24 Hours of Adrenalin - Canmore,Ab

I know this is not Jasper/Hinton related but it deserves a review . Many residents of both Jasper and Hinton headed down to participate in this huge mountain biking event.

For those that know my family, you know Mike is an avid biker. He decided to challenge himself and be a part of a dynamic 5 person coed team that would relay for 24 hours straight.

In true fashion, my family wanted to be there to cheer him on to the finish. This can be a challenge for Owen and his powerchair in unfamiliar territory. But we are always up for a challenge! 

The event was held at the Canmore Nordic Center. The first potential obstacle was going to be parking. However a simple email to the fabulous staff of the 24 hr solve that issue immediately. Parking was limited to teams only and only 1 vehicle per team was allowed.  They gave Owen a special parking pass and he was able to park right at the event in very close proximity to his dad's team! 

All the buildings were accessible and bathrooms were clean and accommodating.  The access to the main event was easily accessed on both sides of the center. The roads were paved. 

Staff were amazing and even gave Owen a cow bell to cheer on in the crowd. He could easily see and the places he could not they accommodated him by separating fences slightly ..etc. 

He could access the cafeteria,shops etc with ease.
A fantastic and accessible event with an exciting atmosphere. We will be back. Thanks 24hr!
10 out of 10 rating

Jasper Pizza Place - Jasper,AB

Jasper Pizza Place in Jasper,AB is a busy and hopping restaurant with a lot to offer people.

If you have a physical disability you are able to enjoy a seat on the main level. They offer wood fired and regular cooked pizza as well as a full menu with popular Canadian Cuisine from appetizers to dessert.  The establishment is fully licensed and is located across from a large parking lot with accessible parking. There is also regular parking on the street front.

This summer they introduced Front Store patio seating that is also highly accessible. There is an accessible bathroom on the main floor.

Staff were rushed and it was very busy when we were there which made it difficult to hear with the open kitchen, but we still found that welcoming watching the chefs team work and great flow.

9 out of 10 rating due to noise level when busy.

Maligne Lake- Jasper National Park

Maligne Lake has one of the most breath taking views in the Rockies.

They have a restaurant and gift shop, canoe and row boat rentals as well as a boat tour to spirit island. Everywhere you look people are doing something.

For people with physical disabilities this area is great. The restaurant and store are accessible to wheelchairs. There are accessible stalls in gender specific bathrooms. The main building is spacious and you are able to access the deck from inside the restaurant.

The boathouse is accessible however you would need a companion or two to transfer into a canoe or rowboat. The boat tours are wheelchair accessible but they prefer you let them know ahead of your visit if you plan to take the tour to the picturesque Spirit Island.

There is no family bathroom at this facility however there are large, enclosed,outdoor bathroom facilities at the main parking lot. There are 3 parking lots available and accessible parking is available in each lot.

8 out of 10 rating.

Jasper Riding Stables - Jasper Park Lodge- Jasper AB.

Jasper Riding Stables are located at the entrance to the Jasper Park Lodge property.

We chose a wagon ride for 17 people and were with a 17 year old in a wheelchair. We also had some people with limited mobility and a baby. Everyone was able to board the wagon safely. We were able to transport Owen onto the wagon with ease with a few companions to help lift him. There was 2 steps up to the bench seats.

The ride itself was fairly smooth once the ride was going , but as expected with horses there were some jump starts and stops.

The guide was very quiet and we would have enjoyed learning about the area and mountain ranges we were looking at as we traveled half way around Lake Beauvert however the ride was very pleasant.

The staff were amazing and stored the wheelchair safely for us. They also brought it back out to the wagon for an easy transition off the wagon.

The barn itself was also accessible and was easy to go see horses. The staff let the kids see one of the beautiful horses.

Due to no lift we rated 8 out of 10 for accessibility on this adventure.

Translucid Adventures-Jasper

Today we embarked on a journey Owen wasn't so sure he could do. We took him paddle boarding on Lake Edith through Translucid Adventures.

This adventure is truly for everyone. You must have an able bodied companion if you have mobility issues and have people to transfer you to the boards, but thanks to the array of  boards and various degrees of stability there was something for all.

Our son is unable to balance, use his legs or arms and was able to be paddled across the lake and back by his father ( who had just learned how to do it)
We were given a 15 minute lesson on boarding and safety and off we went.

What an amazing day. Highly recommended by Owen and our family.  A big 8 out of 10 for this establishment

Jasper Park Lodge- Jasper, AB

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (JPL) - Jasper AB

While we can not speak to the rooms we can review the other facilities on this vast property located just East of Jasper townsight.

JPL boasts a very unique opportunity in a beautiful setting in the center of several mountain ranges. It's upscale property is welcoming to all- even if just to visit. Lac Beauvert is situated along the main building and follows the golf course.

The trail is half wheelchair accessible along the golf course side and features partial pavement. The views are spectacular.  They offer canoe and paddle boat rentals, horseback riding ( there is a wagon in the winter for those who can be transferred) bike rentals and skate rentals in the winter. The do offer ski packages as well in the winter and with notice the ski hill does provide a sit ski with guide for those with physical challenges of all degrees.

There is an outdoor heated 4 season pool and hot tub with heated floor surrounding in the cold winter days. The access for the pool is indoors. There is no family change room or accessible change room however a short transfer will get you in the pool.

There is a games room on the lower level accessible by elevator or lower outside back access. Many restaurants and shopping opportunities are on the lower level as well as salons. All accessible by wheelchair.

The main level boasts a cozy lounge and several restaurants and banquet facilities. The upper bathrooms have accessible facilities however there are no family bathrooms which can be significant for pardons and caregivers travelling g with older, opposite sex people.

The property itself is paved and easy to manuever. Sidewalks have plenty of room and accessible parking and valet are available. The staff has been great when we have visited.  There is a large deck off the lounge that is accessible from the inside.

Even though we have not stayed in the rooms, we know that JPL allows dogs when mentioned at booking.  There is even a dog house just inside the entrance. They serve food that is in the more upscale pricing as well as drinks.

This property gets 1.5 thumbs up.

Fiddle River Seafood Co- Jasper,AB

620 Connaught Dr. In Jasper, AB.

We had the pleasure of spending a wonderful evening  dining at this second story dining room in Jasper. The accessibility of this restaurant was great.

An elevator located just off the main street took us to the second floor. We were able to choose the outside patio with breath taking views and superb people watching, or sit in the beautiful dining area with lots of bright natural light accented by the beautiful natural decor that is Jasper. The wheel chair fit amazingly inside with plenty of room to maneuver.

Reservations were recommended for this restaurant and we could see why. The staff were amazing and paid great attention to detail. The specials board was  brought right to your table by the lovely waitress.

The bathroom was accessible but had a small hallway which made it somewhat difficult to manuever the chair through but was doable. They did have portable debit machines for ease of pay.

The food itself was prepared to perfection and left us with full stomachs and smiles on our face! We would definatly recommend this for your accessible fine dining experience. The average entree was $30.00 plus per person but we noted a small child with kraft dinner next to us so there are options for the kids.

We rated this restaurant 2 thumbs up!

Cafe Mondo - Jasper, AB

Cafe Mondo is a hidden gem on 616 Patricia St. In Jasper, AB.

By day this cute little place is Cafe Mondo, a delicious coffee establishment with a variety of breakfast and lunch items. By night they transform into El Mundo Loco Wednesday through Sunday. They serve Mexican cuisine. We happened to hit 3$ taco night and 4$ margaritas! 

We were pleasantly surprised at the accessibility of this establishment. Easily accessed from the street and sidewalk levrl entrance, they had something for everyone. Owen really enjoyed his cola in a glass bottle. There are a few lowered tables that his wheel chair fit nicely under, and the bathrooms were nicely and easily accessible and clean.
We give this establishment 1 and a half thumbs up 

Lake Annette, Jasper, AB

A beautiful day in May, 2015. We drove to Lake Annette in Jasper National Park. We discovered a wheelchair accessible lake complete with paved picnic area, accessible beach area and trail that goes all the way around the lake.

There were 4 accessible bathrooms that were very well maintained. No flush toilets but came equipped with hand sanitizer.

There were cook houses and the accessible parking was great. You are within walking distance to Lake Edith which we will soon review.

Owens power chair navigated easily along the lakeside trail. We saw people with walkers and canes also accessing this trail. The scenery is amazing and there are many rest stops along the way. There were a great many spots for photo opportunities of mountain ranges, animals, water and structures.

This lake is only open in part of the spring into the fall. The Langford family highly recomends this area as a great accessible day trip. 2 thumbs up.