Banff and Jasper in May - need suggestions Jasper, Banff, May

布小熊

This is a continue discussion of the previous thread:
http://www.loyaukee.com/forum/vi ... 2404&extra=page%3D4
My 4 friends finally confirm some details about this trip. There will be 6 of us in total (4+me+my bf) This is the current plan:

Day 1 HKG-YVR. Spend day 1 afternoon and evening in Vancouver. Rest and have some good food.
Day 2 early flight YVR -> Calgary. Rent a van in Calgary. Drive to Banff and Lake Louise (sunday brunch if still possible) Overnight at Banff
Day 3 Drive to Peyto Lake -> hwy 93 -> ice field -> Jasper. Stay at carbine near Jasper
Day 4 Jasper National Park. Night 2 at Jasper.
Day 5 Jasper drive back to Calgary airport and fly back to Vancouver.

So I need to book 1 night of hotel in Banff or near by area. Any suggestion?

I have found a nice carbine near Jasper, I will see if I can book it. Will post review later.

How about food, any suggestion of good food for the Banff Jasper area?
We need suggestion along the way for lunch, dinner and cafe for a snack.

How about good place to buy alberta beef? We planned to do a bit of cooking at the carbine. Any good place to get them? (farmers market?)

And we may have dinner in Calgary on day 5, any suggestion for Calgary restaurant? They prob want something more Canadian than Chinese food.

Thanks!

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回復 2# Catpiano
We are not staying in Calgary. I guess somewhere in between the hwy from Jasper to Calgary airport. Easy to park?
Price range,  ~$40 per head?

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回復 4# fibbi
it looks interesting. Thanks!
Since we haven't book the flight yet, we could choose to have dinner before our fight back to vancouver or not.

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Fibbi, did I suggest bears den to you as well?

I used to go there a lots, nice place, ok price, and ...
Catpiano 發表於 2010-3-8 06:19 PM

Hey we can sure do that!
Cos I am still doing detail planning for the days. So we can do brunch then go to lake louise later in the afternoon. (hopefully warmer)

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Any other Banff hotel suggestion? Hotel Jupitar has mixed reviews... The good comments were pretty promising but I just want to see if we have other options.
Thanks!

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OK! This trip... is finally confirmed! But we are still not sure on the itinerary. They some how want to shorten it to 3 days. (stay 1 night at Banff and 1 night at Jasper) And I don't think it's a good idea. I think 1 extra night can be spent either at Banff or Jasper.

So I want to converince them by listing out interesting places to go/do. Can you guys comment on the list? Have you been there and how interesting or not they are? Thank you!!!

Jasper:
Columbia Icefield
IceField Centre (1.5hr from Jasper)
Maligne Canyon - Bridge 5 is a fun suspension number that likes a good bounce. Park near 5th or 6th bridge. (may take time.. need to research on how walkable is the trail in May with possible snow/ice)
Athabasca Falls - next to Icefield parkway, easy walk from parking (spend at site ~1hr)
Mt. Edith Cavell (0.5 hr from Jasper) Walk right up and touch iceburgs.

Lake Louise:
Moraine Lake - This beautiful lake nestled in the mountains is best known for its appearance on the back of the Canadian dollar bill. Along the lake, there is a short, easy trail, which can be completed less than an hour.
Peyto Lake - 15 minute walk to the viewing point overlooking the lake. on the way to Jasper.
Moraine Lake - This beautiful lake nestled in the mountains is best known for its appearance on the back of the Canadian dollar bill.
Lake Louise
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - historical building. tea or just walk around
Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse - departs from the Chateau Lake Louise, and follows the lake shore for 2km before ascending 368 meters (~1200 feet) to the Teahouse. Not easy hike (??? should we do it?)

Banff:
Johnston Canyon - 30 min from Banff
Moraine Lake - Along the lake, there is a short, easy trail, which can be completed less than an hour.
Banff Spring Hotel brunch+walk around the hotel
Bow Falls - near Banff Springs Hotel.
Sulphur Mountain Gondola
Banff town
Cave and Basin National Historic Site (not very good... only if we have time in Banff town)

布小熊

some how...it looks like the iternary from tour agent...
fibbi 發表於 2010-4-8 10:39 AM

the 4 days plan?

The list isn't all the places we will go. I will keep the list with us. And start picking from the list. I think at the end, we will prob "Hae" at 1 or 2 spots of each town.
1 plan is to buy meat and BBQ at our carbin in Jasper.

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Also for them, I suspect these are things they really want to do:
Lake Louise, Sulphur moutain Gondola, Columbia Ice Field and Ice Field Centre.

And I think that's why they think they can "do it" in 3 days.

Most of the above point of interest are picked from tripadviser. If it's in the summer and if they are more into hiking, I will prob plan 1/2 day hike near one of the lakes and pack picnic style lunch. But... well, it will be May, so we can only do short walks to view spot that are close to parking.

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Jasper cabin that we are trying to rent:
http://www.alpinevillagejasper.com/accommodation-jasper.html

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hahaha I just look at my list again.. some how i have Moraine Lake listed 3 times!!!

I guess I really want to go there... @ @