You won’t find a whole lot of mention in the travel books about the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre as it is not really a tourist attraction.  It is more of a place where the locals go to get away from tourists.

As it turns out, there are a lot of reasons to visit the Sally Borden facility.

• Are you looking for less-crowded indoor activities in Banff due to rain or inclement weather?
• Did you go to Banff Upper Hot Springs during peak hours and saw the line and said “what now?”
• Is your hotel pool is too small, too crowded, too noisy, or just plain non-existent?
• Are you looking for indoor rock climbing, yoga classes, a “real” fitness centre or other fun activities away from all the tourists?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above questions, the Sally Borden Centre is a good option.

Located on the outskirts of the town of Banff, the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre is a fully-equipped exercise and recreation facility.

What I like most is the huge swimming pool.  I think it is Olympic sized or at least close to it.   I thought there was something different about the water too, at least when I was there.  It felt clean and refreshing.  Maybe they use less chemicals than the traditional hotel pool.  The pool is great for doing laps.  And after swimming, there’s a whirlpool and for the kids, a wading pool.

I liked the weightlifting and exercise equipment.  It was what I’d expect from a real fitness center.

Activities

If you are looking to spend a day being active, there’s plenty to do.  Beyond the swimming pool and exercise equipment, there’s a steam room, rock climbing gym, indoor running track, squash court, gymnasium, exercise classes, yoga classes, massage, training sessions and other services.

Getting There

The Centre is easy to go to from the town of Banff.  It took me about 10 minutes to get to from Banff Hot Springs on the other side of town.

The Sally Borden building is in the middle of the Banff Centre, a arts and cultural facility with lots of events.  It feels like you are in a college campus and parking is similar.  If you are lucky, you can park in a small row of parking spots next to the Sally Borden building, then climb the steps up to the Sally Borden building.  Otherwise, there are a few parking lots further away that are a short walk to the Sally Borden building.

Hours and Events

Before going, it is good to check out the hours.  There are classes and events going on so not every activity is open at all times or open to the public.

The best bargain is to get a day pass and go on a day with bad weather and stay several hours trying everything out.  The day pass drop-in rate is very reasonable and you can stay all day and have access to more.

For hours, rules, and a schedule of activities, see the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre website.

All-in-all, the only major trade-off is the likelihood of cooler weather in September compared to July and August – though a given September day can be warmer than an August one.

Visiting Jasper National Park in September offers several advantages compared to the peak months of July and August while still being somewhat of a peak month like its cousin June.

Here is a list of pros and cons of Jasper National Park in September:

Pros of visiting Jasper National Park in September

Cons of going to Jasper National Park in September

Hope that covers it.

Anyone else know of more pros or cons?  Leave a comment and I’ll add them.

Mt Norquay has 28 runs and enough lifts to get you up the mountain fast.  It is also quick to get to from downtown Banff.

For something different, Mt Norquay offers the unique opportunity to do night skiing and tubing on certain Friday’s and Wednesdays January through March (see Mt Norquay’s event calendar).  It looks like a good time.

The ski folks at Mt Norquay Ski Resort just put out a couple of fun videos on YouTube.  Check the videos out:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Check out Mt Norquay’s Facebook fan page too.  Lots of pictures in their photo album.

If the forecast for tomorrow is for lots of rain, now is the time to make a reservation for afternoon tea at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

The Jasper Park Lodge is one of the landmarks of Jasper National Park from the early days. And the afternoon tea is one of the most memorable meals you’ll have – a perfect way to keep the rain from dampening your spirits.

The “afternoon tea” is a lot more than just gourmet tea.  It also includes tea sandwiches and even more dessert.

Afternoon Tea Dessert at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

The afternoon tea is served between 2pm and 4 pm.  Reservations are required at least an hour in advance but if you know it is going to rain, make a reservation as far ahead as possible.

Call the concierge at (780) 852-3301 or toll-free (866) 540-4454 to make a reservation for afternoon tea.

I recently wrote a full review of having afternoon tea at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge if you want to learn more.

This was my first time doing afternoon tea.  I’m now a fan.

The gourmet tea, the wide variety of tastes and textures of the food, the one-of-a-kind setting – it all makes for a enjoyable and memorable experience.  You won’t find troops of tourists here either, so I’d have to argue it is off-the-beaten-path too.

At the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge the tradition of afternoon tea starts with tea, then a tray of small sandwich foods and then a dessert tray.  All of it is prepared with the utmost attention to detail.

Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

The server provided a tea menu with a wide selection of teas.  The server can help with tea selection if you have questions.

Our menu had Earl Grey, Orange Pekoe, Assam Leaf, Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong, Kenmare Ceylon, Jasmine Butterfly #1, Kyoto Cherry Rose, Cascade Peppermint, Egyptian Chamomile, Kea Lani Orange Pineapple, and Berry Berry.

• Just avoid asking for coffee!! I’m not sure what would happen… but it could involve the room going silent and security personnel escorting you out of the building. I’m kidding, but that’s how serious they seem to be about tea here.

After a while, the tea arrives. The tea itself is loose tea served in a tea press to bring out the flavor.

After sipping on tea for a bit, the “sandwiches” arrive on a tray for two people to share.  Quail eggs, cucumber sandwich, smoked salmon, goat cheese and other delectable ingredients.  It is a unique set of foods.  That is part of the appeal.

Though the sandwiches may look small, it is a filling meal. Then comes dessert.  The dessert is a meal in itself!

Afternoon Tea Dessert at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Skip lunch, skip dinner. All you need is afternoon tea at the Jasper Park Lodge. Look at it!…luckily it is a serving for two people to share.

I counted 7 different kinds of dessert items – everything I could ever want in a dessert and more.

Alas, the meal was finished and the bill arrived.

The price for everything seemed reasonable for this fancy of a meal.  Our tab for two was under $70 after taxes.

Explore the lodge and grounds after afternoon tea

Afternoon tea is a great way to enjoy the setting of the landmark Jasper Park Lodge hotel (originating in 1921) without having to stay there (this is an upscale accommodation out of most people’s price range).  The lodge has a lot of character.

Lac Beauvert boat rentals at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is on Lac Beauvert.  On a nice day, you can walk around Lac Beauvert or even rent a canoe or kayak and do some paddling to work off the calories.

Reservations required

Be sure to make a reservation for afternoon tea, which is served only between 2 and 4 PM daily.

• At one point, the Jasper Park Lodge’s website lacked info about the afternoon tea reservation requirement – which can cause confusion for those who have never done afternoon tea before and for those who see that reservations are not excepted for the Emerald Lounge.  I pointed this out to the concierge and it was promptly improved.  It goes to show that they listen to patrons.  Now, the website reads “Please note that reservations are required and at least one hours notice.”

I’d suggest calling for a reservation a day in advance during the peak months of July and August just to avoid disappointment.  The main number for the lodge is (780) 852-3301 or toll-free (866) 540-4454.

Even though we were not staying at the hotel, the concierge really seemed to go out of the way for us.  And the waitstaff service was good too.

My only complaint about Jasper Park Lodge is the tight parking lot for guests not staying in the hotel.  Give yourself extra time to park and walk to the lodge.  Or live it up and do valet service which is at the entrance of the main lodge building where tea is served.

All-in-all a good time.  I’d do afternoon tea again.

It might not be the best thing to bring kids to for a meal but it is perfect for a romantic meal.

I wonder if the chef changes the selection based on seasonal food availability.  Sounds like the perfect excuse to go back to find out.

The good news is that fellow travelers are looking too.  And when they see something…

SCREEEEEEETCHHH!!!!

“Stop the car, bighorn sheep!”

The result is an “animal jam”: lots of cars stopped in the middle of the road because wildlife is nearby.

An animal jam is your cue to slow down and look.  Maybe you’ll see something good, like a bighorn sheep, elk or black bear.  Just keep your distance and give the wildlife some space to do their thing.

I pulled over for an animal jam on Highway 16 in Jasper National Park

The pictured animal jam on Highway 16/Yellowhead Highway was a good one.  The reward was being lucky enough to see this gang of bighorn sheep hanging out on the side of the mountain.

Animal jams can happen in the least expected places (including curvy roads), so be careful driving.

Related posts:

1. Visiting with Bighorn Sheep at Miette Hot Springs, Jasper National Park

Jasper and Banff National Park each have Canada Day celebrations planned. They have 3 things in common: pancakes, parades and fireworks.

Jasper National Park Canada Day Celebrations

A nice website maintained by the Jasper Canada Day Committee here has everything you need to know about the festivities.  Some of the highlights for 2010 are a pancake breakfast, flag raising ceremony, parade through Jasper townsite, food, beer and music in the afternoon, and fireworks when it gets dark.  View the complete schedule here.

Banff National Park Canada Day Celebrations

The festivities in Banff National Park start with pancakes in the morning, fun activities at Central Park in Banff, a parade in late afternoon and then fireworks at night – and more fun mixed in throughout the day.  Learn more about Banff’s Canada Day activities here on the town of Banff website.

Related posts:

1. A Visit to the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre in Banff National Park

Fortunately for visitors to Banff, Jasper and Kootenay National Park, there are 3 Canadian Rockies Hot Springs to chose from.

1. Banff Upper Hot Springs in Banff National Park

2. Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park

3. Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay National Park

Let’s learn a little bit about each of the Canadian Rockies National Park Hot Springs.

Banff Upper Hot Springs

The Upper Hot Springs in Banff are the most popular Canadian Rockies hot springs because of their convenient location in Banff National Park.   The hot springs are cooled down to 47.3 °C in the pool.  The water has a strong sulphur smell and taste.

Lockers and towel rentals are available.  If you want a massage or spa treatment too, Pleiades Massage and Spa center is on the premises.

Miette Hot Springs

After a day of hiking in Jasper National Park, Miette Hot Springs is a pleasant and rewarding to way to end the day.  Located near the eastern border of Jasper, the springs might be too far for a day trip from Banff National Park, but a short enough drive for those staying in Jasper townsite or hotels in Hinton, Alberta to justify adding the hot springs to your Jasper National Park itinerary.

The water composition of each of the Canadian Rockies Hot Springs varies.  In Miette Hot Springs, you’ll smell a strong sulphur smell of the water – much different than the chlorine filled hotel pools.  Miette Hot Springs’ water is much higher in Sulphate, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium compared to the other hot springs.

Radium Hot Springs

Radium Hot Springs is on the western border of Kootenay National Park in the village of Radium Hot Springs.  It is a couple hours to drive from Banff National Park and makes a good activity to include in the middle of a daytrip from Banff to Kootenay National Park.  The town of Radium Hot Springs also has plenty of accommodations to make it an overnight trip.

The water in the warm and cool water pools at  Radium Hot Springs differ from the other Canadian Rockies hot springs in that it is odorless and tasteless.  The warm pool is the largest hot spring pool in Canada and it is not uncommon to spot wildlife in the surrounding area.  Radium Hot Springs also has the Radium Pleiades Massage and Spa center.

There you have it, 3 Canadian Rockies hot springs.  Which will you visit during your Canadian Rockies vacation?

Related posts:

1. Visiting with Bighorn Sheep at Miette Hot Springs, Jasper National Park
2. Trekking Poles are the Secret Weapon of Happy Hikers in the Canadian Rockies and Beyond

While the Jasper Park Lodge gets props for being around since the early 1900s, the lodge benefits from the beauty of Lac Beauvert and the surrounding Canadian Rockies.

Lac Beauvert is a small lake at only 0.4km².  Even for Jasper visitors not staying at Jasper Park Lodge, a trip to the lodge for the scenery is worth it.  The lodge also has several dining options and the lake has a nice path along its edge. So, a dinner and a walk could make for a relaxing way to spend on evening after a day of Jasper National Park activities.

Lac Beauvert and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge are a short drive from Jasper townsite and it shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes from the townsite to the lodge’s parking lot.

Then the beauty of the lake awaits.

1. Plan the right itinerary to prevent too much driving in one day

First off, you do not have to tackle the entire Canadian Rockies in one vacation.  It’ll be here when you want to return in the future.

With that in mind, plan an itinerary that balances driving with sightseeing and relaxation.  Maybe one day will have 3 hours of driving but the next only 30-60 minutes.   This arrangement benefits both the driver and the passengers and should keep everyone happy.

Be sure to explore the rest of Jasper National Park Journal for travel ideas.

2. Pay attention while driving.

Again, pay attention while driving. Of course, pedestrians will be wandering about near attractions, in parking lots and walking across streets in Jasper townsite.

Wildlife comes out unexpectedly.  Being the person who reduced the wildlife population through carelessness is less than rewarding.

Be careful of the people in front of you who will stop unexpectedly for wildlife.  Other cars and RVs pull into and out of look-out points without notice too.  Driving with headlights on during the day will make it easier for others to notice you, especially during rain.

If you are stopping for wildlife, be careful of the cars behind you.

And if that fails to be enough to convince you, police have been known to have speed traps to help keep the speeding down.

3. Take enough breaks while driving

Driving 2 hours straight is tough.  Take breaks.  There are plenty of places to stop throughout Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies and greater Alberta and British Columbia.

Get out and stretch.

4. Remember that driving in the Canadian Rockies is a reward in itself

In the Jasper National Park, the Icefields Parkway, Highway 16/Yellowhead Highway and other roads are all plenty scenic, amongst the most scenic in the world.  Be on the look-out for wildlife.  Maybe you’ll see elk, bighorn sheep, caribou, mountain goat, a moose or a bear.

Click here to view the embedded video.

5. Bring snacks and water

Bringing snacks will prevent the anxiety that occurs when needing to find something to eat urgently when a long distance from any restaurant.

Drink water throughout the day to prevent dehydration.

6. Take bathroom breaks when to opportunity arises

Being in a rush to go to the bathroom can be avoided by making the use of facilities at attractions.

7. Pack some ‘just in case’ stuff in your car

The day will be more enjoyable if you have what you need to make it through the day.  This means bringing extra layers of clothing in case it gets colder.  Pack some ibuprofen and antacid – common solutions to most issues that will keep you and your passengers enjoying the scenery.

Click here to view the embedded video.

8.  Drive green, be green

When renting a car, consider an economy or smaller sized car versus renting an SUV or large car.  Less gas is better for the environment and saves you lots of money too.  Also, make sure your tires have the right air pressure in the tires. Tires low on air reduce gas mileage significantly.

With all of the driving, consider some sort of carbon offset donation to a certified provider.  Or, consider Friends of Jasper National Park.

9. Turn off the cell phone

It should be obvious, but if you do get cell phone coverage out here, wait until you’re at a rest area to use your phone.  You are on vacation and so are other people.  Don’t ruin it.  The conversation or text message can wait. Really.

That’s it.  9 tips for driving in Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies.  Follow them and you should be alright.