Jasper Park Lodge: There's No Better Place to Experience the Rocky Mountains

Source: By ILONA BIRO, AOL.ca

Posted: 10/02/09 3:12PM

Filed Under: Canada Travel Guide

A New York man reaches heaven, and as he passes the gate, St. Peter said, "I am sure you will like it". A Pittsburgh man followed and St. Peter said, "it will be a great change for you". Finally, there came a man from Jasper Park Lodge. "I am afraid" said St. Peter, "that you will be disappointed." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, from the 1925 Jasper Park Lodge guest book.

Though Conan Doyle wrote those words almost a century ago, suffice to say his words are as true today as they've ever been. Surrounded by towering peaks and emerald green crystalline lakes, no hotel in the Rockies can beat the Jasper Park Lodge’s stunning setting. While it’s been host to countless celebrities, the Lodge has remained an affordable luxury that everyone should indulge in at least once in their lives. One reason the famous come here so often is they are left alone to enjoy their privacy. Its 900 acres of gorgeous woodlands ensure quiet stays, with luxurious cabins spread far and wide around the property. At the same time, the Great Hall in the main lodge, with its 40-foot stone fireplace and spectacular views over Lake Beauvert is a lively place to gather and mingle with other guests.

Pillow Talk: Rooms come in as many varieties as there are peaks surrounding the lodge. Want a glorious lakeside cabin for the extended family? Check. Looking for a budget-friendly basic room? Check. Need a suite to entertain guests? Checkity-check. The most historic places to stay are the Point Cabin, built in 1928, and the Outlook Cabin, an elegant six-bedroom chalet built in 1930, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth once reigned. If these walls could talk, they would have many stories to tell, as the list of famous guests that stayed in them would fill a book. With the rustic look of another era still intact, they're the perfect choice for a special occasion.

Famous Guests: Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby, Robert Mitchum, James Stewart, Rita Hayworth and Dinah Shore have all holidayed at the Lodge. Queen Elizabeth II has visited - more than once - and the Lodge has long been a favourite retreat for Kennedys, Rockefellers and other famous clans. In more recent years celebrities and their families have come and gone quietly, the concierge assured me, though he stopped short of revealing any names lest he sabotage repeat bookings.

True Story: In the early 60’s, Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum came to Jasper to film the River of No Return. They stayed at the Lodge, and the story goes that one evening Marilyn was turned away at the door of the dining room. Apparently her skirt was deemed too short, so she graciously returned to her room, changed into more family-friendly gear, and dined royally. Hard to imagine a Lady Gaga or a Beyonce doing the same today.

The main dining room is a wonderfully warm spot to enjoy dishes featuring Canadian specialties like arctic char, wild mushrooms and world-famous Alberta beef. For a more intimate and elegant experience, try the Edith Cavell dining room. It's a welcome throwback to the golden era of hotel dining, when dishes were flambeed tableside, plates spectacularly unveiled from underneath silver domes, and dining was an experience to be savoured and enjoyed, almost as much as the meal itself.

At Your Service: Speaking of service, the lodge is blessed with attentive staff who take great pride in the resort and are very knowledgable about activities in and around Jasper National Park. Want to do an easy hike with kids? Ask the bellhop. Looking for a lake that's swimmably warm? Your waiter can probably tell you his secret spot. Many of the well-trained staff are second and third generation, and that continuity has been instrumental to the resort's success. Whatever we needed was brought to our cabin in short order, and the concierge desk works overtime to ensure every guest experiences the best Jasper has to offer.

Activities: In summer, there is golf on the lodge’s course, designed by Canadian golf legend Stanley Thompson. Jasper was his first major commission, and Thompson made his mark by clearing gaps through the forest to align greens with distant mountains, and then fashioned his bunkers to resemble the snow formations on their peaks. Go canoeing or kayaking on the turquoise waters of Lake Beauvert, or hop on bicycles and head to nearby Lake Annette, where on hot summer days, swimmers brave the crystal clear glacial waters.

In winter, skiing is available at nearby Marmot Basin. Or, try something that'll give you bragging rights for years to come - ice canyon walking at nearby Maligne Canyon, where the frozen river and series of fairytale-like falls create a vast ice canyon that can be explored with a guide.

Extras: Guests often ask whether the majestic wapiti (elk) are hotel 'pets', let loose to amuse guests, but I was assured this isn’t the case. More often than not they cause traffic jams – and regular nightmares – for hotel staff. But there's no denying their popularity with guests, who never get tired of the sight of these creatures, posing grandly against a Rocky Mountain backdrop.

Special Events: Christmas in November has become one of the resort's most popular packages. You can mix and mingle with celebrity presenters including world-renowned chefs, mixologists, wineries, decorators, fashion experts and stylists as you explore the hottest trends of the 2009 Christmas season. And the Lodge's Festival of Christmas welcomes guests who want to experience an old-fashioned Christmas in the mountains, a la White Christmas.

Bookings: Call the lodge to make reservation on (780) 852-3301, or book through the Fairmont website