Mountain Spa ~ Fairmont Banff Springs, Willow Stream Spa
The sense of scale here is immense. Near the resort town, the grand and historic Fairmont Banff Springs hotel that presides over the valley where the Spray and Bow rivers meet is itself nearly dwarfed by the surrounding mountains.
Steeped in a history of wellness
Modeled after a Scottish baronial castle, the hotel was completed in 1888 under the direction of the railway executive William Van Horne, who selected the location to draw railroad tourists to the spectacular scenery and the mineral-rich hot spring bubbling out of nearby Sulphur Mountain.Still today The Fairmont Banff Springs is known for luxury and wellness. Guests can golf, hike, bike or raft (to nearby waterfalls), explore meadow and mountain trails on horseback or foot, play tennis, or take a quick shuttle to the Fairmont ski program. In addition to the kids’ activity program, a small bowling alley in the conference complex and the indoor/outdoor pool areas are ideal for family time.
A close encounter of the wild kind
The best kick-start for a busy day is the breakfast buffet in the Bow Valley Grill, where the array of food competes with the mountain views. Thorough exploration of the vast public areas did not produce a meeting with the resident lady ghost, but we did have a close encounter of the wild kind when stepping out of the hotel one evening.Standing only a few feet away on the main driveway was a large bull elk sporting an impressive rack of antlers. He gazed calmly at us as if to indicate a welcome to “his” estate. Vastly relieved when he turned and meandered away, we later learned that this elk rules a herd of over 100 animals, often visible in the early morning and at dusk, grazing the golf course and lawns.
Mountain spa brings outdoors in
Fairmont’s wellness philosophy is grounded by the adult-oriented Willow Stream Spa. As at other spas in this hotel chain, the designers have masterfully incorporated outdoor elements. The heart of this spa is a circular mineral pool surrounded by incredible mountain scenery visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. A glass cupola roof supported by rustic pillars of local Mount Rundle stone admits natural light and glimpses of rapidly changing, high-altitude skies.Restful music piped beneath the surface is complemented by the gurgling of the hot, warm and cool waterfalls that are part of the “sanita per aqua” circuit. Private men’s and women’s lounges plus a co-ed relaxation area continue the “outdoors-in” concept with their expansive views and use of wood and local stonework.
Relaxing on a bed of roses
Arriving early for the Rose Renewal treatment allowed me to enjoy the steam room and adjacent whirlpool to open my pores and release toxins. My therapist Kayla greeted me in the women’s lounge and led me to a generously sized treatment room decorated in restful neutral tones, with muted lighting and soft music.In keeping with the rose theme, the massage bed and bath were awash in deep-red rose petals. The treatment began with an invigorating exfoliation. The next step was to climb into the hydrotherapy tub for a relaxing soak in bubbling water prepared with minerals and fragrant skin emollients.
Soft music and the bubbling hydro massage floated me off to dreamland, and after what seem like only a moment, Kayla roused me for the next part of the treatment: an hour-long relaxation massage using natural rose hip oil that left my skin unbelievably silky and smooth.
After my amazing aromatic face and scalp massage, I was grateful for the hair dryers, sanitized brushes and premium hair care products in the change room. After sipping the special Fairmont blend herbal tea by the fireplace in the relaxation lounge, I reluctantly left that sanctuary, re-energized yet calm.
The Fairmont Banff Springs, Willow Stream Spa
~ Dagmar White, Canada Accounts Manager, Spas of America
