There are times in our travels when we actually witness something so beautiful and outer-worldly that we can’t believe we’re actually looking at something real. And that’s the way I first felt when I went to Emerald Lake in the in Yoho National Park of British Columbia, Canada.

Yes, the lake is GREEN as emeralds – henceforth the name. Now you might be thinking how can the lake be green – that sounds gross, like it’s filled with algae!

But no my friends, not at all!

The lake has been formed from the glaciers and is filled with “glacial till” – the very fine dust of the limestone rocks the glaciers ground down some ten thousand or more years ago.

The light reflects off of the glacial dust suspended in the lake creating the magical green you see today! And if you take a side trip to Banff nearby you will see a lake that is so purely turquoise blue it will simply take your breath away. Seriously. I have a picture of me standing in front of the lake and I still can’t believe the lake is real.

So if you have an hankering to take your retreat group to a beautiful old majestic lodge in the summer or even winter time – the Emerald Lake Lodge is the place to book.

The lake was first discovered back in 1882 when the railroad was being laid across Canada. It impressed folks back then and continues to do so today as a perfect example of heaven on earth. The place is currently owned by Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts who also owns two other beautiful lodges: Buffalo Mountain Lodge located on Tunnel Mountain in Banff and Deer Lodge right by Lake Louise (another stunning glacial blue lake).

They have meeting rooms at the hotel and you could certain do yoga outdoors in the summers. Between hiking, biking, canoeing, horseback-riding and whitewater rafting this is the perfect place for a health conscious retreat.

And don’t forget about the winter!

If sleigh rides, dog sledding, skiing (cross-country and downhill) and snowboarding tickle your fancy then 20ft snow drifts and roaring fires should be right up your alley.

The food – we’re talking mountain grub here! You’ll have the best of Chef Valerie’s seasonal menu – which as you might imagine includes free-range elk, caribou, bison, Alberta beef, boar chorizo, duck, and of course delicious fish like halibut and salmon. (Not sure this is necessarily the place for vegetarians to be honest with you). But if you like your meat free-range you’ll definitely get that.

They’re known for their extensive wine list and they have some great micro-brewed beers too. They actually have several restaurants on the grounds all with lovely views and different vibes. In addition, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts company owns a ranch where they raise elk and buffalo and they also some really delicious jams, frozen goods, BBQ sauce and other goodies.

So if you are looking for an amazing place to take your group to where you can connect to nature in a deep and profound way – this is the place to be. The Canadian Rockies are beautiful and this is just ONE of many fabulous places I have stayed in the area. If you’ve got a really adventurous group – I suggest one of the places that you have to helicopter into for either heli-hiking or heli-skiing. I did a heli-hiking trip some years ago and I actually cried one day because it was so beautiful. 🙂

To your wanderlust life, Sheri xoxo

PS: Watch the video below to learn more about this wonderful resort!

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Dr Sheri Rosenthal is known as one of the most sought after retreat strategists for coaches, speakers, and authors — and is the owner of Journeys of the Spirit Travel®, a boutique agency specializing in the planning and management of group travel.

Through her Wanderlust Entrepreneur Community and her signature course, The Retreat Blueprint Program, she has taught thousands of facilitators how to design exceptional retreats that allow them stand out in their niche. She is famous for helping clients plan, fill, and profit from transformational retreats that change lives in a huge way while adding serious income to their bottom line!