Carmine

In the small fishing port where I live in the south-west of the UK, we get a lot of summer visitors: not just the human kind, but the feathered variety too. Around the end of August, they gather on our telegraph lines, getting ready to make the long flight south for the winter. One of the saddest sights I know is to see, in late September, a single bird who should have gone with others, but has somehow missed the convoy. Because you know that this is going to be a seriously hard winter for him.

At the moment, I feel a bit like that lone bird. Ever since 1992, we have taken a vacation at this time in North America, and to go through the fall without it is a serious deprivation. But this year, my husband is sick -- not seriously so, but needing tests and treatment to be sure he doesn't worsen. So we are grounded.

Now don't get me wrong. Our part of Britain is supremely beautiful, and many people who holiday here find it hard to understand why we want to go away. But there is ONE place in the world more beautiful, and several that we love just as much; they are all full of friends, and we miss the people and the places with a real physical ache.

Stunningly Beautiful Lake Louise

By one of life's supreme ironies, we have Bill Gates to thank for the start of our annual North American trip. A Microsoft conference in Phoenix, Arizona was followed by a week in the Colorado Rockies, prompted by our love of hiking and our keenness to see a Denver Broncos game. The following year we decided to explore the Canadian Rockies, on a coach tour as we had no idea where to begin. Day 3: it must be Lake Louise. We sat by the Lake for the 45 minute rest stop, and vowed to return. And so we have: for 12 years.

We choose to go to the Rockies in September and October because for us it is the perfect time. Lake Louise is probably best known as a superb ski resort, but we're not skiers. It's also warm and lovely in the summer, with excellent hiking and camping, but it's very busy at that time too. By late September, the summer hordes have gone home, so it is possible to find spaces in the parking lots and to hike the trails without being in a constant walking-jam. And the first light dustings of snow come in early October, making the mountain-tops even more beautiful and majestic in the fall sunshine.

Best of all, the people have time to talk. The welcome we've had from so many people has cemented our love affair with Lake Louise, especially at our favourite hotel, the Post Hotel (www.posthotel.com), in Lake Louise village. It's a couple of miles from the Lake itself, but that's actually an advantage, because even in October the Lake area still gets many one-night visitors and coach parties.

The Perfect Hotel

The Post is not a large hotel, but its standards are streets ahead of any other hotel we've stayed at anywhere in the world. It also has a brilliant Spa with all the usual facilities and treatments. A particular treat for me is to spend time in the pool's jacuzzi, which has the best view of any on the planet -- Mount Temple, over 12,000 feet high, towering above its foothill ranges.

And the food and wine... One year, the group at the table behind us at dinner were talking about their meal. One man, not a youngster by any means, said, "That's the best meal I've ever had in my life." Another replied, "If angels could eat, this is the food they would have." And by city standards at least, the prices are very reasonable.

We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that we shall still be able to go for a short visit before Christmas. If you're looking for a late fall break or a great start to your winter skiing, there is no better place. And I'll try not to go too green with envy.

Kathy Lang PhD of Cape Spear Press has published nine books and hundreds of articles in news-stand magazines on a wide variety of topics. Online, she has three main interests: health, wealth (see her site Keywords, Niches, Traffic) and happiness.

Her health articles, and her blog on health answers, emphasise the health problems that worsen as we get older, and those that most affect families, from the elderly to their grandchildren.

Kathy lives in a beautiful old fishing port in Cornwall in south-west Britain, which features in her blog granitefilledwithgrace.blogspot.com about a small, happy town by the ocean.