Jasper
Entertainment

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Most people who live in Jasper do so in order to take advantage of the incredible scenery and abundant outdoor recreational opportunities. As a result, everybody tries to spend as much time as possible outside, which makes for a do-it-yourself approach to entertainment. Besides the local cinema, there are very few venues where you sit and are entertained by somebody else. Be prepared for a little bit of adventure in whatever you choose to do, and enjoy your sojourn to its fullest.

Outdoor activities abound in and around Jasper. In the summer you can hike the trails around town, or rent a mountain bike to explore some of the longer trails. If you want to get a little farther from civilisation, horse pack trips can take you to chalets dozens of kilometres back into the mountains. In the winter you can downhill ski or snowboard at the Marmot Basin Ski Area, or strap on a pair of cross country skis and go gliding through the forested trails around Pyramid Lake.

For a bird’s eye view of the town and most of the park, take the Jasper Tramway to the top of Whistlers Mountain. Once you reach the summit, you can wander around and take in the spectacular mountain vista, or partake in a gourmet dinner at Treeline Restaurant. The Treeline claims to be one of the highest altitude restaurants in Canada, and has a menu to match.

Shopping is one area where Jasper reigns supreme. Whether you are looking for an original mountainscape watercolour, elk antler chandelier or new set of downhill skis, chances are you will find it somewhere in downtown Jasper. There are about a hundred small shops squeezed into a tiny area between Patricia Street and Connaught Drive. Most of the touristier souvenir shops and art galleries are found on Connaught Drive, while the ski, bike and sunglass boutiques are on Patricia Street.

A thriving nightlife exists in Jasper during the summer and from December to April, while the ski hill is in operation. Finding a lively bar or nightclub is quite easy. Simply walk along Patricia Street and listen for music blaring out of the open club doors. Select the style of music that most appeals to you and wander on in.

The clear mountain air makes for great photographs, but it can also build up a powerful hunger. As anyone who spends much time in the mountains knows, even the most mundane meal tastes incredible after a day in the hills, and a gourmet dinner can be almost overpowering. Fortunately, there is a wide selection of restaurants lining Jasper’s avenues, serving food from all over the world. A quick jaunt down Patricia Street reveals dozens of restaurants and lounges, although fine dining can also be found elsewhere in the town.

If you don’t want to venture out of doors but still want to get a little exercise, the Jasper Aquatic Center has a full-sized pool, sauna and a hot tub for relaxing stiff muscles. If the hot tub is not quite warm enough for you, then a visit to the Miette Hotsprings might be in order. These natural springs, which are located a 40-minute drive northeast of Jasper, claim to be the hottest in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with temperatures reaching 110 degrees Farenheit.

If you want to get a sense the area’s history and inhabitants before you head out, the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum has an excellent collection of artifacts and displays detailing history of the valley since the last Ice Age. For a close look at some of the wild in habitants of the park, drop by The Den, a natural museum complete with stuffed representatives of most of the park’s large mammals. This is a great way to see what a grizzly bear looks like up close without ending up as its supper.

Wildlife viewing is popular in the summer and winter in many parts of the park. Along the Yellowhead Highway to the east of Jasper, there is a set of limestone cliffs that almost always has a herd of bighorn sheep grazing upon it. Elk can be seen almost everywhere in the park, with one herd living around, and frequently inside the town itself. Other wildlife, such as moose, bears, wolves and mountain goats are less frequently seen, but will still sometimes venture within camera range. As close encounters between people and wildlife almost never end favourably for either party, it is best to keep your distance and use a telephoto lens on your camera.

Whatever you choose to do while visiting Jasper, you can be assured that your stay will be eventful and memorable. Whether you decide to go climb a mountain, eat until you burst, shop until you drop, or just lounge around in front of a roaring fireplace, you stay is sure to be memorable.