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Review 3947: Tekarra Lodge, Cottage

www.unlimitedreservationservices.com/urs/hotels/canada/alberta/jasper/tekarra_lodge/overview

Recommended.  Review by BGE from Canada

cottages with lodge just outside Jasper, Canada

When

September 15 - 30, 2008, 2 weeks

Location

Tekarra Lodge is located a couple of miles outside of Jasper, Alberta in Jasper National Park. The lodge is nestled in the tall spruce and pine forest that guards the cliff above the shores of the Athabasca River. There are a number of log cabins and cottages overlooking the river...some are set close to the river's bank while others are tucked carefully back into the forest, away from the rushing water.

Highway 93A South runs past the front entrance of the lodge property and only a few cottages back onto the highway. In spite of the lodge's proximity to the highway, there is virtually no highway noise audible inside of those cottages. With a buffer of old forest between Highway 93A and the lodge, nearly all of the noise is absorbed by the trees and undergrowth in the forest.

This is the only resort in the immediate area. There are other properties located a few miles up and down the highway, but none that are visible from Tekarra's property.

Tekarra Lodge's location is spectacular, with the wide Athabasca River racing past the resort's cliff base and the thick growth of spruce, pine and aspen wrapping around the back and sides of the property. As well, mature stands of these native trees shelter the roadway between the lodge's cabins and cottages, giving privacy from one suite to the next.

I love this area. It is a place that I go back to several times each year. Sometimes I attend a watercolour workshop in Jasper with my mentor, Gregg Johnson. Other times, I go for a few days to recharge my soul. There's nothing better to bring you back to the real world than a stay in the mountains!

Nearby Amenities

It is very easy to walk to the restaurant at Tekarra Lodge, as it is located on the main floor of the large accommodation hall inside of the lodge property. Tekarra Restaurant is truly a culinary gem, serving breakfast and dinner to locals and tourists alike. Reservations are most necessary!

Chef David George Husereau and his team of skilled Chefs prepare and serve the best fresh fillet of salmon in macadamia nut crust with Thai curry drizzle that I've ever tasted. Their delicate banana cream tart is a perfect way to end a perfect meal. The wine list is not extensive, but their choices are very good.

The town site of Jasper is a 10 minute walk from the lodge, along the walkways and paths in the ravine on the side of the highway. There are numerous excellent places to eat in Jasper ... an incredible bakery, Bear's Paw Bakery, for stashing goodies in your cottage kitchen like fresh pastries and breads, including gluten-free bread by special order. There are also a couple of excellent grocery stores for filling your fridge with fresh fruit and veggies for salads and breakfasts in your cottage.

There is a laundry facility beside the office so you can do a load of laundry any time you like. This is a bonus for me, as tracking down a laundromat can be a bore, especially when on vacation.

The House/Apartment

The buildings are a combination of old and new ... some of the original cabins are still in use, while a number of them have been rebuilt over the years. It is a very peaceful and quiet location and sleep comes with ease, once you are tucked in for the night.

Most cottages are 1 - 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom (most recently I stayed in a 2bed/1bath), with a few studio suites that make room for smaller groups or single travelers. Some of the older cottages have quite small bathroom sinks that are not all that comfortable to use, if you are looking for a morning sponge bath or a morning shave. However, the bathrooms are perfectly functional, with only a few still in need of upgrading.

When you are booking your accommodation here, I'd suggest asking for a cottage that has been upgraded, if the size of a bathroom sink matters to you.

There are approximately 25 - 30 cabins available for your mountain stay. Some are duplex style and others are individual cabins.

Garden

The exterior of the lodge property is a heavily-treed area of several acres, with clusters of Adirondack armchairs lining the cliff edge overlooking the Athabasca River. Additionally, there is a grassy, treed area around each cottage, a play area by the restaurant for children, and a shuffleboard set out on the lawn for anyone wishing to challenge their friends to a game. Picnic tables sprinkled about the property provide space for a meal to be eaten outside, while enjoying the crisp fresh mountain air. There are deck chairs on small balconies located on the front of every cottage. Some cabins also have a picnic table on the balcony, as well.

Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas

The furniture is in good condition and is very comfortable. There are usually four kitchen chairs in most suites, a hide-a-bed sofa in the living area and also a wood-box for firewood.

The suites are clean, with housekeeping available every day.

Bedrooms/Bathrooms

The beds are excellent, allowing everyone to have a good night's sleep. I have not had an uncomfortable bed in the eight years that we have been staying at Tekarra Lodge. They seem to know and care that a good bed makes a happy camper!

The bedrooms are small and spare, with a good bed, a night stand, perhaps a wardrobe or dresser in some and a wall-hung coat rack in others. They have windows that open, so you can sleep with the mountain air coming into your room at night.

The bathrooms are mostly in good condition. My only complaint is that some of the bathrooms have miniature sinks that make it almost impossible to brush your teeth or wash your face. As I mentioned above, if this is a concern, make sure you ask for a cabin with a standard size sink when making your reservations.

Kitchen

The kitchens are mostly small, with a small-sized standard fridge, a stove with four burners and an oven, shelving or cabinets for dishes and a small amount of counter space for food storage and work space.

The dishes are plentiful, cutlery and glasses are available, and pots and pans are also supplied. There are a few small appliances available ... a toaster, coffee pot and kettle.

I make breakfast and lunch in the kitchen and usually eat out for dinner, so the size of the kitchen is perfectly fine for me for that purpose. I could also quite easily prepare an evening meal in the kitchen, if I needed to.

Problems or Bonuses

Surprises? Lots of really good ones!

Good:

• Elk walking through the property at sundown, ignoring the humans in their way. There is usually a bull elk with his harem of 10 - 20 cows and a few of this year's calves following their mothers. They are plentiful in the fall, and are not dangerous unless you step between the bull elk and his sweet girls! Then, watch out! He's very territorial, trust me.
• The office staff are fantastic. I thoroughly enjoy working with the manager, Stephanie, whenever I have any requests or concerns. Stephanie is an amazing person and takes such great care of everyone.
• The food in Tekarra Restaurant is spectacular! The locals come here in droves, so if you are hungry and planning on going there for dinner, make a reservation. Usually, it gets busy just after 7:00pm, so you have an hour before that to get in the door and find a table, if they have any vacancies.
• The peace and quiet with the highway so close. Amazing!
• The view from the river bank is stunning. Take your camera and sketchbook. Take a good book, a morning coffee and sit in a chair and relax!

Bad:

• The occasional mouse or squirrel in the cottages...if you leave the door open for any length of time, trust that you'll find a furry little friend waiting to have lunch with you when you return! Cute, but not very welcome inside.
• The small sinks in a few of the bathrooms.
• The lack of clothes storage space in the bedrooms ... some suites have dressers and wardrobes, some have neither.

Agency and Representatives (and price)

The booking agent at the front desk is fantastic. I love dealing with them. We have booked Tekarra for several retreats and workshops and they are always unfailingly helpful and kind.

The lodge closes from October 1 to mid-May, so you will get a central reservation agency if you call or email at this time. The rest of the year, if you call the front office you will get a real person who really works there and knows what the different cottages are like.

Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?

Without question I would recommend Tekarra Lodge for a relaxing and tranquil stay. If you can adapt to the smallish size of a few of the cabins and the occasional tiny bathroom sink, then you are sure to enjoy the surroundings. It's the next thing to paradise for me!

I've stayed here 11 times over the last eight years. My stays are either one or two weeks in length, depending on the length of the watercolour workshop that I'm attending.

I've taken my best friends here with our local book club for a long weekend and they love it as much as I do.

Things to do in this area

Where to begin? There is so much to see and do in the Jasper area!

I am usually in Jasper and staying at Tekarra Lodge to be a part of Gregg Johnson's twice yearly watercolour workshops. Artists from all over Canada and the western U.S. attend, with some old-timers coming back many times. This was my 8th year to attend and my 11th stay at Tekarra Lodge. I think it is about time I wrote a review, don't you?

Here are a few restaurants in Jasper and area that I love:

• Earl's
• Andy's Bistro
• Evil Dave's
• Emerald Lounge at Jasper Park Lodge
• Tekarra Restaurant at Tekarra Lodge

Here are some thing I like to do and see:

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