Jasper National Park

Postcard Perfect

Jasper, Alberta

BY: ERIN KARPLUK

As an actress, I travel a lot for work. When asked where I’m from, I’m pretty quick to answer “You know the spectacular postcards of the Canadian Rockies? That’s where I was born and raised.” Most people have heard of Banff, but I quickly chime in that my home town Jasper, and is equally if not more beautiful, and still quaint enough not to have a Starbucks or McDonalds. Not biased at all. Jasper with a population of only 5000, has hosted millions of visitors. My graduating class was only 32 students. Needless to say, while I knew I wanted to be an actress at an early age, there was no acting club or classes, so I happily spent my formative years playing hockey on the frozen lakes, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and skiing instead. I worked at the Chaba (the local theatre), helped my Mom run our B&B, and greeted trains for the Rocky Mountaineer. These early jobs fostered my love for both the entertainment industry and hosting visitors in our beautiful National Park. I am very happy to share my absolute ‘must do’s’ in Jasper.

Maligne Lake & Canyon. When I die, I wish to have my ashes scattered on this lake.

I truly think once you pass Spirit Island and view the second half of the lake facing Mount Paul you are in God’s Country. Maligne is the largest naturally formed, glacial fed lake in the Canadian Rockies. It’s 22km long and as deep as 97m. I’d recommend making the trip to Spirit Island which is arguably the most photographed spot in the Rockies. The Island is a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation who believe the mountains are physical representations of their ancestors. If you camp or fish do yourself a favor and book in at Coronet Creek site for a couple nights. You must reserve almost a year ahead of time. My brother, a former fishing guide, has taken me on numerous trips here where we’ve caught up to 60 Rainbow and Brooke Trout. These are mostly catch and release except for a fresh trout lunch. You can kayak, canoe, take a cruise boat, or a guided fishing trip depending on your interest. On your way down from Maligne stop at Medicine Lake for brilliant photo ops. Medicine is a geological anomaly, and depending what time of year you go it can either be 7km long and full or completely dissipated into the underground systems. It’s kind of like a natural bathtub that fills and drains depending on the season. Maligne Canyon is the last stop on the way down, and it’s the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park. Be sure to walk/hike the 6 bridges for incredible towering views of the canyon and river. In the winter the canyon is almost more spectacular as you can do a guided ice walk directly along the canyon’s frozen floor among the icy caverns. The trip to Maligne Lake and Canyon is a great chance to see bear, sheep, or moose, particularly in the early morning.

Keeping in theme with winter months, Jasper’s Marmot Basin boasts some of the most incredible skiing in the Canadian Rockies. It has 91 named runs on four mountain faces with 3,000 vertical feet of drop and seven lifts. I spent the majority of my winter days growing up cruising these slopes and look forward to hitting these slopes every season. The Paradise Chalet makes a mean virgin Caesar that can be enjoyed by the outdoor fire pit. I’ve also taken a liking to tour skiing and cross country in recent years, and can report that Bald Hills and Moab Lake are my two favorites. I grew up playing Bantam hockey with the boys, and while my NHL dreams were dashed when my height peaked at 5’4, I still enjoy skating on the frozen lakes every winter. You can skate outdoors at either Pyramid Lake or on Mildred Lake by the Jasper Park Lodge. There are large loops cleared around each of these lakes with hockey rinks in the middle. Best winter exercise is doing 10 laps in the fresh crisp air and then savoring a creamy hot chocolate by the outdoor fire pit provided by the JPL. Pyramid Lake also offers horse powered sleigh rides in the winter, an adventure my family and I often enjoy at Christmas.

Jasper Park Lodge is an absolute must visit. This Fairmont resort is nestled on the bank of Lac Beauvert on the edge of one of Canada’s most prestigious golf courses. The cabins are beautiful with a rustic mountain feel and the grounds are stunning. I’ve been to countless weddings and functions there, and they are always generous to host the Jasper High School graduation banquets as well. The award winning Spa is blissful and you can spend hours in the heated outdoor pool and hot

tub, eucalyptus steam, sauna, and health club. Since I was a kid I have loved rolling in the snow in my swimsuit then jumping back in the pool which I can assure you gets the blood moving.. The Emerald Lounge is my favorite place to enjoy happy hour and dining. The deep fried mushrooms are unreal! It’s worth the trip just to take in the view of the turquoise lake, Mount Edith Cavell, and Whistlers Mountain. In the summer months paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes can be rented. The glacier water is so clear you can see straight through to the bottom.

At 2263 meters, the view from the Jasper SkyTram is the best way to put the park into perspective. Whistlers Mountain offers stunning panoramic views and adventure from March-October. In the summer you can enjoy an alpine hike at the top where you will hear the whistle of the Hoary Marmot, and in the winter you can enjoy snowshoeing the trails. I did my first snowshoeing adventure this spring. It is much easier to traverse the slopes than with standard winter boots. I’ve also hiked from the bottom of Whistlers to the peak. It took us 4 hours, we grabbed lunch at the Summit Restaurant and then took the tram ride down. Excellent adventure! My all time favorite hike is a 42km backcountry loop into the Tonquin Valley where the Ramparts mountain range is magnificent. I also enjoyed climbing the summit of Opal Peak up at Maligne Lake which is an intense hike battling scree at the top. The Valley Of The Five Lakes, Old Fort Point, and the Jasper Discovery Trail are shorter more popular day hikes closer to town.

A great day trip up to Mount Edith Cavell will not disappoint. It is the most prominent peak from Jasper and has a wonderful hike where you can do to the Alpine and Meadows trail in summer and fall. This hike is one of the rare chances you will see a caribou. The marmots are hilarious and are fun to spot suntanning on rocks. You don’t have to do the full hike to snap a spectacular picture of Angel Glacier. On the way down a great excursion is seeing Athabasca Falls for a short 1km trail hike and beautiful picture. Close by is Horseshoe Lake if you feel like (very cold) cliff jumping. My favorite swimming although is at Lake Edith and Lake Anette. Both lakes have accessible walks around the perimeter of each and provide stalls to have a picnic and marshmallow roast. When I’m home visiting, I do laps around these lakes almost daily, as it’s the best way for me to re-fill my tea cup when I come home. Also, White Water Rafting is a great way to cool off in the summer and see the park while bobbing in the rapids.

Growing up in Jasper provided me with a front row of adventure of the Canadian wilderness, and I only now fully appreciate this. No matter where I go in the world Jasper is still the most magical place I’ve ever been. I can’t wait until the next trip home to explore new and old territory. Enjoy your trip!

Erin Karpluk is a nature lover and award winning actress from Jasper National Park. She is most known for her role as Erica Strange in the highly popular CBC’s series BEING ERICA. Erin can currently be seen in ABC’s A MILLION LITTLE THINGS and Disney Channel’s HOLLY HOBBIE. Erin is currently enjoying shooting RABBIT HOLE opposite Kiefer Sutherland in Toronto for CBS.

Magical History Tour

Europe’s World Heritage Sites

BY: ANDREW MARSHALL

A UNESCO World Heritage Site can be defined as “a place like a building, monument, national park, desert or city that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) because of its special physical or cultural significance.” Currently there are 1154 sites on a list made up of 802 Cultural, 218 Natural and 39 Mixed Properties located throughout 167 States Parties (countries that have adhered to the World Heritage Convention). The Great Wall of China, Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef and the Pyramids are among some of the best-known World Heritage Sites. What follows is a journey around Europe to visit some less familiar ones closer to home...

One of the ‘Frontiers of the Roman Empire’, is a World Heritage Site of epic proportions, marching 73 miles from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, across some of the wildest and most dramatic country in northern England. Built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian between AD 122-128, it is a striking example of a defensive fortification from ancient Rome. Some additional facts about Hadrian’s Wall: the manpower required to construct it was three legions (around 16,000 men); there are 80 milecastles, 160 turrets and 16 forts dotted along its length, with the best preserved example being Housesteads Roman Fort situated near Haltwhistle, among the main concentration of sights in the central section of the wall. A great way to experience this engineering feat up close and enjoy panoramic views along the way is to walk the designated 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall Path, or sections if you don’t have the time to do the full route.

A wine of depth, concentration and majestic structure, port is produced from grapes grown on the steep, rocky slopes of Northern Portugal's Upper Douro and its tributaries, and was discovered during the 17th century when two British traders added brandy to preserve the local wine for an Atlantic sea voyage. Vines have been grown on these remote hillsides since pre-Roman times, planted on tiers of walled terraces, the product of centuries of toil and sweat. The River Douro is always present - snaking through abstract patterns of rust colored vines that march up the dizzyingly steep valley sides. Driving through this World Heritage region, especially around harvest time, is pure pleasure with each vista better than the last. Specks of colorfully clad pickers carrying baskets dot the hillsides, heady sweet aromas fill the air and every second vehicle seems to be a tractor pulling a trailer load of precious fruit, destined to be made into port.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries many parts of Cornwall and West Devon were transformed into mining landscapes due to the rapid growth of tin and copper mining techniques. The substantial remains of deep underground mines, engine houses and foundries are testimony to the region's contribution to the world of mining and the Industrial Revolution. Ten areas make up the World Heritage Site, and one of the best is Cornwall's St Just Mining district which can be accessed via the South West Coast Path near the village of St Just. Here, the coastal track skirts past the picturesque engine houses of the Crowns Shaft of Botallack Mine perched far below on a rocky outcrop. The workings once stretched well under the sea and it was said that the miners could hear the boulders rumbling over the seabed above their heads while they worked.

Legend has it, that Northern Ireland's only World Heritage Site – the spectacular Giant's Causeway, made up of thousands of hexagonal pillars that climb out of the Atlantic Ocean was created by Finn MacCool, an Irish giant that lived along the Antrim Coast. The logical, and less romantic version is that about 60 million years ago there was intense volcanic activity along the coast, after which the lava cooled very quickly. The uneven cooling rate resulted in the basalt contracting into the characteristic hexagonal and octagonal pillar shapes you can see today. The Giant's Causeway may be the star of the Causeway Coast, but other attractions include the stunning Carrick-a-Rede swinging rope bridge that spans a gaping chasm between the coast and a small island used by fishermen, as well as the haunting ruins of 16th-century Dunluce Castle perched precariously on the edge of a rocky headland, and Old Bushmills (established in 1608) - the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world.

Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001, Saltaire (situated 9 miles west of Leeds and 4 miles north of Bradford), was recognized as one the world's most intact and best-preserved 19th-century industrial villages and for its international influence on town planning. Conceived and built in 1851 by wealthy wool merchant and philanthropist Sir Titus Salt (1803-76). These textile mills, public buildings and workers' housing are constructed in a harmonious classical style of high architectural standards. Neat rows of honey-colored cottages on a hillside above the River Aire and Leeds Liverpool Canal overlook what was once the world's largest factory and today is Saltaire's main drawing-card - Salts Mill. Housed inside this splendid building is a permanent exhibition of art work by Bradford-born artist David Hockney plus an enticing array of independent shops, cafés and restaurants.

On the outskirts of Bergen, a beautiful city with a 15th-century waterfront on Norway's west coast, is some of Europe's most spectacular scenery. Awe-inspiring impossibly steep-sided fjords with their jutting fingers of sea that cut shimmering paths into the coastline. Two of these larger-thanlife natural wonders, namely Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (set 120 km from one another) are among the world's longest, deepest and most scenically outstanding examples and were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. Both feature narrow and sheer crystalline rock walls that rise up to 1,400 meters from the Norwegian Sea and extend 500 meters below. Numerous waterfalls tumble into the sea from the forests above, while wooden huts and small farms dot the lower verdant slopes. To really appreciate Geirangerfjord, take Norway's most spectacular scheduled public ferry route between Geiranger and Hellesylt, or for a taste of the fjords, book a 'Norway in a Nutshell' one-day tour from Bergen with Fjord Tours.

Any travel itinerary to the north of England would not be complete without visiting Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, two of Yorkshire's most beautiful attractions that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled in a secluded wooded valley known as Skelldale, 4 miles south-west of Ripon, are the atmospheric ruins of 12th-century Fountains Abbey, where you can imagine what life would have been like for the devout monks who once lived here. The remains of Britain's largest and most complete Cistercian abbey is the centerpiece of the estate know as Studley Royal, a beautifully preserved 18th-century designed parkland landscape featuring spectacular Georgian water gardens, elegant temples, statues, follies and a deer park; which is home to Red, Fallow and Sika deer that roam freely among ancient oaks, limes and sweet chestnuts.

Travelers from all over flock to the great Italian city of Florence (Firenze), famous for its Renaissance architecture, the paintings of Botticelli, the sculpture of Michelangelo and the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. There is so much to see and do in this World Heritage city. Some of the major sites include the Piazza della Signoria (the old heart of the city), the Gothic Duomo (one of the world's largest cathedrals with its inspired red-tiled dome), the Uffizi Gallery (home to the planet's greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art), and the 14th-century Ponte Vecchio bridge spanning the Arno River (originally flanked with butchers' shops and today replaced with goldsmiths). For panoramic views of the city, climb a series of steep steps to the Piazzale Michelangelo from the southern bank of the Arno River. To avoid the crowds try to visit Florence out of season with the added bonus of shorter lines at museums and key attractions.

Britain's most iconic prehistoric monument and haunting echo of its ancient past, Stonehenge (situated 8 miles north of Salisbury in Wiltshire) is the most architecturally sophisticated stone circle in the world and has been attracting pilgrims, mystics and travelers for the past 5,000 years. The stones are arranged in a particular pattern whose astronomical significance is still being explored, and the debate continues as to how Neolithic people constructed this masterpiece of engineering using only basic tools and methods. Try to time your visit for early morning or late evening when the slanting light and silhouetted stones help to create a mystical aura. Adding to the Stonehenge experience is a visitor center housing museum-quality exhibitions, five Neolithic Houses, a shop and café. Still part of the World Heritage property and situated 25 miles north of Stonehenge is the impressive and less visited Avebury Stone Circle – the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world.

EOS by SKYCITY Adelaide Australia

It’s a new realm of luxury. It’s where a love for the unexpected meets deep local knowledge. It’s where subtle gestures underpin indulgent experiences. A hotel on Adelaide’s skyline that allows travelers to step beyond the everyday. That’s what travel is all about.

Eos Spa + Wellness

Inspired by the pure delight of basking in the soft warmth of the rising sun, Eos Spa + Wellness embodies the calm essence of dawn; a quiet pause from the world; a place to unwind, indulge, and renew.

Casino

Excitement and discovery are waiting for guests at SkyCity with a casino that spans two levels that offers slots, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and poker.

SÔL Rooftop

It is a whole other level. Sôl Rooftop looks over the city of Adelaide, providing sophisticated elegance to enjoy day or night.

Guests waiting to check in, looking for a quiet moment with awe inspiring view or a lively gathering with friends, SkyCity’s Sôl Rooftop is the pulse of Adelaide’s entertainment scene.

skycityadelaide.com.au