Jasper or Banff

[justfor]

Unforunately, you both are right. Thank you both and Miss Jessica Lee for your comments. The Parks Canada website indicates that it is now closed until May 2015.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/voyage-travel/sources-springs/miette/contact.aspx

What a let down, since this is one of two top attractions I've intended to take my lady to visit! :frown: I had enjoyed the hot springs in Banff many years back. Hope there are other interesting activities we could do besides skiing at Marmot which is due to open on 14 Nov.

 

[justfor]

This is to update the many helpful readers here.

We took the advice of the majority here in that we went to Jasper ( after a couple of days in Edmonton - see below). A very lovely quiet town more than just one street as someone suggested. A word of caution is that it is advisable to drive a SUV since the roads were covered in parts in snow or icy patches. I just felt more comfortable driving a four-wheel drive. Despite most of the tourist attractions are closed at this time of the year, we found the drive from Edmonton to Jasper extremely beautiful and we enjoyed the company of herds of Rams found roaming on the road. The highlights were going downhill skiing at the Marmot Basins and driving down on highway 93 to visit the Columbia Icefield. The hike from the parking lot to near the glacier was fun, scenic and the views were breath-taking. The hotel we stayed in was almost empty which was what we preferred, but the room was super nice and the restaurant food and service were first rate. We thoroughly enjoyed the Eucalyptus scented steam room (sauna) especially when I gave my lovely lady a massage inside. Another highlight was enjoying the whole body Couples Massage the next day followed by a glass of champagne at the Mountain Wellness Day Spa. It was heavenly after a day of skiing!

I should also mention that while in Edmonton, we visited the West Edmonton Mall and we thoroughly enjoyed the water park, swimming and playing in the wave pool and sliding down the water slides. All in all, the trip was incredibly memorable and a complete success.

 

[Insidious Von]

Alejandro Innaritu's (Birdman) next film The Revenant is currently being shot in Jasper.

 

[whitewaterguy]

Awesome Glad you had a great time. Simply an amazing part of canada. Marmot basin is a top notch mountain for skiing. Next to no people there, zero lineups, spectacular vistas. I'm going to have to book me a ski week out there when I get back from Barbados It's always nice when posters do a brief trip review upon their return, thanks!

 

[RandyAndy2]

I'm glad that you had a great time, justfor.

 

[justfor]

Thank you gentlemen. I completely agree that that is an amazing part of Canada to visit especially with a lovely lady besides you. And I agree that Marmot Basin is a great ski area in that there was absolutely no lineups and the view was spectacular. While we were there, it had just opened and only up to mid-mountain. Even then, I did quite a bit of skiing taking advantage of the sparse crowds. I had skiied at Lake Louise and Sunshine previously, and I would say that when the ski season is in full-swing, it would be difficult to choose among them. If anyone decides to visit Jasper, I would recommend Sawridge Inn - we both enjoyed the atmosphere and the decor very much.