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Jasper has done it again.
Our little mountain town has been voted third in USA Today’s top ten ski towns in North America - and is the only Canadian town to make it on the list.
Brian Rode, vice president of Marmot Basin, said: “It’s wonderful. It certainly is a real reflection on what the town and the community offer visitors in Jasper.”
The initial 20 nominees for the list were picked by a panel of experts and 10Best editors, then the top ten winners were determined by popular vote.
And this is Jasper’s second year in a row in the top ten - last year the town scooped the top spot.
USA Today described Jasper as “a decidedly laid back and unpretentious base for winter adventure”.
And Rode believes it all comes down to Jasper being “such a nice town”.
“Everybody is so friendly, you can walk from one end of the town to the other and it’s not as built up as other places,” said Rode.
“It has such a natural, friendly and authentic feel to it and it is a real town, not just a purpose-built ski town.”
Rode said he hears feedback from Canadian and international tour operators, teachers and chaperones from school visits, and guests of Jasper and Marmot Basin.
“They say it’s authentic, safe, comfortable, they can walk the streets and not worry,” he said.
“Everything is so accessible.”
Rode said visitors love seeing animals in the winter - something you don’t get everywhere.
And the key ingredient, as always, is “the people and the strong fabric of the community”.
“It’s not just the infrastructure, the hotels, the restaurants, we hear a lot about the community,” said Rode.
“You can walk into the pub and order a beer and the next day the bartender knows you and says hello.
“Jasper is like a second home to people, people make it their own and take pride in it.”
To find out more about the USA Today awards, visit www.10best.com/awards/travel/.
The top 10 winners in Best Ski Town were:
- Bethel, Maine
- North Conway, New Hampshire
- Jasper, Alberta
- Taos, New Mexico
- Ogden, Utah
- Steamboat Springs, Colorado
- Stowe, Vermont
- Truckee, California
- Sandpoint, Idaho
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
