Instead of spending our last 2 days off at home, Ryan and I decided to take advantage of what may be the last of the warm weather, and take a road trip to Jasper. Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Jasper seemed like the perfect mountain town for a road trip getaway. Despite being born and raised in Alberta, I had actually never been to Jasper before, and I was excited to get away, and see somewhere new. Apparently, the drive from Banff to Jasper is fairly incredible. Unfortunately, we hit a minor snow storm as we exited off the highway into Jasper National Park, and were left driving in the snow with virtually no view for the entire drive. I was set on seeing the Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefields, and took a chilly photo from the deserted parking lot at the Icefields Center, before we continued on our way. On the final leg of the drive, we stopped at Athabasca Falls, stopping to wander around and enjoy the sound of the water rushing powerfully over the rocks. At long last, we entered Jasper, feeling excited for the adventure that awaited us.
After checking into our hotel, we set out to explore Jasper. As it turns out, Jasper is not much of a destination town. It is basically one strip of stores and restaurants, with hotels on either side. My first impression was a mixture of “what are we doing here?”, and “what is this place?”We wandered the nearly barren streets of Jasper, making our way to the famous Patricia Street Deli, where we both enjoyed a delicious soup and sandwich (they have GF!!). As we set off, with full bellies, in search of a delicious coffee, we reflected on how expectations can really influence perceptions of a place. Ryan and I had both gone to Jasper expecting something similar to Banff, instead of going in without any expectations. In turn, we had both experienced bad first impressions of Jasper. Once we let go of the Banff standards that we were holding Jasper to, we quite enjoyed our time. We wandered from coffee shop to coffee shop, enjoying a variety of difference beverages and treats, before heading back to relax for a bit before going for dinner. We went for sushi at a tiny sushi restaurant called Oka Sushi located in the Fairmont. This was, hands down, the best sushi I have ever had. Ever. It was melt in your mouth, made with love sushi. Mmm!
We started off our second day in Jasper with breakfast at a cute little cafe called Coco’s. We cheers-ed to Ryan’s 25th birthday with coffee and eggs cooked to perfection. From there, we made our way just outside of the town to do the Valley of the 5 Lakes Hike. This 5km loop makes its way around 5 small blue-green lakes, and although it is fairly easy, it was exactly what we were looking for. The mountains towered around us, making me feel grateful for where I am in my life. The lakes were still as glass, and the surroundings reflected off them like a mirror, adding to the stunning scenery. It was a fantastic 2 hour hike that left me feeling like I could take on the world. The effect that nature can have on the body and mind is truly incredible.
As we made our way back to Canmore, we were greeted with blue sky and sunshine, allowing us to take in the beauty of the drive through Jasper National Park. People aren’t exaggerating – it’s amazing! Arriving home, I felt refreshed and reenergized, and although I wouldn’t want to live in Jasper, I feel optimistic that we’ll return in a different season. So would I recommend visiting Jasper? Most definitely…. however, don’t go in with the expectations that we went in with. Go in open minded and ready to visit somewhere that is new, and although perhaps not that exciting, most definitely beautiful.