When some people travel, they really don’t care about the hotel or condo they rent. They see it as simply a place to sleep before they go enjoy their holiday.
While we understand that view, we don’t see it that way at all. We view the hotel or condo as a temporary extension of our own home and the central hub of our time away. This particular stay was a weekend away for us with time for coffee and to read, with mountains in view.
Therefore, it is very important to us that we like where we stay. Having been duped by misleading internet photos of unsuitable condos, we’re always a bit apprehensive when we first arrive.
As my hand hit the handle to enter the space, I could feel a split-second rush of excitement and dread until the door swung open and my brain made the immediate determination between “this is great” or “we’ll make this work”.
Should you stay here, this is how it goes. Open the door and step into a modern blend of blues and browns. You won’t yet notice the bedrooms as your eyes lift to the large window that escalates to the peak of the vaulted ceiling which frames the breathtaking view of the Three Sisters Mountains. This is why you drove all this way, that view. Blinking back into the room you’ll find well appointed bedrooms, a nice sitting area on one balcony and a BBQ and bar style seating on another. The underground parking garage is clean and well lit. It all checks out. The central hub to the holiday is a success.
Of course there’s a fully stocked kitchen, complete with starter oils and condiments, but if weekend away means no cooking at all, the day can start with coffee and a breakfast wrap at the Black Dog Café at the base of the building. We didn’t really use the kitchen but certainly would have had our stay been longer.
Little added touches and comforts may not even be on your radar when you’re looking for a place to stay, but sure do add to the experience and give you all the feels. In the case of this Stoneridge condo, the above mentioned kitchen staples, and even full sized shampoo and conditioner helped us to feel at home. A thoughtful touch was the makeup remover wipes. You women may agree with Veldene, it can be stressful washing up in a guesthouse knowing your entire face is going to show up on the extremely white fresh towels!
A beautiful basket of throw blankets made evening tv watching and morning book time extra cozy!
The secondary things work out too. Downtown Canmore is within a reasonable walking distance, around 20 minutes of a slow meander through the paths by the creek, or 12 minutes walking the sidewalks. Many restaurants, high end and casual, a brewery, and a distillery as well as a Starbucks and local coffee houses will prove you should never go hungry or thirsty on your stay! Drive to downtown if the weather isn’t great or walking is not your thing, lots of paid parking nearby.
When you do come back to the condo, there’s no need to fumble for a door key as each unit’s lock is very conveniently controlled by a numbered code.
What else do you need? It’s all here or I should say there, which is where we wish we were right now.
To check out this Canmore condo for yourself visit their site here. We chose the Penthouse Suite and will be back for sure!
P.S. Let us know in the comments if you’ve been to Canmore or anywhere in the Canadian Rockies and where you love to stay and play for your getaway!