Visiting Edmonton and thinking about a day trip? Jasper National Park is a long 3+ hour drive but doable (and worth it!).
Coming into Jasper National Park on Highway 16 through the eastern entrance, you’ll have time for several fun activities.
Go to West Edmonton Mall to get the shopping out of your system before visiting Jasper National ParkWith many Jasper National Park visitors landing in Edmonton International Airport, talking about West Edmonton Mall makes a lot of sense. After a long flight, walking around West Edmonton Mall for a few hours is a good way to unwind. The Jasper Train Station, officially known as the Jasper Heritage Railway Station, is a travel hub for many visitors to Jasper. Train travelers arrive and depart on trains with names like the Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail’s the Canadian, Skeena and Snow Train lines. The park and town of Jasper has clearly grown up around the train station – leaving the train station with a great location. But many travelers ask what they should do upon arriving at the Jasper train station. In an article on the San Francisco Chronicle (here), travel guru Arthur Frommer writes about visiting Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, praising Banff sites for being the “undisputed champions of soaring limestone scenery”. This “Greetings from Alberta” postcard purchased new in 1987 offers insights into the significant themes of Alberta, Canada. Meant to be a fun postcard for Alberta travelers to send back to the folks at home, the postcard visually depicts the animals of Alberta, outdoor activities, major attractions and meaningful symbols. It tries to define the Province of Alberta. Read more on Greetings from Alberta: Visual Definition of a Canadian
But when I’m in Jasper National Park, I’m “there”. The need to hurry is gone. I’m driving slow, enjoying at the mountain scenery, and keeping an eye out for wildlife. Read more on 115 People Caught Speeding on Icefield Parkway This Past
Jasper National Park can be just of piece of a great Alberta, Canada vacation. According to the Alberta Government, there are 600 lakes, 245 rivers, more than 78,000 square kilometers of parkland, 275 golf courses, 6 ski resorts, 66 regional ski hills and 2330 hours of sunshine annually. That means there’s a lot of nature beyond Jasper National Park. |
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Copyright © 2010 Jasper National Park Journal Travel Guide by DH Wall – Alberta, Canada - All Rights Reserved |
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Most visitors to Jasper National Park arrive via either Edmonton International Airport (YEG) or Calgary International Airport (YYC). This is a brief guide to the airports and how these 2 Alberta, Canada airports fit into Jasper National Park vacation itineraries.
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