Glacier View Lodge
Nestled within the stunning natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies, Glacier View Lodge offers breathtaking views and a little pampering.
At the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains, you can see the highest peaks of Mount Athabasca and Andromeda. But the Glacier View Lodge offers something more than most mountain retreats, as you can guess from its name.
The lodge is named after its proximity to the iconic 3.7-mile-long (6 km) Athabasca Glacier that shines brightly right across the road. As the magnificent glaciers are disappearing at an unprecedented rate, there is no time to waste to visit them.
The AB-93 road is one of the world's most scenic drives that connects Banff and Jasper National Parks.
The chalet-styled hotel is open when the weather allows, so from June to October until the harsh Canadian winter sets in.
Photo credit: Glacier View Lodge by Pursuit
The beautiful but fragile environment of the Columbia Icefield deserves respect; hence eco-friendly solutions were introduced at the Glacier Discovery Centre - home to the Glacier View Lodge, to decrease the human impact.
After a million-dollar investment in 2016, a modern water and wastewater treatment technology was implemented, plus the lodge uses an array of solar panels to generate energy.
Glacier View Lodge's most spectacular space is the lounge which has a fireplace to keep you warm and cozy while you gaze at the ancient Athabasca Glacier.
The large windows that follow the shape of the chalet frame the glorious Athabasca Glacier as if it was a painting.
Altitude Restaurant
Glacier View Lodge's two dining options are the Chalet and Altitude restaurants.
The former brings tasty soup, starters, burgers, and pizzas to your plate, while the latter offers sumptuous breakfasts and dinners.
And if you want to combine fantastic views with tasty drinks, the Altitude has a long list of red and white wines, beers, and ciders. Plus, there are handcrafted cocktails with names like Parker Ridge or Alpen Glow.
The Altitude restaurant has a rooftop terrace that offers the best panorama, and it has patio heaters for the cold evenings.
The hotel's 32 rooms have Scandinavian-styled interiors with big comfy beds with wooden headboards, mountain-inspired artwork, and relaxing armchairs by the window.
The best spot in the rooms is, of course, by the window, where you can have this amazing view of the Athabasca Glacier.
Columbia Icefield Skywalk
One of Jasper's biggest attractions is the suspended glass platform on the cliffs of the Sunwapta Valley. It's the highlight of a 0.6 mile-long (1 km) nature walkway where along the way, you can spot mountain goats if you are lucky.
The glass-bottom bridge is 918 feet (280 m) above ground, and the view of the glacier landscape is incredible.
Athabasca Glacier Ice Explorers
To visit this colossal sheet of ice, you can go on a tour on one of the 27-ton monster buses. These six-wheeled off-roaders were designed to tackle cold and slippery surfaces and carry up to 56 people.
Since their original introduction in 1951, the iconic Ice Explorers went through a complete refurbishment and fitted with more modern engines.
This translates to a serene experience, as drivers can finally shut off the engine, and you can enjoy the tranquility without any machine noise.
Fun fact: the planet's beautiful, slow-moving ice surfaces hold 69 percent of the world's freshwater reserves.
The ancient icefield was formed during the Great Glaciation and is the largest ice field in North America's Rocky Mountains.
