Getting here:
Jasper town centre is located some 300 km from Banff. My journey duration was about 9 hours through the Icefield Parkway, reputed to be one of North America's most scenic drives. I took on a coach tour from Banff operated by Brewster Canada. The good thing with my Greyhound Canada Discovery Pass was that this bus tour was also included. Alternatively, one can also opt for a "regular" Greyhound Canada service but the journey takes about 13 hours and the departure times are not suitable for most tourists. Brewster coach departed around 0800 hrs from Banff and with the 9-hr journey, there was ample daylight for me to enjoy the scenery of Icefield Parkway before arriving at Jasper town centre around 1700 hrs.

Description:
After a few days in tourist-infested Banff, the serenity and tranquility of the world-famous Jasper National Park was somewhat bewildering. While Banff may hold the highest concentration of upmarket café and winter gear stores in any North American national parks, Jasper is quite the opposite. One can't help but notice the town is relatively dead and the mountains surrounding it are slightly less spectacular, but Jasper does offer more variety in term of outdoor sport activities.

The town site lies on a valley carved by the Athabasca River. The bulk of its commercial businesses lies along Patricia Street and Connaught Drive. There is a railway station parallel to the Athabasca River, at which luxurious rail journey across Canadian Rockies departs and arrives. The train service is operated by VIA Rail Canada.

I visited the Jasper Park Information Centre, a cute little brown stone masonry built to resemble an exclusive lodge. The information centre is located between Miette Avenue and Patricia Street. The centre provides all the necessity information about the park. There were park staff dressed as rangers eagerly waiting to explain things. I also got a complimentary Canadian flag collar-pin from the staff. Somehow, you can feel that everything is slightly more personalized here in Jasper.

I stayed at one of the "Approved Accommodation" homes in the southern end of Connaught Drive. This new concept of lodging is designed as such that there won't be too many new lodging development in Jasper - instead, private homes are partially used as accommodation for tourists. The rooms mostly have their own private entrance and attached bathrooms.

It did snow in Jasper during the night I was there. There was fresh snow on the ground as well as the mountain peaks, and the air was considerably chilly.