Alberta is beginning to open again as COVID numbers go down. This includes shops, restaurants and hotels. While we were eager for a little getaway conforming with public health guidelines, we had our concerns also. This Canada Day we enjoyed an overnight hotel stay and I’m sharing a Kananaskis Mountain Lodge review here for the benefit of all families looking for a mini-vacation closer to home.

Kananaskis Mountain Lodge Review:

The lodge is just one hour from Calgary making the commute great from both Edmonton and Calgary. The setting is absolutely gorgeous, nestled in the middle of gorgeous mountain peaks and right by Kananaskis river.

The hotel is well-prepared to receive guests and aligned with the realities of a post-COVID world. There are protocols, procedures and reminders of physical distancing through out the property along with ample sanitizer available everywhere.

All staff of the property were wearing masks and you could see them constantly sanitizing all surfaces.

RooMs

We got the family room that was spacious and inviting. There was a separate bedroom with a king-size bed and a main area with two queen-size beds along with a small sitting area.

The children had already jumped on the bed when I took the picture below:

The view from the room was beautiful.

From the primary bedroom we could see the gorgeous Kananaskis Nordic Spa property.

And the other window had gorgeous mountain views. I mean just look at that!

Food AT Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

The first night we ordered food via room service because the kids were exhausted after a great time at the water park (more on that below in facilities).

For breakfast, there are two options: You can grab coffee and breakfast-to-go from the mini-market on the property or sit down and eat at Forte Restaurant.

We opted for Forte Restaurant and loved sitting down and eating at a restaurant after four months!

The tables had been spaced out and were meticulously sanitized between use. The staff were wearing masks and the menus were printed on paper and recycled.

The food was delicious and the service amazing! We were served by Camele and she was extremely attentive and quite delightful.

Facilities at Kananaskis Mountain Lodge

The facilities at Kananaskis Mountain Lodge are lovely and extremely family friendly. We loved the water park and spent a good two hours there.

The children loved the water slides and the nature-themed water park. The hotel was maintaining a first-come first-serve cap on attendance to ensure physical distancing.

There is also a gym in the same premises. Another great feature is a playroom for children with books, toys and play stations, catering to all ages. This was a great feature I haven’t seen at other Canadian hotels. Many parents were relaxing while their children played. Everything was being routinely sanitized.

There are also tennis courts and a basket ball court on the premises along with a great playground for children.

The Natural Setting of Kananaskis Mountain Lodge and the walking Trails

Kananaskis Mountain Lodge is set in a postcard setting of mountain peaks, valleys and the Kananaskis river. The lodge is right by many popular hiking trails.

There is also a gorgeous walking loop right behind the lodge which is paved, making it perfect for strollers, bikes and scooties. The walking trail has many view points and benches. The views are totally breathtaking.

We spotted lots of wild life on the path and took in the magnificent show of nature around us.

The walk is extremely kid-friendly along with being accessible. Families will enjoy the walking loop because of the many resting points. Hussein loved spotting the colours of the various wild flowers along the trail.

As for me, there was no dearth of ideal locations for photographs.