Jasper National Park Journal Travel Guide by DH Wall - Alberta, Canada

A Black Bear Having a Bad Hair Day in Banff National Park

DH Wall — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:52:53 +0000

These photos are of a black bear casually nibbling on plants along the roadside in Banff National Park.

I was very lucky to spot this character on the Bow Valley Parkway near Banff townsite.

You may think black bears are all tough and scary (and you might be right). But this one was relaxed and almost amusing with all sorts of leaves in its hair from traipsing through the woods.

This Banff National Park black bear was focused on one thing: eating plants. The bear didn’t give much attention to the tourists in their cars taking pictures.

Still, I stayed a safe distance away – for my safety and for the bear’s. A tame bear must to be retrained, relocated or worse.

Black Bear in Banff National Park

“Seen one tourist with a camera, seen them all,” he seems to be saying to himself.

Black Bear in Banff National Park

Jasper Pizza Place Restaurant Review

DH Wall — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:33:31 +0000

I had a chance to eat at Jasper Pizza Place in Jasper National Park 2 times during my last visit to the park.

So, alas, it is time to do a review of Jasper Pizza Place.

Review summary: If you are looking for a casual meal in Jasper National Park or have a hankering for a good pizza, Jasper Pizza Place is a convenient restaurant with lots of choices to meet the needs of everyone.

Jasper Pizza is located at 402 Connaught Drive, the main road through Jasper townsite in the middle of Jasper National Park. It was a short walk from our hotel in Jasper National Park townsite.

Exterior of Jasper Pizza in Jasper National Park

Inside Jasper Pizza during an off-peak time, Jasper National Park

It is a clean looking facility with enough menu choices to keep just about anyone happy. Of course, Jasper Pizza Place offers pizzas with typical pizza toppings: cheese, pepperoni, ham, onions, bacon, mushrooms, bar-b-q chicken, vegetarian, and more.

We had pizza during both visits to the restaurant.

Below is a picture of the Jasper Pizza Place Special we ordered - minus a slice because someone couldn’t wait for me to take a picture. The Jasper Pizza Place Special has ham, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, peppers and pineapple.

Eating the Jasper Pizza Place Special at Jasper Pizza Place

Now here’s the close-up picture of the Jasper Pizza Place Special that will make you salivate (I am salivating right now).

The Jasper Pizza Place Special with the works... stop salivating!

A thick crust and dense toppings, it was a delicious pizza. My only gripe is minor. The size of the pizzas seemed a little on the small side compared to what I’m used to – or maybe I was just extra hungry from hiking the day before. Medium is 10″ and large is 12″. Then again, the crust was thick and the toppings dense.

Still, I recommend a large for 2 hungry people. The medium might not be enough – unless you want to leave room for a dessert at the Bear’s Paw Bakery or Other Paw Bakery down the street.

On another day, this pepperoni and mushroom pizza made for an enjoyable meal too.

Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza at Jasper Pizza Place in Jasper National Park

For something different, go after 4pm

If you go after 4 pm, the pizza menu expands a little. After 4pm, the wood burning stove is running and some more daring pizzas become available.

Some of the more interesting pizzas:

The Robson is a pizza with smoked salmon, capers and onions on top.
The Cavell has blue cheese, sour cream and black olives.
The Fryatt has chicken, corn and red peppers on it.
The Whistler pizza is a bad breath causing concoction to avoid when on a date. It has garlic tomato sauce, onions, anchovies and tomatoes.

Beyond pizza

Jasper Pizza Place has a complete restaurant menu beyond pizza.

Appetizer choices include salt and pepper calamari, wings, pita with dip, Mediterranean bread and other selections. Salads include a Jasper Pizza house salad, Caesar salad, Greek salad, spinach salad and others.

There are pasta dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, chicken penne Alfredo and lasagna.

Jasper Pizza also has a good selection of burgers and wraps. The bacon mushroom cheeseburger features Alberta beef on a sesame bun. The Happy Burger is topped with ham, cheese, relish, mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and coleslaw. :) A vegetarian burger and many other choices are available.

For full entrees, Jasper Pizza has New York steak, chicken Parmesan, Philly cheese steak, souvlaki, ribs and more.

The menu also includes rice and noodle bowls like Pork Ton Po, Chicken Nuk Su Kow and “The Buddha Bowl” (fried tofu on stir-fry noodles with teriyaki sauce).

Bonus Tips

In Jasper Pizza Place’s downstairs is a billiards area. Stop by for a game during rainy weather in Jasper National Park.

Jasper Pizza has 2 outdoor dining areas, one a second floor patio and the other a handful of tables on the sidewalk by the entrance doors. Either outdoor seating area is a unique viewing point and a way to eat in the great outdoors.

Also, if you can tolerate eating during off-hours instead of prime time, either an early or late lunch or dinner, you obviously run less of a risk of the restaurant being crowded.

There you have it, a review of Jasper Pizza Place in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Give peace pizza a chance.

Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Review

The Whistlers Mountain in the Clouds

DH Wall — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:01:35 +0000

These 2 photos are part of a series of photos I took on a cloudy day while atop The Whistlers Mountain near the Jasper Tramway upper terminal.

At one point, as I hiked up towards the summit, I looked down and the Jasper Tramway upper terminal was covered with clouds.

While the view of the surrounding Canadian Rockies was mostly blocked, being amongst the clouds is a unique experience.

Looking down on the Jasper Tramway upper terminal on a cloudy day

The clouds were drifting along the top of the mountain and right over me. It was so cloudy that we couldn’t see the summit.

“The Whistlers” mountain is named for the nickname of hoary marmots. Marmots are nicknamed “whistlers” because they make a whistling sound.

Near the top of "The Whistlers" Mountain in Jasper National Park

Marmots can sometimes be seen up here in the top of the mountain amongst the rocks. I didn’t see any this time. It had been snowing earlier that day so maybe the marmots were taking the day off.

Afternoon Tea: A Perfect Jasper National Park Rainy Day Activity

DH Wall — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:52:30 +0000

Rain happens.

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.

Elk along Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park – Photo of the Day

DH Wall — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:34:49 +0000

Today’s photo is of an impressive pair of elk in Banff National Park.

These 2 elk fellows were walking along the Bow Valley Parkway 1A, a less traveled road that parallels Highway 1 from Banff townsite to Lake Louise Village.

Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Review

DH Wall — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:46:38 +0000

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is a real treat.

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.

Bighorn Sheep Ewe in Jasper National Park – Photo of the Day

DH Wall — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:30:18 +0000

A bighorn sheep ewe and her lamb (child) feeding along Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) in Jasper National Park. In the background is Jasper Lake, which runs parallel to Highway 16.

I was lucky to spot these 2 in the afternoon while on the way to Miette Hot Springs.

On the Lookout for Animal Jams

DH Wall — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:08:28 +0000

It takes a keen eye and a little luck to spot the wildlife in Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

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.

Pyramid Mountain – Photo of the Day

DH Wall — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:55:37 +0000

Today’s Photo of the Day is one of Pyramid Mountain on a cloudy day in Jasper National Park.

From far away, the mountain looks a little like a pyramid. That’s how it got its name.

It is a short 5-minute drive from Jasper townsite to Pyramid Lake which has plenty of good vantage points to see the mountain.

It is worth the drive if you have the time.

In this picture, the group of trees on the left is actually an island. A short pedestrian bridge gives access to it. The island has a few picnic tables and lots of viewpoints for enjoying the scenery.

If you like the picture, click to view larger to save as a desktop wallpaper.

My Full Review of the Chateau Jasper Hotel in Jasper National Park

DH Wall — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:10:36 +0000

As part of my recent trip to the Canadian Rockies, I spent 5 nights at the Chateau Jasper, amongst the hotels in Jasper National Park I am pleased to recommend based on my experiences. This is my really long review of the hotel.

The 3-story, 119 room Chateau Jasper hotel is conveniently located in Jasper townsite, the small town in the center of the big national park.

Review of Chateau Jasper’s Room Quality

We stayed in a 2 queen bed room. The beds were comfortable, though after a day of hiking in Jasper, I could sleep on anything! I slept well every night.

The room had a home feel to it which I liked. The furniture wasn’t sterile or cold like some hotels, as you can see from the pictures.

I was happy with the bathroom area as it had plenty of room and two sinks. It was clean and modern. Check out the pictures.

Our room at the Chateau Jasper also had a closet with a safe, ironing board and small half-sized refrigerator in it. A desk, flatscreen TV and small table completed the room. We didn’t use the TV much except to review the weather.

The room’s electrical outlets were easily accessible – important if you need to recharge phones, iPods and camera batteries.

The room came with both a coffee maker and a tea maker. We tried both. The coffee supplied was ok and the tea was good. It was nice to have the tea maker, an uncommon amenity.

The walls were thick enough so I didn’t hear neighboring rooms at all but the doors could be thicker to better keep out the sound of anyone who is talking in the hallway. On the plus side, the thick rugs on the hallway floors keep you from hearing anyone walking.

The pillows might have variability – if that matters to you. My wife complained that housekeeping switched the pillows on the last night and the last night’s pillows weren’t as good as earlier nights. I dunno. I couldn’t tell the difference, so who knows.

Chateau Jasper’s Location

The hotel is easy to find in Jasper townsite. The Chateau Jasper is on the eastern end of Geikie Street, which runs most of the length of Jasper townsite.

Once you’ve driven to Jasper townsite from the Icefield Parkway or Highway 16, it is easy to find Geikie Street and then just drive east to the hotel. Can’t miss it. It is next to Best Western Inn and Suites Jasper.

Walking to Downtown Jasper from the Hotel

The Chateau Jasper is a few blocks away from the downtown area. It is an easy walk through a residential neighborhood – a chance to see the houses of the people lucky enough to call Jasper National Park home. We did the walk several times.

And if you want a more interesting walk, take the Discovery Trail, which passes right behind the hotel’s rear parking lot. The Discovery Trail loops around Jasper townsite and also has junctions to trails near Pyramid and Patricia Lakes.

Parking at the Hotel

Parking is fine for cars and SUVs. The parking spaces were a good width…not too tight. Parking wraps around the building and there are 3 exterior entrances to the hotel. So, no matter where you park, a door is near.

There is also an underground parking garage with somewhere around 20 additional parking spaces in it. As underground hotel parking garages go, it isn’t bad. A little hard to navigate, but the parking spaces were wide enough to not worry about having space to open the car door. I’d avoid the underground parking unless the outside parking lot is full.

And if both the parking lot and the garage are full, there’s some parking in the street.

Hotel Pool

The Chateau Jasper’s well-maintained indoor pool and hot tub were a nice way to start a few days. The pool seemed to be the right temperature and had both a shallow and deep area. The hot tub was warm and big enough. For a hotel pool, I was happy with it.

The downside of good hotel pools can be popularity. One time in the evening, we went down to review the situation. It was so packed with kids that we decided to wait till the morning. It was empty in the morning.

Wi-Fi Internet Service

I had a good Wi-Fi signal in my 3rd floor Jasper hotel room, but ended up not having time to use it. The price to use it was pocket change. If I remember correctly, Chateau Jasper was charging $2.95 for 2 hours. There was a cheap 4 hour plan too I think, but if you are in Jasper and spending 4 hours on the Internet, you’d be missing out on the rest of Jasper National Park. Even if it’s raining out, review your itinerary because there’s always something to do in Jasper.

If you don’t have a laptop, there’s a guest computer in the hotel lobby.

Dining

No free continental breakfast. That part is a bummer. For me and for the savvy traveler, bringing your own breakfast is quicker and better anyways. We took advantage of the mini-fridge in our room and kept milk in it for cereal.

We had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. I’ll write more about that in the future.

Hotel Staff

The attitude of a hotel’s staff can make a difference and we were pleased with Chateau Jasper’s staff. We only interacted with staff a handful of times but it was all positive. The front-desk staff checked us in fast. When the pool area was out of towels, we asked the front-desk and they apologized and had towels in a short amount of time. The cleaning staff was friendly when walking by in the halls.

Pricing

I ended up paying a price that was a little lower than most other Jasper hotels. You may find better (or worse) prices than I did. The prices for hotels change with the time of year, supply and demand, specials, etc. You can research Jasper hotel prices here using Jasper Journal’s hotel tool powered by HotelsCombined.com. Even though I’m a budget traveler and like spending less on hotels, I was pretty happy with paying a little more to stay at Chateau Jasper. It was a fair price for the quality, comfort and location.

The end result was a pleasant 5 night stay and no regrets. Can’t ask for more than that!