A SKIING WEEKEND IN JASPER, ALBERTA

Last updated: November 25, 2023

Every winter season, ski and snowboard enthusiasts head to Western Canada’s ski resorts to enjoy some awesome skiing or snowboarding. One of my favourites is Marmot Basin Ski Resort (1 Marmot Rd, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0) near Jasper, Alberta.

The small town of Jasper is inside Jasper National Park, which, at 11,228 sq km (4,335 sq miles), is the largest national park inside the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This place sits on traditional lands of the Beaver, Cree, Ojibway, Shuswap, Stoney, and Métis Nations. Besides, it is one of the 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Canada.

5,000 people live here year-round, but up to 12,000 seasonal workers live here each winter. Besides, just recently, the readers of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine voted Marmot Basin as the third best ski resort in Canada in their annual Reader’s Choice Awards!

Marmot Basin Ski Resort

General Information about the Ski Resort

This ski resort is a 25-minute drive south of Jasper. According to its website, it has the “highest base elevation of any major Canadian ski area”, at 1,698 meters (5,570 ft), and the summit is at 2,612 meters (8,570 ft)! That’s why it’s open longer than other ski resorts, from mid-November until early May.

On average, more than 440 cm (14.4 ft) of fresh snow falls every year.

This area covers 1,720 acres, and skiers and snowboarders can choose from seven lifts and 91 runs for all abilities.

The terrain consists of groomed runs, tree runs, moguls, powder runs, alpine bowls and chutes. If you’re into even more excitement, check out their two terrain parks, with jumps, rails, boxes, and jibs!

I’m a beginner, so I prefer to ski the green (novice) and some blue runs, which have helped me improve my skills a lot! I like to take the Canadian Rockies Express Lift all the way to the top, then ski back down until the base (bottom), ready to do it all over again!

View from the Canadian Rockies Express Lift, and a map of ski runs at Marmot Basin.

Food & Beverage Facilities

If your legs need some rest, stop at one of the food and beverage facilities. You can just leave your skis or board at one of the racks outside next to these spots, which is very convenient!

We’re having lunch at the Cariboo Chalet at the base of the mountain, which has a bar and grill, and café area, and the Paradise Chalet at mid-mountain. There’s a nice outdoor sitting area, so you can watch these magnificent mountains during your break!

But as in many places popular with tourists, the prices can be quite high, so if you’re on a budget, bring your own food and drinks instead. You can find more details about these facilities here.

Retail Store, Rental Shop & Little Rascals Nursery

But of course, Marmot Basin Ski Resort offers more than just skiing or snowboarding and eating, lol! You can also buy tons of gear at the Outdoor Limits Retail Store and rent equipment at the rental shop, which are both at the base of the mountain.

Besides, this is a great spot for families, as there’s the School House Chair and Learning Area, and lessons can be booked for kids and adults. The Little Rascals Nursery is open as well (for kids from 19 months to six years). It’s open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Events at Marmot Basin Ski Resort

Marmot Basin Ski Resort hosts a ton of fun events each season, such as Demo Days, Ski with Jasper the Bear, and the Jasper Pride & Ski Festival. Please find more info about upcoming events here.

Pride Festivities at Marmot Basin. Photo credit: Marmot Basin Ski Resort.

Admission Cost & Ski Lift Tickets

Here are the full day lift ticket prices during the 2023/24 season:

Adult (18-64 years): C$ 139.00

Senior (65-79 years): C$ 112.00

Youth (13-17 years) and students from 18-24 years (with ID): C$ 112.00

Adaptive ski pass: C$ 112.00

Junior (6-12 years): C$ 49.00

“Mites” (children under 6 years) and “Super Seniors” (80+) are C$ 5.00.

In 2021, Marmot Basin made the move to RFID ski passes and tickets, so visitors get a card during their first visit of the season. You’re supposed to put it into the left sleeve pocket of your jacket, and it will be scanned automatically before entering the lift. This card can be used all season long, and just needs to be reloaded online before your next visit.

You can also purchase lift tickets at the Marmot Sales Centre in downtown Jasper (611 Patricia Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0), or at the Guest Services Office at the base of mountain.

Photo credit: @Celinparadise

Marmot Basin can get very busy on weekends, especially if there’s a special event going on. So if you’d like to escape the crowds, it’s best to visit on a weekday.

Special Deals & Directions to Marmot Basin Ski Resort

If you’re a local, who comes to Marmot Basin a lot during the season, you should look into buying the Marmot Escape Card. It allows you to ski for half price, all season long! Another great deal is that you get to ski or board for free on your birthday!

More details on current deals and promotions at Marmot Basin Ski Resort can be found here.

You can get from Jasper to Marmot Basin and back by car, the Marmot Ski Shuttle bus (at C$ 18 roundtrip, Dec 20-April 18, 2024), or a local taxi company (Cariboo Cabs or Mountain Express Taxi & Limousine). If you’re driving, you can just park at one of the four parking lots inside the resort, which are right next to some runs! So all you need to do is put on your skis or snowboard, and get crackin’!

Marmot Basin is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm, and the resort facilities close at 5 pm. If you’re interested in current snow and weather conditions at the resort, please find their Weather Forecast and Snow Report here.

Sunrise by Mt. Kerkeslin and Mt. Hardisty inside Marmot Basin Ski Resort. Photo courtesy of Marmot Basin Ski Resort.

Where to Stay in Jasper

If you have time, I highly recommend staying in Jasper for a night or two (or more!). This small town has a great selection of accommodations, including hotels, hostels, and Bed & Breakfasts. Here are my two favourite places to stay in Jasper.

The Astoria Hotel

The Astoria Hotel (404 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0) is the place to stay in town if you like historic accommodations, that are also close to shops and restaurants. First opened in 1925, it’s been family-owned ever since. It’s hard to miss from the outside, because of its unique building style. But don’t worry, while this boutique hotel has an antique vibe, it’s not outdated at all.

Guests can book queen, twin, king, or mountain view rooms. We stay in a king room, which is rather small, but it has everything we need (fridge, smart TV, en-suite bathroom, and free wifi), and it is very clean.

Partial King bed room, and the antique room phone (it still works!) 😀

Jasper Downtown Hostel

The Jasper Downtown Hostel (400 Patricia St, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0) is perfect for budget-minded travelers of all ages, but also families, who like a great value accommodation that’s clean and cozy. This place has dorms (mixed and female only) for 7-8 guests, and private rooms, with private or shared bathrooms. I stayed in a female dorm and private room before, and I love that it has a fireplace!

The private rooms can accommodate 2-5 guests, and they have bunks, queen, twins, and queen/bunk bed combinations to choose from. Like other hostels, the Jasper Downtown Hostel has a full kitchen, lounge, lockers, and laundry facilities for guests to use.

Here’s a great overview of what this hostel offers, video credit of Jasper Downtown Hostel:

Where to Eat & Drink

Same as other touristy places, Jasper has tons of cafés and restaurants to offer. Here are some places we checked out during our visits:

Lou Lou’s Breakfast & Pizzeria (407 Patricia Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0). While this restaurant is smaller and a bit more budget-friendly than others in Jasper, the food is very tasty! There’s a great selection on the menu, and the pizza isn’t too doughy, just as it should be! Sean has the Meatlovers’ Pizza and I order their Pineapple and Mushrooms Pizza.

Gluten-free pizza is available as well, but unfortunately, I didn’t see any vegan pizza options. They also have salads, poutine, pasta dishes, burgers, and wings on their menu.

The De’d Dog Bar & Grill (404 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0). This cozy restaurant and bar is right next to the Astoria Hotel! You can choose between many comfort food options, like Shepherd’s Pie, chicken wings, burgers, sandwiches, but also salads and a Buddha Bowl.

I’m having the latter, which is perfect for a healthy pick-me-up after a long day of skiing or boarding! After dinner, grab a drink and challenge your friends to a pool tournament! They also have live music quite often, and the De’d Dog is a popular spot among locals and visitors.

One Sushi Japanese Restaurant (622 Patricia Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0). This restaurant opened in January 2021, and is a perfect spot if you love sushi and other Japanese and Korean food! For Korean food, you can order Yangnyeom Crispy Chicken, Chibab, Dak-Gangjeong, and more!

But we feel like Japanese food tonight, so we try the Crazy Girl Special Roll, Veggie Teriyaki with tofu and rice, and Avocado Roll. Everything is to die for, and the calm vibe of the restaurant, and super friendly staff are just another bonus!

Coco’s Café (608 Patricia Street, Jasper AB T0E 1E0). If you’re vegan, gluten-free, or have other dietary preferences or allergies, this cute café is the place to go in Jasper! I love the unique design and vibe, such as the “backwards” moving clock above the cozy seating area, and cool drawings in the bathroom. It’s clear that the staff have put in plenty of love and effort to bring this café to life!

Their menu consists of wraps, sourdough sandwiches, bagels, overnight oats, soups, salads, and smoothies to get the day started! I’m having their Vegan BLT Sourdough sandwich for breakfast, but unfortunately, it’s a bit oily for my taste… Still, I’d give Coco’s Café another chance, not just because of the unique vibe, but also because they support the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community.

Cozy sitting area and awesome drawings in the bathroom!

As of August 2023, Coco’s Café is for sale. But the owners are focused on turning it into a catering and food truck business called “Coco’s Goes” instead, so you can still enjoy their goodies! You can find more info on their Facebook page.

Directions to Jasper

If you’re driving, there are three different ways to get to Jasper:

From Calgary, take Highway #1 towards Banff, then travel north, until you reach the Icefields Parkway (Highway #93). Then just keep going straight ahead, and it’s about a 5-hour drive.

From Edmonton, keep following Highway #16 westbound, which takes about four hours in total.

From Kamloops, take Highway #5 North, then turn right at Highway #16 (eastbound) at Tête Jaune Cache. It’s about a 5-hour drive to Jasper.

The closest international airport is Edmonton (YEG).

If you don’t have a car, you can book a bus ticket with Thompson Valley Charters from Kamloops (Mondays and Thursdays) or Edmonton (Tuesdays and Fridays). It stops at the Via Rail Station in downtown Jasper.

SunDog Tours also offers daily bus service from Edmonton to Jasper and back. They also provide transportation from/to Calgary from October 2023 to April 2024.

Lastly, Via Rail Canada also goes to Jasper, so if you have time, hop on “The Canadian” from Vancouver to Toronto (or vice-versa). It goes either way once a week at this time, and there’s also a train from/to Prince George and Prince Rupert once a week.

So hopefully, I’ve inspired you to spend a ski weekend in Jasper someday 🙂

If you’re visiting Calgary on your trip to Alberta and love cats, check out this blog post:

Pawsome Times at the Regal Cat Café.

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks.

March 30, 2022 7

PAWSOME TIMES AT THE REGAL CAT CAFE

Last updated: September 21, 2023

It’s July 2019, and unfortunately, my trip through Western Canada is slowly coming to an end. But there’s one spot left on my list: The Regal Cat Café in Calgary, Alberta.

I first learnt about this place after their big opening in June 2017, but didn’t have a chance to visit until now.

So, as a cat lover, I’m super excited to check it out!

Introduction to the Regal Cat Café

The Regal Cat Café is the first and only cat café in Calgary. There are three rooms open to the public: The café area, Kitty Kingdom room, and a small preparation room between the two. Usually, up to 12 adoptable cats share the second room, waiting for visitors to relax, cuddle or play with, and maybe even become their new roommate!

The Regal Cat Café is owned by the MEOW Foundation, a local cat rescue organization, where all kitties come from. They’ve worked with them since Day One.

Before a cat can move to the Regal Cat Café, he/she has to be spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, up to date with vaccines, and in good health. Also, MEOW Foundation’s staff ensures that he/she enjoys socializing with other cats and humans, to make things as easy as possible, and the majority of cats is at least five months old.

In July 2023, the Regal Cat Café achieved a major milestone since its opening in 2017: More than 1,000 cats have found a loving home!

When I enter the Regal Cat Café, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and yummy pastries from the café area wafts up my nose right away. But first, I have to meet the kitties! Some of them are already checking me out through the big glass wall, that separates this room from their Kitty Kingdom.

After reading through the Kitty Visit Rules, washing my hands, and admiring the kitty drawings on the wall (all inside the preparation room), I’m ready to go!

The Kitty Kingdom

Wow, stepping inside the Kitty Kingdom feels like a whole other world! Immediately, a few friendly cats are walking towards me to say hello! Others are napping in one of the chairs or inside the coffee tables that are all over the room, playing with a visitor, or hiding somewhere. Many cats are less active in the afternoon, so it’s understandable that not all of them feel like hanging out with humans right now!

Today, nine kitties are sharing the Kitty Kingdom. The majority has cool fishy names, like Guppy, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, and Avery Shark! Most of them have black and white fur, but there are a couple of orange tabbies, and one grey and white tabby cat. Although it’s summer, there are only five other visitors in the room, and a kind staff member is checking on everything briefly as well.

After a while, the cats decide to go to someone else or have a bite (or a nap!). So I have a chance to look at the rest of the room’s features. There’s a large shelf with lots of napping and climbing spots for the kitties, but also a sitting area at the bottom with a few funny books.

Next, I read through each cat’s profile on the wall, which includes their name, gender, age, markings, the adoption date, and a brief description of their personality and background story. The youngest member of the gang is eight months old, and two of these lovely kitties are moving into their new forever home in a few weeks.

Suddenly, a few more cats are making their way towards me. The one who likes attention the most makes me laugh by crawling into a little box, then looking out at me! There’s also a large window to the street, for the kitties to watch the world go by.

Unfortunately, my half hour at the Kitty Kingdom is almost over, so I check out the kitty-themed games, that are sitting on one of the coffee tables. The ones most appealing to me are “Kitties in a blender” and “Cat Lady”, lol!

The Café & Gift Shop area

After all this kitty fun, I’m taking a break inside the café area. The Regal Cat Café is proud to offer a large selection of hot and cold drinks, like locally roasted coffee and tea specialties, juices, pop, and water.

Try one of their unique, mostly locally-baked treats as well, such as kitty-themed macarons, tarts, cookies, cupcakes, and muffins! Vegan and allergy-friendly (gluten, egg, dairy and nut-free) items are available, too. I’m having a Chai Tea Latte and a brownie that are to die for!

Then I walk to the gift shop next to the café area. Here, cat lovers can find pretty much everything their heart desires: T-shirts and pillows, greeting cards, key chains, mugs, tote bags, buttons, and enamel pins, but also loose tea, coffee beans, and kitty paintings. Most of these goodies are handmade or painted by local artists.

Top pictures: Small selection of drinks and pastries (all photo credit of the Regal Cat Café), and gift shop area.

Fun Events and Classes at the Regal Cat Café

The Regal Cat Café often hosts cool events and classes, such as Kitty Paint Parties with all supplies, instructions, and a kitty visit included. Their Cats & Yoga nights, Cat Photography class (for kids from 10-14 years), Paper Art Parties, and 3D Cat Portrait making class sound like lots of fun, too!

Besides, customers can book private events, like birthday parties or team events, visits in the kitty lounge, or a private version of some of the events above. You can find more details on these fun events here.

Kitty Adoption Procedure

Every second Wednesday evening of the month (except for holidays), the Regal Cat Café hosts their Adoption Night. Afterwards, a bunch of new adorable kitties arrive at the café.

If you’d like to adopt one or more, you should submit an application as soon as possible, as it’s first come, first serve. More information about the adoption process and a description of every cat currently living at the café can be found here.

Admission Prices and Hours

The Regal Cat Café has only limited walk-in spots available each day, so it’s highly recommended to reserve a spot through their website. For 30 minutes of kitty time, the cost is C$ 10.00 per person.

Children 10 and under have to be accompanied by an adult. Tweens and teens from 11 to 17 years can enter by themselves, but a parent or guardian has to sign a waiver before their visit.

Food and drinks from the café can be taken into the Kitty Kingdom, as long as there’s a lid on it, and they are not left unattended. Up to 10 visitors can be in the kitty lounge at the same time, and the Kitty Visit Rules need to be followed at all times.

Their FAQ page is very helpful, especially if it’s your first visit to the Regal Cat Café. The entire place is also fully wheelchair accessible.

Here are the Regal Cat Café’s hours:

Monday-Sunday: 8 am to 8 pm

Please note that the Kitty Lounge doesn’t open until 10:30 am.

Directions to the Regal Cat Café

From downtown Calgary, take the red C-Train line towards Crowfoot, and exit at Sunnyside station. From there, it’s just a few minutes of a walk to the Regal Cat Café.

It’s also a short bike ride (ca. 15 minutes) or walk (about 30 minutes) from downtown Calgary. If you’re driving, paid parking is available in the Kensington building parking garage, as well as street and lot parking.

Address: 303 – 10 Street Northwest, Calgary AB, T2N 1V8, Canada

Phone: +1 403-455-2287 (CATS)

Email: reservations@regalcatcafe.com

This map is photo credit of the Regal Cat Café.

My Opinion on the Regal Cat Café

I have no doubt that the kitties at the Regal Cat Café are enjoying their temporary home at the Regal Cat Café very much! There are lots of hiding and napping spots, great food, fun toys to play with, and the room is very clean. Plus, they get to cuddle with their cat buddies and people every day!

But if a cat doesn’t feel like having company, he/she is welcome to hide and come out later. It’s obvious that the cats’ well being is the staff’s highest priority. Even more, it seems that the cats are encouraged to feel like royalty, which is awesome, as I’m sure some of them had horrible past experiences.

Besides, I love the warm and calming colours used for decorating the place. I think the mix of colours contributes to a relaxing and cozy atmosphere for both humans and cats, and the accessories in the kitty lounge are super cute! Also, I like that they stand for the “Adopt, don’t shop” motto.

While cats are awesome, it’s important to ensure the customers’ health and safety as well. That’s why the kitties are never allowed inside the café area. Many people can’t have cats because of allergies, landlord restrictions, other pets, or a lack of time, so this café is perfect for getting your kitty fix!

It’s also a great place for visitors to Calgary, who want to take a break from a long day of exploring. Last but not least, hanging out with cats is supposed to be great for your mental health, so it’s a fulfilling and calming change to everyday life!

Here’s a video about this cool place, credit of the Regal Cat Café:

So if “Cats, Cuddles, and Coffee” sound PURRfect to you, stop by the Regal Cat Café during your next visit to Calgary! 😀

If you’re visiting Alberta and love skiing or snowboarding, check out this post as well:

A Skiing Weekend in Jasper, Alberta

June 15, 2021 0