plumtree

Help! I'm suffering from information overload after reading these forums for two days. We will be travelling from Calgary for one week to visit Banff and Jasper after our Alaskan cruise. I thought I was settled on either Paradise Lodge or Bakers Creek in Banff/Lake Louise and Becker's Chalets or Alpine Village in Jasper - but I'm not sure if I should be considering places like Douglas Fir that are, supposedly, more family friendly. My children (ages 10 and 8) are good travelers and enjoy adventure, animals, hiking, kayaking, and other activities. I'm afraid too remote a hotel may be "boring" for them and feel they may want to swim and/or walk around an established town center. I would appreciate any advice/suggestions.

cmcfong

We stayed at Baker Creek last summer and it was great. Sufficiently large to attract a lot of families with kids, but private enough so each one had their "space". About a ten minute drive to Lake Louise it is close enough if you feel you need more action.

plumtree

Thanks for the information. I'm still deciding between Baker Creek and Douglas Fir - the latter has a pool/waterpark for kids, but I'm not sure if I want that option - it may distract from the point of being there. Also, trying to decide between Alpine Village and/or Becker's Chalet in Jasper? Alpine Village requires a 3 night minimum. Is that too much time in Jasper if we only have 6 days total between Banff and Jasper? Thanks in advance.

LindainOhio

What a fabulous trip you have planned. You would be happy at any of these places. We didn't spend much time at our lodging. We were out sightseeing and hiking all day.

You just have to decide if you want a pool. If I had my family, I think I would want to have at least a kitchenette. There are several places in Banff that have 2 br lodging--I think even the Douglas Fir may have those accommodations.

I prefer staying in Lake Louise in the summer because it is closer to the trails that we hike. Banff is busy in the summer. We stop in Banff on our drive from the airport. We have lunch there, walk around, stop at the grocery store. We also save Banff for a rainy day--you don't want to miss walking around the Banff Springs Hotel. Since you are doing a cruise, I would think you could have your pool time when you are on the ship.

We really enjoyed Paradise Lodge. They include a very nice continental breakfast which would be great for your family. We have also stayed at Baker Creek and Emerald Lake Lodge(my absolute favorite)
I think Alpine Village looks very nice but we have only spent 2 nights in Jasper so we have never stayed there. We have stayed at Beckers and Patricia Lake.

plumtree

Thanks, Linda. I'm going to look at Paradise Lodge. My plan is 2 nights at Douglas Fir, 2 nights in Jasper (maybe Beckers - or if we decide to splurge, Jasper Park Lodge), then 1 more night in Lake Louise on the way back to Banff (Paradise Lodge or Emerald Lake?) and 1 night in Calgary before our flight the next day. Can you recommend any hikes that my kids (10 and 8) would enjoy? I appreciate your suggestions.

tomfuller

For hiking try Maligne Canyon SE of Jasper.
I remember my wife dropping me off at the top of a trail. She drove to the parking lot at the bottom and hiked up until she met me.
We enjoyed our stay at the HI hostel about 3 miles SW of Jasper.
It is certainly cheaper than any of the rentals in Jasper.

plumtree

Thanks. Any other hiking and/or activity suggestions?

ozgirl

We stayed in Beckers, I think it would be great for your age kids. My son was working on the Jasper Tramway at the time and he took us on his favourite hikes which included Maligne Canyon (as tomfuller suggests) and the Angel Glacier Loop Trail which was fantastic and would suit your kids ages I think. They would probably enjoy the Tramway itself as well. We loved Jasper!
At Lake Louise we stayed at Paradise Lodge which was also very nice.

tomfuller

You and your kids could learn about Project Habbakuk which was the brainchild of Sir Geoffrey Pyke. This was a top secret project to build an aircraft carrier with an ice/sawdust mix(aka Pykrete).
The project headquarters was at Patricia Lake just north of Jasper.

LindainOhio

You won't want to stay at Emerald Lake on your way back from Jasper--it is a half hour outside of Lake Louise--a beautiful drive but you are already doing the fantastic Icefields Parkway that day.

Lots of stops and several hikes we enjoy when we drive the Icefields Parkway--my favorite is Parker Ridge--unbelievable view from the ridge at the top(head straight ahead when you reach the top(it's an uphill switchback hike--don't know how your children would be)There are lots of easy walks though--Bow Summit, Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefields Center,Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls--we do half of the stops on our way up to Jasper and stop at the others on the drive back to Lake Louise

We enjoy all the walks around the lakes, the hike to Lake Agnes tea house(it is an uphill hike) There is also a horseback ride that goes up to the beautiful lake. We enjoy stopping at Takakkaw Falls on the drive out to Emerald Lake--have lunch there and ask for some bumbleberry pie....There is a great hiking book that gives length and elevation gain--Brian Patton's Canadian Rockies Trail Guide.

I prefer the Maligne Canyon hike in Jasper to the canyon (from the 4th of 5th bridge)hike near Banff(name escapes me at the moment. I second the Angel Glacier hike and drive up Mt Edith Cavell.

Pick up picnic foods for lunches--always a good break--and some beautiful lunch stops by lakes and trails.

At Moraine Lake, the Consolation hike is very easy. Be sure to go to the top of the rockpile for the famous view.

We do always stop in Banff even if we don't stay there. Your children would enjoy the town. It's fun to walk around, have lunch or dinner, kill time on a rainy day.

I hope you will return to Fodors after your trip and post a trip report--I would love to hear about this trip---Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. Wow!

I am interested to hear why you chose to travel to this area instead of extending your visit in Alask and doing a land trip. I am dying to get to Alaska and just need to work on my husband.

plumtree

Thanks to all for the great information. Linda, I have always wanted to see the Canadian Rockies and Alaska - it just seemed to make sense to put them together, since they're so close to one another. I also tend to like diversity and thought that shifting gears this way would be a nice change of pace. Last year we did the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone and my kids are still talking about it...I'm sort of on a mission to visit all the national parks with them before they leave for college Next year, Bryce and Zion!

asmama

Bookmarking. Thanks folks for sharing.