatbread, crab cakes, cheese plate and Cobb salad. Kids had a veggie platter, mac and cheese, chicken fingers, burgers and brownies. I was a little too busy eating and parenting so my photography was seriously neglected. My Favourite was the ahi tuna that was marinated perfectly.

We arrived a little later than we had planned, due to an accident that held up traffic. We intended to do a larger walk but we did a short walk around the village and hotel to get the lay of the land, then elected to spend the rest of the afternoon by the pool. The have a shallow indoor pool, a wading pool with sprinkler, and a indoor hot tub that flows outside. The pool area is clearly not completed. It looks like they will have a spray park area for kids indoor as well, once completed. It did not stop us from having a fantastic time. Our kids loved splashing in the water and going inside and outside in the perfectly summer temperature hot tub! It was a beautiful day and there were chairs to sit outside, and table and chairs around the pool indoors. There was a big skylight over the pool and it was bright and beautiful. I think this will be especially awesome in the winter!

We made it for the walk around the ridge after breakfast and before our excursion and it was beautiful and not to be missed!

So would we go again? Absolutely! I’d love to go out again in the summer or the winter. I think the resort did a great job of providing some activity options and has a great venue for the whole family, including the dog! Since the resort is 95% done we did notice a few things yet to be updated, like in room air-conditioning, the pool area, and other small details but it did not affect the enjoyment of our stay. Although not inexpensive, we had a fantastic time!

Suggested itinerary-

9:30 am- arrive and get front desk to store your bags while you go on family excursion prior to check in

10 am – 12:30 pm- head to the Children’s Creative Center and take part in the family activity (or send the kids if over 4). It usually runs 10-12:30 most days and varies in activity. Cost is usually free. Recommended to call ahead to reserve your spot. The Activities Schedule can be found ahead on the website.

12:30-1:45 pm- lunch at Forte restaurant

2 pm- head back to the Children’s Creative Centre and drop off the kids, you are heading to the Kananaskis Nordic Spa because you deserve it!

2-5:00 pm- chill at the Kananaskis Nordic Spa, it’s recommended to make an appointment for a treatment to reserve your spot, otherwise it’s first come first serve. But if for some reason they are full, instead of putting the kids in childcare you can go for a hike or walk with the family or play together at the pool!

5-6 pm- check in! Hard to believe you have spent the whole day enjoying the property and you haven’t even checked in yet! Then get glammed up for dinner!

6-8 pm- dinner at Blacktail Bar! Linger and lounge, as you feast as a family!

8-8:30 pm- have s’mores at the campfire for dessert! It was pouring rain the night we visited so the prepared s’mores and were serving them in the lobby!

8:30 pm – 7 am- it’s past your kids’ bedtime, so get those little suckers to bed, and drink the wine you brought from home out on the balcony(note- call ahead to reserve room with a balcony, I did not think of this so we drank out wine in the dark, like a responsible parent). Then Sleep!

7- 10 am- head to Forte Restaurant, for a delicious breakfast. If your kids are early risers like ours, you’ll have time for a ridge walk and to wander the village and hotel for a bit!

10 am – 12:30 pm – reserve late checkout if possible, if not stow your bags at the front desk again. Take part in the family activity for the day or hang out at the pool area. There is nice locker, change room and showers, so even if you’ve already checked out, you will be well taken care of!

12:30-1:30 pm- lunch at Blacktail Bar or Forte Restaurant.

1:30 pm- head out of Kananaskis Country! You are on the road early enough to beat traffic back into the city, start laundry and hit the grocery store before bedtime. Or if you are like us, have a nap!

Jess