Bob Brown |
Mar 30th, 2001 06:13 AM |
That is a good set of questions that you ask. Let me give it my best shot, but remember you are reading a personal opinion. <BR> <BR>I can understand now what you are saying about the "loop". It makes sense. <BR>Assuming that you fly into Edmonton, I suggest that you can see the highlights of Edmonton in 1 day. <BR>from there it will take half a day to reach Jasper. In the past I have stayed at Jasper House Bungalows, south of town. One year we took advantage of a room in a private home, which was a bargain. There is a list of "parks approved" accommodations which you can find on the web, or at least a partial list. These rooms vary in cost. Some of them are actually small apartments and are quite nice. <BR>In the Jasper area, I think you could see it well in 3 full days -- 4 nights. <BR>The list of attractions include: <BR>Mount Robson (over the line in British Columbia) <BR>Maligne Lake <BR>Mount Edith Cavell and the Angel Glacier <BR>The Whistlers (cable ride to the top in what is known in Switzerland as a Luftseilbahn) <BR>Athabasca Falls <BR>In addition I have seen people taking float trips on the river. They were singing, smiling, waving, etc. Must be fun, but I never took one. <BR>A trip along the Icefields Parkway can easily take two days. The problem here is that there are not a lot of places to stay between Jasper and Lake Louise. <BR>I know of 3 places: a lodge at the 1. Icefields Center (where you take the ice cat onto the glacier) <BR>2. the Num Ti Jah Lodge, which is near the Bow Glacier and falls. <BR>3. the Crossing, which is a motel along with a gas station and restaurant/gift shop at the place where the David Thompson Highway goes east to Red Deer. <BR> <BR>So now we are up to 4 days. <BR> <BR>The Lake Louise/Yoho National Park area is good for at least 2 days and probably 3 depending on how much hiking you want to do. There are several beautiful walks in that area. In Yoho, I recommend Takkakaw Falls and Emerald Lake at a minimum. The beauty of Yoho requires an excursion on one of the trails, which entails a little uphill work. <BR>Around Lake Louise, there is the Plain of Six Glaciers trail that leads to the mountain wall that forms the backdrop for the lake. Moraine Lake is near Lake Louise, and it is one of the most beautiful views you will take in your lifetime. <BR> <BR>So we are now at 7 days. <BR> <BR>Just over the Great Divide is Kootenay National Park. It is not quite as scenic as the other parks, but Marble Canyon is a geological curiosity. the canyon is 3 feet wide and 300 feet deep in places. <BR> <BR>Around Banff there are things to see and do. I think 1 full day in the Banff area should be sufficient, unless you take off on one of the trails. <BR> <BR>And that brings us to 8. <BR> <BR>Calgary would be good for 1 full day and possibly 2. The museum downtown is intersting, and so is Heritage Park south of town. <BR> <BR>If you find that this schedule is too slow, then there is time to drive over to Drumheller and tour the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. It is a World Heritage site, and houses many of the premier palentologists of the world, including Phil Curry who is virtually a legend in his own time. <BR> <BR>Your idea of flying into Edmonton and out of Calgary makes sense to me. <BR>But the drive between the two cities is not that bad. It is about 200 miles between the two, perhaps a little less. At any rate you have much beautiful scenery in store for you. So enjoy it.
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