If your bucket list has ever included the Canadian Rockies, then I’m almost certain you’ve come across the iconic castle that emerges from the heart of Banff National Park. With a storied history dating back to the late 19th century, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the ultimate dichotomy of ruggedness and refinement. What began as a simple log chalet in 1890 has grown into a world-renowned luxury destination, yet it has never lost touch with its wild surroundings.  
Originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the hotel was once envisioned as a way to attract wealthy European travelers to this remote wilderness. (Little did they know that over a century later, it’d still be drawing visitors of all kinds.) Those early guests brought with them a taste for elegance that shaped many of the traditions still honored at the Chateau today. I have a penchant for seeking juxtaposition, and that original vision was onto something — building a luxurious outpost in one of the most be...