Travel Alberta 2010 Vacation Guide

2010 OFFICIAL vACAtIOn GUIDE

TRAVELALBERTA.COM1-800-ALBERTA

From peaks to plains, Alberta has one of the finest settings ever handed to a province. The snow spackled Rocky Mountains. Shimmering wheatfields. Northern lights. The Calgary Stampede. West Edmonton Mall. Guest ranches. Sunny skies. Canadian Badlands. Powder-perfect ski resorts.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration, action or relaxation – explore Alberta your own way by delving into this Vacation Guide. Tailor your holiday according to interest or region – each comes with its own unique feast of holiday ideas. Scenic road trips, a massive festival guide, a handy map, cost-saving tips and local wisdom – everything you need to design an extraordinary holiday.

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1Official Alberta Vacation Guide

In this guide you will discover a host of holiday ideas in our six regions. Each one captures particular experiences and adventures across Alberta.

Edmonton & Area Known as Canada’s Festival City, this bustling metropolis has always put its arts and culture on centre stage.

TravelAlberta.com/Edmonton

Calgary & AreaHome of the Calgary Stampede, this

cosmopolitan dynamo is also the natural gateway to the Canadian Rockies.

TravelAlberta.com/Calgary

Canadian RockiesThe Canadian Rockies are legendary

for their breathtaking beauty, charming villages, backcountry

lodges and alpine castles. TravelAlberta.com/Rockies

Alberta SouthLoaded with natural and cultural

wonders, southern Alberta is famous for the Canadian Badlands, buffalo

jumps and dinosaur bone beds. TravelAlberta.com/South

Alberta CentralCheckered with golden prairies, grassy

foothills, shimmering lakes, sandy beaches and rural charms, Alberta’s heartland is a naturalist’s paradise.

TravelAlberta.com/Central

Alberta NorthCan’t decide between remote lakes and the

comforts of home? Have both, as well as the longest daylight hours in the summer,

prime birdwatching and historical sites. TravelAlberta.com/North

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Wonders of Alberta .............2–3Natural Discoveries ............4–5Outdoor Adventures ......... 6–7Western Ways ....................8–9Families Matter .............10–11Cities & Towns ...............12–13Dining & Shopping ........14–15Golf Getaways ...............16–17Waterways .....................18–19Spas & Wellness ............20–21Winter Escapes ..............22–23Resort to Perfection ......24–25Festivals & Events ..........26–27 Travel Essentials ................. 82

Golden Eagle Resort, Fort McMurray

Crimson Lake

Hoodoos, near Drumheller

Herbert Lake, Banff National Park

Calgary Stampede

Edmonton

2 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA

Edmonton & Area

You weigh your options carefully. Swim

with sea lions. Bungy jump over the

world’s largest indoor wave pool.

Watch hockey under a glass dome.

Barrel down a 14-storey, triple loop

roller coaster. They all sound like a gas.

And that’s before you discover there

are 800 stores and services, 13 movie

theatres, a casino and a colony of

African penguins at West Edmonton

Mall (WEM). And now you can explore

this mammoth place by hopping on a

nifty battery-operated Segway. In a

flash, you’re weaving and bobbing

between the throngs of faces trying to

decide where to start. And then you

hear it ... duelling keyboards at the

new Red Piano Cajun Bistro where

you must order a lobster Po’Boy and

some Louisiana Crab Cakes.

Sometimes you just have to indulge

every urban need and there is no

better place than at WEM. Would you

expect anything less from North

America’s largest shopping and

entertainment complex?

Calgary & Area

It’s early July and the Calgary

Stampede has revamped its streets

with hay bales, wooden fences and

free pancake breakfasts. After you

scarf that freebie down, you’ll realize

you’ve got to look the part so hustle

off to Alberta Boot for the right

footwear, Smithbilt Hats for an

authentic cowboy hat and Lammle’s

for some serious western duds. Now

that you’re geared up, swagger down

to Stampede Park, nab some rodeo

tickets and head for the midway.

Cap off the day with a feast of prime

Alberta beef in a suite at the Lazy S

club or join the masses for Beef on a

Bun on the midway. Then it’s back to

the stands for the No. 1 crowd-

pleaser, the chuckwagon races, before

the fireworks that end every

Stampede evening with a literal bang.

Still want more of our western ways?

Join the cowboys headin’ to

Ranchman’s and two-step until the

cows come home.

Canadian Rockies

Begin your day with a hefty feed of

bison sausages and free range eggs in

Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper and then

head out to the Icefields Parkway, one

of the most scenic drives on Earth.

Tumbling glaciers, lacy waterfalls,

meadows, saddles, cirques and tarns

– this drive alone comes with its own

distinct alpine language. You’ll learn

these terms at the Columbia Icefield

Centre, located at the toe of North

America’s most accessible “living”

glacier, the Athabasca. A specially

designed all-terrain coach, the Ice

Explorer, takes you on a guided tour

up the glacier’s belly as it slowly and

imperceptibly recedes into history.

Snow that fell thousands of years ago

crunches beneath your feet, at times

300 m (984 ft) thick. You’ll see miles

of snowy icefields, recessional

moraines, a few of its 30,000

crevasses and the dramatic effects

of global warming.

wonders of alberta

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Alberta South

Leave the arid, lunar-like landscape of

today’s Canadian Badlands and tiptoe

back 75 million years to the land the

dinosaurs once roamed. Time travel

is what you get on a hike or an

archaeological dig at either the Royal

Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in

Drumheller or Dinosaur Provincial

Park. However unlikely it seems,

guides will convince you that today’s

swirl of canyons, coulees and hoodoos

was once a lush tropical Eden for

dinosaurs, crocodiles, sharks and

turtles. Sit on the lip of Horseshoe

Canyon today and marvel at the

history of this place – it’s all laid out for

you in stripes of bedrock, reminding us

of the last ice age that ended some

13,000 years ago. While you can hike

independently through some of the

badlands your appreciation for fossils,

the ways of the dinosaurs and these

peculiar land formations will only be

heightened by a guide on a day dig or

a week-long field experience.

Alberta Central

We’re not suggesting you paddle the

66-day voyageur route from Rocky

Mountain House to Old Fort William

that David Thompson did some 200

years ago – but you wouldn’t be the

first! Canoeing in these parts is still an

ideal way to see vast stretches of

untrameled wilderness. Independent

paddlers can canoe many stretches

of the North Saskatchewan River

(Nordegg to Rocky Mountain House

is very popular) or you can join a

voyageur canoe outfitter for a

multi-day paddle on this historic

waterway. When you’re in the bow of

your boat and round the leafy corner

of the river to see the peak of the fort,

known as Rocky Mountain House, it’s

an emotional moment for it’s a sight

that hasn’t shifted much since the

days of Thompson. Be sure to stop in

at the interpretive centre for a cup of

lavender tea, some Métis fiddling

and jigging. Learn the ways of some

of our First Nations people, just as

Thompson did.

Alberta North

Cuddle up next to the other star

gazers in your party and blow snow

rings into the frosty night air. Ah yes,

there’s one. No, that’s two explosions

you see. Everyone is spellbound as

that taut, black Alberta sky bends

and stretches with strings of colour

that dance across the largest screen

you’ll ever find. Gold, red, purple,

green – the entire night sky glows

with the mesmerizing brilliance of

pulsing light. Think of yourself at

Mother Nature’s drive-in movie

theatre … that’s what a northern

lights blockbuster looks like. Except

that you’ll likely get hot chocolate

instead of popcorn and your guides

will come with telescopes, binoculars,

extra toques and loads of local lore.

Wild, electrifying, otherworldly these

lights in Alberta’s northern skies will

dazzle you with one of nature’s most

glorious performances.

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Look for this green symbol throughout this year’s Vacation Guide and you’ll discover

bargains galore – from free museum passes to pancake breakfasts.


It’s about inviting visitors to dig up our

past in dinosaur beds in a manner that

follows rigorous environmental

principles. It’s about conserving habitat

for massive flyways used by hundreds

of thousands of boreal birds. It’s about

being culturally sensitive to spiritual

sites run by our First Nations people. It’s

about being a responsible traveller with

every step you tread. Go softly.

In Alberta, sustainable tourism is about protecting our five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and our network of 500 parks and protected areas. It’s about seeking the delicate balance between wildlife demands and tourism needs in Banff, Canada’s first national park.

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Banff, Waterton Lakes and Jasper National Parks First established as

sanctuaries for wildlife, these parks are crisscrossed with hiking paths and

horse-packing trails allowing visitors unparalleled accessibility. You’ll often

see elk, deer, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. All three parks surround

charming alpine villages, home to many of Alberta’s most luxurious resorts

and innovative restaurants.

Wood Buffalo National Park From a bush plane, zoom in on the largest

herd of free-roaming wood bison in the world – and discover other

conservation projects such as the remarkable return of the whooping crane.

Elk Island National Park Less than an hour from Edmonton, this park is

home to 250 species of birds and herds of free-roaming plains bison, wood

bison, moose, deer and elk. The park protects aspen parkland, one of the

most endangered habitats in Canada.

Provincial Parks With more than 500 protected sites and parks throughout

Alberta, the list is too lengthy to repeat. Some of Alberta’s signature parks

include: Dinosaur Provincial Park, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Cypress

Hills Interprovincial Park and Kananaskis Country, which cradles nine

provincial parks. Want to loll about in powdery sand and bask in warm

water? Head north to Cold Lake or Moose Lake provincial parks.

HooDoo You Believe? For centuries, the Canadian Badlands provided protection

for Aboriginal peoples as well as for gangs of outlaws – mostly renegade horse

thieves. Blackfoot and Cree thought the huge pillars of wind-blasted sandstone

(hoodoos) were petrified giants who came alive after dark. These oddly capped

and twisted pillars are scattered all over the badlands with some of the finest

examples along Highway 10 South (a.k.a. the Hoodoo Trail).

Hiking How-To Parks Canada provides interpreters who run programs throughout

the summer, ranging from lakeside strolls to full day hikes. Private guides and

knowledgeable tour operators span the province offering bird watching (Grande

Prairie, Lesser Slave Lake and the Lakeland area are birding bonanzas), wildlife

safaris, full moon night hikes and other nature-related activities. Eco-adventure

guides can add an Aboriginal angle to an adventure and are found in the north.

From food foraging to animal tracking – in places such as Fort McMurray, the

Peace River area, Lesser Slave Lake and Lac La Biche.

Mother Nature’s Frequent Flyers Hold a trained falcon, owl or eagle,

and discover the rehabilitation work at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in

Coaldale. An estimated 27,000 shorebirds and 250,000 waterfowl pass

over the tiny northern town of McLennan at the confluence of three major

migration paths – the Mississippi, Pacific and Central. Every June, the

shores of Lesser Slave Lake twitter with thousands of songbirds that the

townspeople celebrate in a weekend Songbird Festival. While you’re in this

neck of the woods, visit the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation, the only

place on Earth that studies boreal birds exclusively. Birders also flock to many

of the 250 lakes found in Alberta’s Lakeland region – prime habitat for more

than 230 resident and migratory birds, including warblers, woodpeckers,

ospreys, owls, turkey vultures and bald eagles.

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head to a national park on Canada day, July 1, and

you’ll get in for free! All gate entrance fees are waived.

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“I get to work at Lake Louise – what many say is the most romantic place in Canada. This is the place that artists, poets and writers describe as having the perfect composition. When people talk about getting gripped by Rocky Mountain fever, they’re talking about being love struck with the place. Be warned – it’s a contagious condition.”


If you can walk, you can hike. And one of the best ways to experience our parks is to abandon our highways for the tranquillity of our backcountry. From a mellow natural history hike with a park interpreter (available for free at many of our national and provincial parks) to a teahouse tromp in the Rockies, Alberta has a vast network of hiking trails.

Independent hikers can just lace up

their boots and trek along classic, multi-

day backpacking routes such as Jasper’s

Skyline Trail, Banff’s Nigel-Jonas Pass

Trail and Waterton’s Tamarack Trail.

Ridge walks, high alpine meadows full

of wildflowers and above-treeline

rambles can be found on the 4,000 km

(2,485 mi) of trails in our Canadian

Rockies. Or, history buffs can follow the

era of steam train travel in northeastern

Alberta, by hiking, cycling or horseback

riding along the Iron Horse Trail, once

used extensively by homesteaders and

European explorers.

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Gear Up Riders of all levels will find the perfect mountain bike ride amidst

thousands of trails zigzagging through the mountains. There are about 600

km (373 mi) of designated trails – including fire roads or old logging roads –

in the mountain parks. The Canmore Nordic Centre, built for the XV Winter

Olympics, boasts an exhilarating 70 km (43 mi) tumble of trails. Kananaskis

Country, Waterton Lakes National Park, Crowsnest Pass, Canada Olympic Park

in Calgary and Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area near

Edmonton are other places with extensive mountain bike trails.

Fly High Get a bird’s-eye view of icefields, alpine lakes, wildlife and the

majestic Canadian Rockies by helicopter. Whether you use Canmore, Grande

Cache or the area around Nordegg, you’ll find helicopter operators equipped

to transport you to a world where you can heli-ski, heli-fish, heli-hike, or,

even do heli-yoga or heli-paint. If they can use a chopper to get you to some

remote wedge of wilderness, they will.

Where the Sun Never Shines Explore 14 fragile caves in the Crowsnest Pass

area, also home to the second longest, deepest cave in Canada (Yorkshire

Pot). Or venture into the many chambers in Cadomin Cave, 75 minutes

southwest of Edson, the Canmore Caverns, and nearby Rat’s Nest Cave.

However, the granddaddy of the lot is the Castleguard Cave, the longest in

Canada at 20.2 km (12.5 mi). But it’s best explored in the winter as the cave

often floods during summer. Be forewarned: many of these caves require

technical rock climbing skills, a guide and permission from the Alberta

Speleological Society.

Hostel to Hostel Road Trips On what is considered one of the world’s

most scenic drives – the Icefields Parkway – you’ll see many international

bike touring companies guiding cyclists along its wide shoulders, with

stays at charming lodges and resorts along the way. Independent cyclists

can do the same and bed down at numerous hostels that operate between

Banff and Jasper.

Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience On a 6 km (3.7 mi) long chunk of ice

known as the Athabasca Glacier, a specially designed all-terrain coach glides

you up the glacier’s belly.

Blaze New Trails Hop on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or a 4X4 and take

advantage of some of the most spectacular landscapes in Alberta. Operators

are equipped to rent or guide multi-day trips to prime fishing spots, wildlife

viewing areas, waterfalls – even sand dunes – from the Rockies to the Red

Deer River, St. Paul up to Fort McMurray and beyond.

Grab the Roof of the World Climbers can scale dozens of routes at the

Wasootch Slabs, the Weeping Wall, the backside of Lake Louise and Mt.

Athabasca. Hire a qualified mountain guide (through the Association of

Canadian Mountain Guides) who will help you summit a peak in the Rockies.

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don’t be shy – if you see a Parks Canada interpreter

out on a trail, ask them a question. dubbed “rovers,” these

experts will regale you with local legends, lore and the park’s

unique history. And don’t forget how cheap camping is!

“Alberta is home – it’s where I feel the most comfortable. Where the light is right, the vibe familiar and the mountains always welcoming. Within a 30-minute walk from my door in Canmore, I can hike, climb, kayak, ski and throw rocks in Quarry Lake with my daughter. Yet I can be at an international airport within 90 minutes.”

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After a long day in the saddle, when you’re swapping yarns around a crackling fire, you’ll realize you’re enjoying one of the most authentic sustainable tourism experiences you can have in Alberta – a stay at a working ranch. You’ll ride lonesome trails, round up cattle and learn about the cowboy way of life from local families. Discover more at Alberta Country Vacations Association.

Or, if you just can’t get enough of our

western ways, volunteer at a farm

where you’ll gain free food and lodging

for labour. More than 30 Alberta farms

are part of the worldwide Willing

Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF)

organization that matches volunteers

with farm vacation experiences.

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Calgary Stampede Don’t miss this 10 day summer whoop-up, known as the

“The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” where you can pony up to the bar

with rootin’, tootin’ cowboys or two-step till the cows come home.

The Cowboy Trail From Mayerthorpe to Cardston, drive this 700 km (435 mi)

scenic route and you’re guaranteed to spot cowboys ropin’ cattle, a country

fair or two, western art shops and small-town rodeos. The proximity to the

Canadian Rockies means you’ll also witness a great diversity of wildlife and

scenery. Superb historical sites such as Rocky Mountain House Museum,

Bar-U Ranch National Historic Site, the Remington Carriage Museum and

Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village also line this route.

Farm Tours If you thought Stampede grub such as cotton candy, corn dogs

and Tom Thumb donuts were the foods that settled the West, you definitely

need to go on a farm tour. Daylong trips organized by the Calgary Stampede,

include a visit to a berry farm, a Hutterite colony, ranch and dairy farm,

where you learn about the origins of good food.

Aboriginal Adventures Tipi sleepovers are popular in the summer at

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Elk Island Retreat and Blackfoot Crossing

Historical Park. The latter, an award-winning First Nations interpretive centre,

features a museum, dozens of medicine wheels, a tipi village and numerous

programs run by the Siksika people. Authentic Aboriginal programs offered in

the north are spots such as Métis Crossing, the Narrows Cultural Resort on

Lesser Slave Lake, O’Kimaw Peya ‘sew skwao traditional cultural camp near

Lac La Biche – plus there’s a fascinating network of museums known as the

Spirit of the Peace.

Home on the Range For real western hospitality, book a night at a guest

ranch. Some stays include guided trail riding through secluded canyons and

over mountain-top ridges and lodging in heritage log cabins. In the north, on

the shores of Whitefish Lake, you’ll find the Kikino Ranch, home to a herd of

bison and a cluster of log cabins. In the south, you’ll find the classic western

movie ranch experience. The Rockies are known for their multi-day camps

that combine lodge stays with base camps. Certain expeditions are co-guided

by professionals who may be grizzly bear experts, professional photographers

or botanists – depending on the theme of the trip.

Rootin’ Tootin’ Rodeos Sometimes it’s best to lean back and watch how the

pros do it. Almost every small town in Alberta hosts a summer weekend rodeo.

Watch real cowboys wrestle snorting steers into the mud, rope lightning-fast

calves and hold on for life atop buckin’ broncs. And remember – there’s also the

Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton each November and the Ponoka Stampede,

Alberta’s second largest outdoor rodeo and chuckwagon event.

The Lowdown on our Western WaysAlberta’s Forts northamericanforts.com

Big Valley Jamboree bigvalleyjamboree.com

Calgary Stampede calgarystampede.com

Glenbow Museum glenbow.org

Heritage Park Historical Village heritagepark.ca

Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village kootenaibrownpioneervillage.org

Remington Carriage Museum remingtoncarriagemuseum.com

Royal Alberta Museum royalalbertamuseum.ca

Spirit of the Peace albertaaboriginaltourism.com/experiences

The Galt Museum galtmuseum.com

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies whyte.org

Wild West Shooting Centre shootingcentre.com

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“My favourite time is springtime in the foothills. Feeding horses at 6:30 in the morning, saddling and grooming until breakfast. And then breakfast – coffee, eggs, pancakes, bacon, toast, fruit and more coffee. Then I like to go riding in the sunshine when the grass is turning green and the crocuses are starting to come up. Summer is in front of us and life is going on ... “


In many families, certain holidays are like yardsticks, marks on a doorjamb as the children grow. Perhaps you start off on a half-kilometer ramble or a sleepover at the Calgary Zoo. Next, when they’re old enough to sit on a horse, you might go on a multi-day horsepacking expedition.

Or take them to Alberta’s equivalent of

Disneyland, a stay at West Edmonton

Mall. For family togetherness, try

camping in a tipi at one of our five

UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In

Alberta, intimate encounters with wild

things are common, and children can

learn firsthand about animals and

places they otherwise might only see

on TV or in zoos – and you don’t even

need to charter a bush plane. Although

you could do that too!

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Teen Awakenings Fly off the 90 meter (295 ft) ski jump tower at Calgary’s

Canada Olympic Park, just like elite ski jumpers, and experience an

adrenaline rush that will knock your breath away. North America’s fastest

zipline rockets you through the air up to 140 km/h (86 mph). Also new is

the 3.3 m (10 ft) Z-pod, a giant bubble-like contraption (a.k.a. a Zorb) that

lets you roll down the slopes like an insect in a cocoon.

West Edmonton Mall Bounce upside down on a bungy cord over a massive

indoor waterpark, scream down the Mindbender roller coaster, a ride that

brags of having the highest G-force on the planet, or jump on the spinning

roller coaster, Galaxy Orbiter. Meet the Pirates of Hollywood at Sea Lions’ Rock

where daily interactive shows feature the antics of California sea lions and take

an underwater Sea Life Cavern tour in the world’s largest indoor lake.

Wet and Wild Wonders Besides West Edmonton Mall’s World Waterpark and

Sherwood Park’s Millennium Place, visit the Wild Rapids Waterslide in Sylvan

Lake (home to 16 slides including the zero-gravity Sidewinder). Sylvan Lake

is also a great place to windsurf, sail or make sand castles on one of Alberta’s

best beaches. The Collicutt Centre in Red Deer, leisure centres in Calgary, the

Douglas Fir Resort in Banff (romp around its new four-level indoor play

structure) and the TransAlta TriLeisure Centre in Spruce Grove are other

popular bets with kids. Young fishers should make a beeline to Cold Lake,

home to some of the best trout fishing around as well as sailing,

windsurfing, jet skiing, water skiing and diving.

Family Friendly Stays Hotels, motels and Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs)

throughout Alberta offer family plans, babysitting services, kids’ check-ins and

menus, plus welcome packages. But the ultimate family-friendly dream

lodging goes to the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton for its theme rooms such

as the Truck Rooms, Sports Rooms, Igloo Rooms, and so forth. Other unique

stays include family camps, where activities and guides arrange the works,

available at the YMCA’s Camp Chief Hector and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of

Palaeontology. Or, fall asleep in a tipi while listening to the coyotes howl at

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park or at Elk

Island Retreat.

Boredom Busters Starlabs, rooms of LEGO, hands-on galleries, special

exhibits – the TELUS World of Science in both Edmonton and Calgary has fun

down to a science. Find five interactive galleries in Edmonton’s science centre

plus an Imax theatre. In Calgary, exhibits that are part of the 2011 Project

Prototype Lab are now rolling out.

Sleep with the Wild Things Sleep next to an elephant or a giraffe in the

Destination Africa pavilion – at one of the Calgary Zoo’s popular sleepovers.

No time? Then just marvel at the 1,000-plus animals that inhabit the various

ecosystems on display. Whether you find yourself eye to eye with a giant

hippo, feeding an elephant or giggling over a gorilla – try to tear away from

Africa for a peek at the Canadian Wilds, a safari-type area devoted to many

of the mammals that call Alberta home.

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If you’ve got a junior naturalist (aged 6-10) on your

hands check out the free program at the Whistlers

Campground, operated by the Friends of Jasper.

“When our four boys were little we camped a lot as a family – usually on lakes where they could waterski. Last summer, my boys joined me on our Parks Tour in northern Alberta where we discovered a fantastic seven-lake canoe loop in the Lakeland area and the thrill of quadding. The days still end around a campfire where everyone now roasts Mom, and fewer marshmallows!”

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Our cities and towns may not have appeared on road maps before the 19th century but our First Nations people left carvings and indicators of settlements as far back as 11,000 years. Discover our rich Aboriginal culture at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton and then complete your history lesson with afternoon tea at the handsome Rutherford House – a stunning Edwardian home that hosts special events throughout the summer.

In Calgary, take a trek through the

Glenbow Museum – western Canada’s

largest museum with over one million

objects or visit the newly expanded

Heritage Park Historical Village where

you’ll stumble on life in Alberta,

pre-1914. From wagon rides to

Gasoline Alley to a lesson in a

one-room schoolhouse – this is a

family favourite.

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Olympic Legacy If you didn’t nab tickets to the 2010 Olympic Games – you

can enjoy Olympic history any time in Calgary. Grab hold of the spirit that

rocked this city in 1988 when it hosted the Winter Games by starting at the

Olympic Hall of Fame at Canada Olympic Park, on the western fringes of

Calgary. Jump on a bobsleigh and barrel down the very track Olympians train

on, or get an icy blast on a skeleton run at the Ice House.

Cultural Capital Edmonton’s renowned as Canada’s Festival City. The biggest

events include the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, the Edmonton International

Fringe Theatre Festival, the Heritage Festival and the Edmonton International

Street Performers Festival. But for flat-out massive, you must head to Capital

EX and Edfest for one of the country’s largest summer fairs.

The Play’s the Thing Prime time for dance and theatre performances is

typically October through May, but the season doesn’t stop then – it just

moves outside and takes on a different beat. During the fall and winter you’ll

find the Alberta Ballet and both Calgary and Edmonton’s opera companies

perform at the Jubilee Auditoria in both cities. The Calgary Philharmonic

Orchestra, one of Canada’s top orchestras performs at the Jack Singer Concert

Hall. The province’s large resident theatre companies perform at the EPCOR

CENTRE in Calgary (home to four theatres) and Edmonton’s Citadel (with five

halls), the TransAlta Arts Barns and the Francis Winspear Centre. Described as

one of the most acoustically perfect concert halls in Canada, the Winspear

Centre is home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and hosts a wide

variety of shows every year. It houses the $3 million Davis Concert Organ,

the largest concert organ in Canada.

Exit, Stage Left Step outside our main urban hubs and you’ll also find

top-notch facilities at The Banff Centre (don’t miss its summer-long,

international arts festival and Mountain Film and Book Fest in the fall) and on

a smaller scale, Drumheller’s Rosebud Theatre, the Centre for the Arts in

Lethbridge and the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod.

Come spring and summer, theatre buffs will find Shakespeare in the Park (in both

major cities), the International Children’s Festival (every May, in Calgary and

Edmonton/St. Albert), Edmonton’s Fringe Festival (North America’s biggest), Fort

McMurray’s Interplay Festival and the unique Passion Play in the badlands.

From Whimsy to World-Class If you want to see just how big visual arts

projects can get, visit Edmonton’s Art Gallery of Alberta (slated to open its

$88-million renovation in early 2010), Calgary’s Glenbow Museum and the

Art Gallery of Calgary, all internationally recognized galleries renowned for

their western art collections as well as contemporary exhibits.

Hockey Night in Alberta Streak your face with red paint and you’ll be

baptised into the Calgary Flames club. Do the same with blue and you’ll be an

instant Oilers fan – the point is to attend a hockey game, in either Calgary (at

the Pengrowth Saddledome) or Edmonton (Rexall Place). Canada has only six

National Hockey League teams so both cities are wildly passionate about their

players, always evident at the post-game recaps which take over bars, pubs

– and certain streets (The Red Mile in Calgary/The Blue Mile in Edmonton).

Buy an Experience Alberta’s history Pass and receive

unlimited admission to 18 provincial historic sites and

museums in Alberta for one year!

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“I’ve lived in Calgary all my life and I love city life, even when it gets hectic. We’re lucky because we can take detours to mountains, badlands and beautiful landscapes. It’s no wonder people come here to see what I have! I’m interested in pop culture, current events and things that are playful. You’ll find cowboys, horses, rockets and astronauts in my art.”


Alberta is a province that knows how to eat – and more than just the regular cowboy fare of beef, flapjacks and beans. Today you’re as likely to find fresh-from-the-field produce as you are creamy goat cheeses and award-winning homemade Belgian chocolate, as well as locally raised succulent game.

Such exotic fare is served in equally

eclectic spots, from hip martini bars to

casual bistros and classic steakhouses.

In Edmonton, you’ll find more than 60

restaurants in the funky neighbourhood

of Old Strathcona plus more highbrow

treats in the downtown forest of glass

towers. In Calgary, amble down historic

Stephen Avenue Walk, known as

Restaurant Row, where handsome

100-year-old sandstone banks and

hotels have become home to the

hottest young chefs and über creative

restaurant concepts.

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Made in Alberta More than 70 per cent of Canada’s $15 billion beef industry

comes from this province and half of the cattle are exported to nearly 70

markets world wide. Remember, beef in Alberta is linked to pride. Albertans

don’t want to serve a beef dish that’s anything less than magnificent,

whether it’s sliced or skewered or tucked into pita bread. Barley-fed

porterhouse steaks, silky filet mignon, marinated bison steaks, locally

ranched caribou and elk – people travel from afar just for a taste of what’s

grown among the wheat fields in the shadow of our Rocky Mountains.

For samples of Alberta’s freshest fare and a chance to meet locals, pop by

our farmers’ markets in Calgary and Edmonton. Both have hundreds of

booths, little food stands, artisan wares, buskers and are great spots for

food-for-the-road and Made in Alberta gifts.

In the Canadian Rockies, you’ll find all-star chefs galore – with recent awards

piling up at The Bison in Banff, the Post Hotel in Lake Louise and the Trough

in Canmore.

Graze Around Alberta Regional specialties can be sampled anywhere in

Alberta – but loyal foodies still love the sizzle of Dine Alberta, an annual

event held every fall that toasts what we grow. Other culinary events include

the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival, held every October in Banff,

Calgary and Edmonton; and Banff’s über-swanky International Wine & Food

Festival, also in October.

Retail Therapy Nothing will yank you out of the doldrums faster than a day

at West Edmonton Mall (WEM). Imagine a space with 58 entrances, 100

eateries, 13 movie theatres, three postal codes, the world’s largest car park

(holds 20,000 vehicles), wave pools and water parks, penguins and of

course, more than 800 stores and services plus two hotels. In keeping with

“big,” visit the newest covered mall to be built in Alberta in the past 20

years – the massive CrossIron Mills in Balzac.

Go Beyond “the” Mall After you’ve shopped at WEM, hit Edmonton’s

bohemian, boutique-laced Whyte Avenue in the neighbourhood of Old

Strathcona, packed with one-of-a-kind shops that sell everything from

handmade shoes to Aboriginal art. If you’re hunting for an enormous bargain

bin head to South Edmonton Common. When fully developed, it will span

213,676 m2 (2.3 million sq ft) of retail space, making it the largest open-air

retail development in North America.

Many of Calgary’s shopping malls have been themed, from food to furniture to

fashion with the latter ruling at Southcentre, Chinook, Market Mall and the

Calgary Eaton Centre. Boutiques and art galleries line 17 Avenue SW, Kensington

Road and the Mission area. Calgary is also a great spot to pick up unique western

goods from cowboy boots to Stetsons, belt buckles, bolo ties and blue jeans.

Antique buffs should make a beeline to Inglewood, Calgary’s oldest

neighbourhood, or Edmonton’s Old Strathcona area. For a day trip to a town

that’s been revived around its antique finds, head south from Calgary to

Nanton where you can pick up an Antique and Art Walk map of the area.

Adventurous foodies can sample dozens of tasty morsels

from more than 30 restaurants during summer festivals

such as A Taste of Calgary or A Taste of Edmonton.

Entrance is free. Samples are cheap.

“I step out of my door and into Alberta’s oldest farmers’ market, now in downtown Edmonton. I run cooking classes up in the loft and we start by shopping at the market which is so full of fantastic Alberta produce – from award-winning cheeses to Alberta beef. Now, because of the move toward nurturing local producers, it is a very exciting time to be involved in food.”

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Albertans know that when it comes to golf, far-away greens aren’t necessarily greener. Wedged between Waterton Lakes Golf Club in the south and the Athabasca Golf & Country Club in the north are more than 350 courses – more per capita than any other province in Canada.

Alberta golf burst onto the world stage

in the 1920s when the Jasper Park

Lodge Golf Club opened for business.

Today, it’s billed as the No.1 golf resort

in Canada, by Score Golf. Players

praise Jasper for its scenery, playability,

and most importantly, its fun and

relaxing atmosphere. Fairmont Hotels

& Resorts operates Jasper and its

famous cousin, The Banff Springs Golf

Club. Combined, these two Stanley

Thompson masterpieces provide

players with a formidable one-two

punch in the world of golf.

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Fairways to Heaven Golfing at a historic Stanley Thompson creation goes

beyond the game. Be sure to lunch at The Fairmont Banff Springs’

charming clubhouse with spectacular views of the castle-like hotel that

looms over the 14th hole. The par 3 Devil’s Cauldron (#4) is considered one

of the best golf holes in the world. Photographers say the 14th tee box at

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s course rivals Pebble Beach for natural

golfing beauty. Another Thompson work of art is Waterton Lakes Golf

Course, which is fun, not too tough and brags of mountain vistas, trees and

abundant wildlife. Designed in 1929, this course has recently been restored

to its original splendour.

With a backdrop of Rocky Mountain peaks, Silvertip is another big hitter,

ranked as one of North America’s most challenging courses. This carts-only

course exploits the site’s dramatic elevation changes, nearly 183 m (600 ft),

to create epic tee shots. While you’re in Canmore, golf Stewart Creek, loaded

with par 4s and a thoroughly modern design. Other notables like the

Kananaskis Country Golf Course include two 18-hole Robert Trent Jones

designed courses – Mount Lorette and Mount Kidd – named for the 3,048 m

(10,000 ft) peaks behind them.

City Greens In preparation for the 2007 CN Women’s Open, the Royal Mayfair

in Edmonton sunk $3.5 million into its course, installing a waterfall, a pro

shop and upgrading its landscaping. The Links of GlenEagles, on the outskirts

of Calgary, was another stop on the circuit in 2003 when the Professional

Golf Association’s Nationwide Tour was held here. Two other new favourites

in the Calgary golf scene include the River Spirit Golf Club, which last year

earned the reputation of having the best and truest greens in the city and

the Sirocco Golf Club, which just opened a swanky new restaurant.

RedTail Landing Golf Club in the Edmonton area is a high-end links-style

public course designed for all levels of players. Blackhawk Golf Club is

tucked along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River just 10 minutes

west of Edmonton. Jagare Ridge Golf Club has bumped up the golfing

landscape of Edmonton to that of the Canadian Rockies. Northern Bear Golf

Club, southeast of Edmonton, is the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course

in Alberta. Stop in at the clubhouse, constructed of glass and featuring a

seven m (23 ft) waterfall.

The Wolf Creek Golf Resort 27 hole course, on the skirts of Ponoka, was

designed by Rod Whitman and has aptly transplanted Scottish traditions into

a stunning and surprising prairie landscape. Or, try your clubs at the St. Paul

Golf Club, home of long ball champ, Jamie Sadlowski.

On Par with Palace on Wheels On the roster of the ultra-luxurious railway

line, the Royal Canadian Pacific is the ever-popular Royal Clubhouse Golf

Excursion. This six day, high-end, golf trip includes daily rounds at some of

Alberta and B.C.’s top courses, with nights spent on board a most unique

“clubhouse” that’s hosted the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, King George VI,

William Lyon Mackenzie King, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

Want to squeeze as many rounds of golf into a long

summer’s day? head north where you can tee off as

late as 9 PM.

Ryan

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“Purists say a links course, where sand is the base, is where the grass grows best and what you can do the most with in terms of design. That’s what Rod Whitman did on my father’s land when he designed Wolf Creek – built entirely on a natural sand belt. But Alberta has so many different land masses that golf experiences here are incredibly varied, we blow many U.S. visitors away.”


Our waters run deep in Alberta. For thousands of years Canada was traversed by our First Nations people and French-Canadian voyageurs via birch-bark canoes and so we have well developed “voyageur highways” in Alberta.

But if canoeing isn’t your thing, rent a

cottage on a northern lake, a cabin on

an alpine pond or check into a fishing

lodge. Want to water ski, jet boat or

go whitewater rafting? With 600 lakes,

245 rivers and 315 creeks to choose

from – this province is a water-fed

dream. Whatever your fancy, fancy

our waterways.

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Hooked on Alberta For a world-class fishing holiday, circle Alberta on your

map – it attracts both novice and expert with its waterways. If you love

fishing, this province is a dream. Rated as one of North America’s top 10

trout streams, the world-famous Bow River is loaded with brown and

rainbow trout. In central Alberta – on numerous lakes such as Gull, Buck,

Moose and Pinehurst – catch pike, walleye, perch and lake whitefish. Most of

Alberta’s fly-in fishing lodges are in the north, on lakes full of back-snapping

pike, perch, walleye, lake trout and Arctic grayling.

Northern lakes such as Colin, Cornwall, Burstall and Charles are famous for

their lake trout, lake whitefish and northern pike (in the 9-13 kg/20-30 lb

range). Prime walleye pickings can be found at McLelland, Ryan and Barrow

lakes. Easy spots to haul in trout, burbot, emerald shiner and yellow perch

are in the south – the Crowsnest River, the Oldman, Travers Reservoir and

West Castle River.

Paddle Power For a northern wilderness venture, join a guide for either a sea

kayak or canoe expedition down spectacular rivers such as the Clearwater

(Alberta’s first “heritage” river), the Peace or on Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta’s

largest auto-accessible lake). To access rivers such as the Clearwater, you can

use a jet boat or a float plane to deposit you at the put-in.

Mellow canoe excursions can be arranged at some of the most photographed

lakes in North America – namely Moraine and Lake Louise. Other top

mountain lakes to paddle include Two Jack, Minnewanka and Vermilion in

Banff plus Pyramid, Patricia and Maligne lakes in Jasper National Park.

Cruise Control If you love the leisurely days of bygone paddlewheels, slip

onto the S.S. Moyie in Calgary or the Edmonton Queen Riverboat and enjoy

the gracious elegance of another age. The leisurely three hour Miss Mermaid

Cruise on Sylvan Lake combines cruising and dining on a 40 seat houseboat

as you glide from the Sylvan Lake marina to Honeymoon Bay and back. To

view the Rockies by boat, you can cruise among the towering peaks on

Waterton Lake, Lake Minnewanka in Banff or to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake

in Jasper, winner of the “Best Cruise in Canada 2007” award, by Reader’s

Digest magazine.

Wind/Kitesurfing Legendary winds can whip across Alberta’s all-star lakes

– Keho, the Oldman Reservoir, Lake Newell, Beauvais, Waterton, Abraham

and Cold Lake – up to 100 km/h (62 mph), luring windsurfers and

kitesurfers galore.

Wild and Woolly Whitewater Enjoy white-knuckle river rafting on the

mighty Smoky, Sheep Creek and Kakwa Rivers or tone it down a notch on the

still-roiling waters of the Athabasca, the Maligne, Red Deer, Kananaskis and

Slave. For a lazy canoe trip, float down the Milk River through the badlands

to Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, home of North America’s largest

collection of ancient, mysterious petroglyphs. Or, paddle the Lower Red Deer

River to Dinosaur Provincial Park, where you can go on a guided hike through

ancient fossil beds amidst the hoodoos.

Tightwads know the cheapest dip in Banff is at the Banff

Centre’s never-crowded, glass-roofed pool in the Sally

Borden Building. Massages are also available.

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is one of the finest places I have ever skied. My perfect day is waking up early and having a cup of hot chocolate on the deck of my parents’ house that overlooks Dodd’s Lake. Then I like to go for a ski when the water is like glass. After that I often go golfing with friends, then for a bike ride over the ski hill and back to my parents for a barbeque.”


Medi-spas. Organic spas. Day spas. Destination spas. Urban spas. Alpine spas. Hammams. Be prepared to be dazzled by the sort of spa experience you can have in Alberta. As for treatments, they’re equally as dizzying. Wildrose scrubs. Thalassotherapy wraps. Photofacials. Reiki. Rolfing.

From our bike paths and yoga studios

to our gyms galore, Alberta is a healthy

place. Whether you’re at a spa or on a

fitness retreat, a wellness getaway in

Alberta will refresh your spirit and

nurture your soul. For a higher state of

consciousness, consider a heli-yoga

holiday in the Rockies.

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Canada’s First Spa So historic are Alberta’s hot springs that most Canadians

know precisely the link between our natural hot pools and how Banff

National Park was established. It was in the late 1800s that three railway

workers (near the present-day townsite of Banff) spotted a plume of steam

curling out of some rocks and discovered a cave bubbling with hot springs.

Today, you can slip back to those steamy days in the historic Upper Hot

Springs in Banff or Jasper’s newly renovated Miette Hot Springs, both of

which have spawned a huge spa industry in Alberta.

Destination Spas We mean overnight indulgences when we use this term,

knowing you’ll find many “destination” spas in hotels or resorts. You’ll find

spas in the North, such as those in Grande Prairie’s Podollan Inn and Holiday

Inn as well as others in Fort McMurray. In central Alberta, discover The Inn &

Spa at Heartwood Manor in Drumheller that boasts of body polishes,

wellness soaks, hot stone therapy and numerous facials. The Rocky Mountain

towns of Canmore, Banff and Jasper are other spa hubs. At The Fairmont

Banff Springs is one of Canada’s largest spas, still partially fed with the

natural mineral waters that first put this town on the map. Be sure to test the

waters, so to speak, at Banff’s Red Earth Spa, which uses natural ingredients

in their Essence of Canada treatment. If you’re visiting Banff in the winter,

warm up with a desert heat wrap at the Rimrock Resort Hotel or an Alpine

Aroma-Detox at the Temple Mountain Spa in the Post Hotel in Lake Louise.

Other spas in the Rockies include the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, Verde in

Canmore, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and the Beloved Natural Healing

Centre in Jasper as well as Waterton’s Bayshore Inn.

Urban Day Spas Back in Alberta’s two main urban centres are scores of spas,

ranging from the spacious high-end Stillwater Spa, in Calgary’s Hyatt Regency

Hotel, to Edmonton’s Dtox Natural Hair and Skin Care. This salon is for clients

concerned with allergies or who have sensitivities to the chemical

components often found in cosmetics. Other notables include Edmonton’s

Carrie’l Salon & Spa – a multiple award winner for best salon team and other

services. There’s also the Eveline Charles Salons & Spa group, as well as

Swizzlesticks, with salons in both Calgary and Edmonton. All of these day

spas offer individual treatments as well as full day packages, which often

include various massage therapies, reflexology and a multitude of esthetics.

Depending on the spa, Asian techniques may be emphasized or a clinical

approach such as at Calgary’s Santé Spa (Canada’s first medi-spa) may be

taken. Here services go beyond the conventional to include Botox injections,

laser skin resurfacing, microdermabrasion and photofacials – some of these

treatments can only be performed by their physicians.

Om Sweet Om Whether you subscribe to Bikram or Ashtanga yoga – you will

find a host of facilities, courses, weekend workshops and overnight retreats

aimed at this white-hot sector. Drop-in classes are standard, allowing travellers

the flexibility to pick and choose a class across the province, with the highest

concentration of facilities found in Calgary and Edmonton. Heli-yoga practices

and overnight stays usually depart from Banff, Canmore and Cline River.

Pop by a yoga shop and inquire about free classes.

They often have them outside in a local park – or

sometimes in their very shop!

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“Alberta is a great place to be in the health and wellness industry. Although Albertans work hard, they’re also very aware of health and fitness and have the disposable income to invest in their health. The yoga community here is very strong – you feel it in studios, in our parks, and even on our mountaintops where I’ve led a heli-yoga practice.”


Alberta may look like the land of a million Christmas trees but it’s more than just a pretty picture. Ski, ride, dogsled, ice fish, skate, snowshoe, snowmobile or lounge under a twinkling tarp of northern lights. From our legendary Rocky Mountain ski resorts to the lonely beauty of a frozen lake in a northern forest, Alberta lets you step into its photo frame with plenty of winter adventures.

Have you always wanted to soar like an

eagle, specifically Eddie “The Eagle”

Edwards ... the Coke-bottled Brit who

stole the hearts of millions during

Calgary’s ’88 Winter Olympics? Then,

strap into North America’s fastest

zipline at Canada Olympic Park in

Calgary, and rocket off the 90-meter

(295 ft) ski jump, just like Eddie. While

there, discover the heart-pounding thrill

of a bobsleigh ride. You may not be an

Olympian but in Alberta you can

certainly pretend – this is where going

for gold is a winter pastime!

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Downhill Skiing/Riding Deep in the south lies an unknown powder hound’s

heaven with basic slopeside accommodation called Castle Mountain. Just west

of Calgary lies Nakiska, home of the XV Winter Olympics. Farther west is Ski

Norquay, legendary for its hang-on-tight steeps and proximity to Banff.

Sunshine Village brags of Canada’s longest ski season with a new wing of

suites just opening at the base of its runs. Largest in the Canadian Rockies,

Lake Louise consistently wins “best scenic views” of all Canadian resorts. Veer

north and you’ll find the family-friendly resort of Marmot Basin, in Jasper

National Park. Just remember – where there’s a major ski resort, there’s a

terrain park. (See more on page 54.)

Nordic Skiing Nordic racers from around the planet annually flock to the

Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival (every February), held in Edmonton and

Strathcona County. Named for a Norwegian family renowned for saving the

life of a crown prince by skiing 55 km (34 mi) over three mountain ranges,

it’s the biggest classic Nordic race in North America. Certainly the biggest

Nordic terrain can be found in the 70 km (43.5 mi) tumble of snowy hills at

the Canmore Nordic Centre, the setting for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games

and where the world’s fastest cross country skiers will compete on February

5 and 6, to qualify for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Rev Up Those Engines Every winter Alberta grooms 5,000 km (3,107 mi) of

white carpet into two fine lines, welcoming snowmobilers to award-winning

playgrounds all over the province. Whether it’s a southern loop in the

Crowsnest Pass area, Alberta’s Iron Horse Trail or on one of our frozen winter

roads in the North – the variety of snowmobiling terrain in Alberta is enough

to rev up any engine.

Anglers – Drop Your Line If you just can’t get enough of fishing in the

summer, don’t stop. Winter is when anglers build temporary sheds or simply

drill holes and drop lines in popular lakes such as Spray Lake (near Canmore)

and Upper Kananaskis Lake (stocked with rainbows). Combine a unique fly-in

ice fishing trip with snowmobiling on North Leland Lake. Various eco-tourism

lodges offer multi-adventure packages that combine ice fishing with

ski-joring, nordic skiing, ice climbing and winter camping.

Harness the Huskies Dogsledding will thrill every historical bone in your

body. Plenty of operators run services out of Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise,

Jasper and Rocky Mountain House – and will take you into the backcountry

for a gourmet picnic or a mug of hot cocoa ’round a ripping bonfire.

Star Gazing One of the most spectacular sights that link together many

northern towns such as Fort McMurray, Fort Chipewyan, Slave Lake and

Grande Prairie, is the northern lights. Tours are available out of Fort McMurray

and other northern communities.

Crawling the Canyons Canyons that roar with whitewater fury in the

summer and are utterly inaccessible get transformed in the winter into

wonderlands of ice. Curtains, walls and chambers of ice glow pearly shades

of iridescent blue and literally pop and hiss with beauty. Guided walks in

Banff’s Johnston Canyon and Jasper’s Maligne Canyon can be organized

through most hotels and outdoor hubs.

Jasper in January is a bargain fest that discounts

everything from hotel rooms to lift tickets, special

events and attractions. Or, skate for free through a

frozen ice castle on Lake Louise.

“Almost every day in Canmore is a perfect day. But one that I will always remember was walking along the Bow River a week after my daughter was born. She was inside my jacket and it was cold and icebergs were floating down the steaming river. The mountains were plastered with snow and I felt like my eyes couldn’t handle so much beauty. I was overwhelmed.”

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Whether you fancy a basic campsite or an über-luxe suite at a resort, the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) should be your No. 1 go-to site, with more than 1,200 annually inspected properties listed online.

Start here and discover eco-friendly

lodges like Aurum, on the cliffs of

Abraham Lake or Mt. Engadine Lodge,

near an alpine meadow in Kananaskis

Country. Charming backcountry

properties, cottages, cabins, B&Bs, fly-in

fishing resorts, CPR bungalow camps,

even tipi stays and canvas-sided tent-

cabins in spectacular wilderness settings

are detailed at TravelAlberta.com/

accommodation.

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Living the High Life Three of Canada’s most iconic properties have been built

in Alberta, at the toes of glaciers, alpine lakes or tucked in the crevices of rocks.

The Fairmont Banff Springs, The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and The

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge have recently been revamped to hold either a

spa, heritage centre, a floor of boutique suites or a conference centre… all

are considered destinations in themselves and offer unique attributes such as

the spa at the Springs, the mountaineering program at the Chateau and golf

at the Lodge.

Bunk Down with History Historic backcountry lodges reflect Alberta’s

mountaineering roots, influenced by Swiss guides and early explorers.

There is a series of 13 rustic alpine huts found on glaciers, in alpine towns or

in our national parks, operated by the Alpine Club of Canada. Typically they

cater to those looking for a humble property that will launch them into

remote adventures.

From Baker Creek in Banff to the Whistlers in Jasper are historic CPR

bungalow camps that run along the most scenic highways in Banff and

Jasper national parks. Most have been converted into clusters of charming log

cabins, usually cradling a main lodge and dining facility.

Charming Inns and B&Bs You’ll find them in cities, small villages and

sometimes in the middle of nowhere. Most are owner operated and offer

intimate surroundings, hearty fare and the opportunity to meet other

travellers. History buffs should hop on a horse-drawn carriage at Fort

Edmonton Park and check into the Hotel Selkirk (a 1920s-style hotel), right in

the middle of this urban park.

Hostel Territory You’ll find architectural wonders, complete with boardrooms

and licensed restaurants, at hostels in Lake Louise and Banff (both are on the

top 10 list of hostels in North America). Others, such as those in Calgary and

Edmonton rely on their convenient locations, while those along the Icefields

Parkway have been strategically positioned for cyclists, skiers and hikers.

Happy Campers Whether you’re hoofing it with your household on your back

or loading up a luxurious RV, matters not – for camping in Alberta is not only

about stripped-down pleasures. Yes, the coffee always tastes better when

brewed in a tin pot and bed-time snacks are always best when they’re gooey

s’mores, but Alberta’s campgrounds provide numerous options depending on

your style of camping.

Historic Backcountry Lodges Legendary lodges such as Skoki, Shovel Pass,

Shadow Lake and Sundance require stamina, as you must hike, ski,

snowshoe or horseback into these remote spots.

Lodging OptionsAlberta Hotel & Lodging TravelAlberta.com/accommodation

Alberta Bed & Breakfast bbalberta.com

Alberta Country Vacations albertacountryvacation.com

Charming Inns of Alberta charminginnsofalberta.com

Hostelling International hihostels.ca

Alpine Club of Canada alpineclubofcanada.com

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Whether it’s a front- or backcountry campsite you want,

Alberta is laced with numerous affordable options. At

certain sites, you can even rent a tipi or a tent with all the

trappings – from sleeping bags to lawnchairs and cots.

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“Any type of tourism development changes the nature of a place, it leaves an impact. We wanted our lodge to follow environmental principles of sustainability – but be more of an accessory to the untouched wilderness around it, than the focal point. We didn’t want to change the character of the area.”


Alberta Public holidays

Holiday 2010 2011New Year’s Day .............................................................January 1 ......................... January 1Alberta Family Day .................................................. February 15 ..................... February 21Good Friday ........................................................................April 2 ............................ April 22Easter Monday ...................................................................April 5 ............................ April 25Victoria Day ......................................................................May 24 .............................May 23Canada Day ......................................................................... July 1 ................................ July 1Heritage Day ..................................................................August 2 .......................... August 1Labour Day ..............................................................September 6 ................... September 5Thanksgiving Day .......................................................October 11 .......................October 10Remembrance Day ...............................................November 11 ..................November 11Christmas Day ........................................................December 25 ................. December 25Boxing Day .............................................................December 26 .................. December 26

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Edmonton & AreaInternational Children’s Jun 1-5Festival, St. Albert

The Works: Art and Jun 25-Jul 7Design Festival

Freewill Shakespeare Jun 29-Jul 25Festival

Edmonton International Jul 9-18Street Performers Festival

Rexall Edmonton Indy Jul 23-25

Edmonton’s Capital EX Jul 23-Aug 1

A Taste of Edmonton Jul 23-Aug 1

Edmonton Heritage Jul 31-Aug 2Festival

Edmonton Folk Aug 5-8Music Festival

Cariwest-Edmonton Aug 6-8Caribbean Arts Festival

Edmonton International Aug 12-22Fringe Theatre Festival

Edmonton Dragon Aug 20-22Boat Festival

Edmonton’s Labatt Aug 20-22Blues Festival

Symphony Under Sep 3-6the Sky Festival

Edmonton International Sep 24-Oct 2Film Festival

Canadian Finals Rodeo Nov 10-14

Grey Cup Festival Nov 28

Calgary & AreaHigh Performance Rodeo Jan 7-31

Enbridge playRites Festival Feb 3-Mar 7of New Canadian Plays

Calgary International Apr 1-30Spoken Word Festival

Calgary International May 25-29Children’s Festival

4th Street Lilac Festival May 30

HSBC Calgary Marathon May 30

Spruce Meadows, National Jun 9-13

Calgary C-Jazz Festival Jun 21-27

Spruce Meadows, Jul 7-11North American

Calgary Stampede Jul 9-18

Fiestaval Latin Festival Jul 16-18

Calgary Folk Music Festival Jul 22-25

Calgary Fringe Festival Jul 30-Aug 7

Calgary International Aug 5-8Blues Festival

Afrikadey Aug 9-14

Global Fest Aug 20-28

Calgary International Aug 21Reggae Festival

Expo Latino Aug 27-29

Calgary Highland Games Sep 4

BBQ on the Bow Festival Sep 4-5

Spruce Meadows, Masters Sep 8-12

Calgary International Sep 23-Oct 3Film Festival

WordFest; Banff-Calgary Oct 12-17International Writers Festival

Zoolights at the Nov 26-Jan 2Calgary Zoo

Canadian RockiesJasper in January Jan 15-31

Ice Magic International Jan 22-24Ice Sculpture Competition, Lake Louise

Rocky Mountain Wine & Apr 30-May2Food Festival

Banff Summer Arts Festival May 1-Aug 31

Wild River Rendezvous, Jun 4-6Grande Cache

Wild Mountain Music Jul 9-11Festival, Hinton

Parks Day, All Jul 18National Parks

Canadian Death Race, Jul 31-Aug 2Grande Cache

Mary Reimer Memorial Jul 31-Aug 2Rodeo, Hinton

Canmore Folk Festival Jul 31-Aug 2

Behind the Scenery Aug 29-30Wildlife Festival, Jasper

20th Annual Canmore Sep 5Highland Games

Banff Mountain Book Oct 30-Nov 7and Film Festivals

Christmas in November – Nov 6-19Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Winterstart Festival, Nov 27-28 &Banff & Lake Louise Dec 4-5

Alberta SouthSpectrum Festival, Jun 4-6Medicine Hat

Waterton Wildflower Jun 19-26Festival, Waterton Lakes National Park

The Medicine Hat JazzFest Jun 21-27

The Canadian Badlands Jul 9-11 &Passion Play, Drumheller 16-18

Rum Runner Days & Jul 16-19Thunder in the Valley, Crowsnest Pass

Medicine Hat Exhibition Jul 28-31and Stampede

Whoop-Up Days, Aug 24-28Lethbridge

Alberta CentralKinsmen on the Pond Mar 6Hockey Tournament, Lac La Biche

History Road, Reynolds- Jun 12 & 13Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin

Ponoka Stampede Jun 28-Jul 4

Ukrainian Pysanka Jul 2-4Festival, Vegreville

Westerner Days Fair Jul 21–25and Exposition, Red Deer

Big Valley Jamboree, Jul 29-Aug 1Camrose

Haying in the 30’s, Mallaig Jul 31-Aug 1

Voyage Days, Metis Aug 28-29Crossing

Thunder in The Valley, Sep 3-5Drayton Valley

Canadian Professional Sep 10-12Chuckwagon Association Finals, Lloydminster

Canadian Pony Sept 10-12Chuckwagon Races, Vegreville

22nd Annual World’s Oct 2-3Pumpkin Fair, Smoky Lake

Alberta NorthAlberta Pond Hockey, Feb 11-14Peace River

Winterplay Festival, Feb 26-28Fort McMurray

Arctic Winter Games, Mar 6-13Grande Prairie

Reel Shorts Film Festival, Apr 19-25Grande Prairie

Slave Lake Songbird Fest, Jun 5-6Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park

Magnificent River Rats Jul 1-2Festival, Athabasca

Riverboat Daze, Slave Lake Jul 8-10

Peace Fest, Peace River Jul 9-10

Alberta Open Sand Jul 17Sculpture Championship, Slave Lake

interPLAY Festival, Aug 6-8Fort McMurray

Golden Walleye Classic, Sep 4-5High Prairie


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Edmonton AttractionsAlberta Aviation Museum albertaaviation museum.com

Alberta Legislature assembly.ab.ca/visitor

Alberta Railway Museum railwaymuseum.ab.ca

Art Gallery of Alberta artgalleryalberta.com

Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre leducnumber1.com

Devonian Gardens devonian.ualberta.ca

Edmonton Corn Maze edmontoncornmaze.ca

Elk Island National Park pc.gc.ca/elkisland

Fort Edmonton Park fortedmontonpark.ca

Muttart Conservatory muttartconservatory.ca

Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium jubileeauditorium.com/northern

Northlands northlands.com

Old Strathcona oldstrathcona.ca

Royal Alberta Museum royalalbertamuseum.ca

Rutherford House rutherfordhouse.ca

Telephone Historical Centre telephonehistorical centre.com

TELUS World of Science edmontonscience.com

Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village tprc.alberta.ca/uchv

Valley Zoo valleyzoo.ca

West Edmonton Mall westedmall.com

Attractions, Museums & Art Galleries edmonton.com

Capitalizing on Culture Edmonton is Canada’s

Festival City with more than 30 annual music, arts

and cultural festivals. Some of the biggest crowd

pleasers take place in the Downtown Arts District

and in Old Strathcona. Drawing world-class

performers, they include: the Edmonton Folk Music

Festival, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre

Festival, the Edmonton International Jazz Festival, the

Heritage Festival and the Edmonton International

Street Performers Festival. Sir Winston Churchill

Square anchors the Downtown Arts District, recently

redeveloped as a prime entertainment hub. It’s also

home to Tix On The Square, a one-stop shop for

Edmonton’s top entertainment tickets. Framing the

square are cultural centrepieces such as the Francis

Winspear Centre for Music, the Citadel Theatre and

the newly expanded Art Gallery of Alberta. Art lovers

should make a beeline for 124 Street, a short

distance away from the downtown core. This funky

area is lined with galleries, cafes and bookshops –

precisely why the Gallery Walk was formed which

promotes both art and artists of merit, with a special

focus on Canadian artists and their work. Sports buffs

should check the National Hockey League’s

Edmonton Oilers and the Canadian Football League’s

Edmonton Eskimos for game schedules. And

adrenaline junkies should inquire about the Canadian

Finals Rodeo (largest indoor rodeo in western

Canada) and the Rexall Edmonton Indy. The dynamic

3.1 km (1.96 mi) race track at the city centre airport

makes this one of the most thrilling stops on the

Indy Car Series calendar.

Oh Naturale Visit a steaming jungle and a hot desert

under the Muttart Conservatory’s four glass pyramids

located in the heart of Edmonton’s spectacular river

valley. Walk through 190 acres of gardens and

natural areas at the University of Alberta’s Devonian

Botanic Garden near Devon. Take advantage of the

largest urban park system in North America, 22

times that of Central Park in New York City. There are

more than 20 major parks in the river valley offering

off-leash sites, playgrounds, picnic sites, outdoor

skating as well as 150 km (93 mi) of walking and

biking trails. At the TELUS World of Science, gaze

upward at the stars in the largest planetarium dome

in Canada. You’ll also find an Imax Theatre in this

complex as well as five interactive mind-boggling

galleries, loaded with creative programs.

Alberta’s capital lies in the geographic heart of the province. Pulsing with cultural events, Edmonton is known for its historic neighbourhoods, superb museums and lengthy roster of festivals. however, the No. 1 crowd-pleaser continues to be West Edmonton Mall. And shopping here won’t cost you a king’s ransom – Alberta is the only province without a provincial sales tax.


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All-Star CapitalEdmonton and sports go together like hot dogs and baseball. Every hockey fan should pay a trip to Rexall Place – home ice for the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers and the very arena where Wayne Gretzky led the Oilers to a string of Stanley Cup victories. Armchair quarterbacks should try to nab tickets to the 2010 Grey Cup or an Edmonton Eskimos game at Commonwealth Stadium, where grass, not artificial turf, rules the day. The Eskimos were playoff contenders for 34 consecutive years – from 1972 to 2005 – a record for a North American professional team.

Dig a little deeper and you’ll see how sports is woven into the very fabric of Edmonton:

• Two former premiers of Alberta were members of the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos: Peter Lougheed and Don Getty. Former Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith also played for the Eskimos.

• The first outdoor hockey game in National Hockey League history – the Heritage Classic – was played in Edmonton on Nov. 22, 2003, where the Edmonton Oilers took to the ice against the Montreal Canadiens as part of the celebrations of the Oilers’ 25th NHL season.

• Figure skating stars Jamie Salé and David Pelletier, Kurt Browning and Kristi Yamaguchi all have ties to the city’s Royal Glenora Club, noted for its outstanding coaching and drive for athletic excellence.

Home to Thousands If you want to see a concert,

a horse race, Capital EX, Canada’s national rodeo

championships or an NHL Edmonton Oilers game,

they’re all at Northlands. The massive grounds house

the AgriCom, The Spectrum and Rexall Place, making

this Edmonton’s premier entertainment centre which

hosts more than 2,500 annual events, attracting

more than four million visitors every year.

Step Back in Time Old Strathcona Historic Area is

ranked as one of the top 10 shopping districts in

Canada. This area is home to eight theatre companies,

antique stores, a repertory cinema (the Princess),

boutique hotels and loads of eclectic restaurants. Fort

Edmonton Park is one of the largest living history

parks in Canada where you can glide back in time by

strolling through the streets of 1885, 1905 and 1920.

Want to rest your weary feet? Take a ride on a

horse-drawn wagon, a stage coach or an old

fashioned street car. Pick up the pace with a ride on

the steam train that was renovated to accommodate

the filming of The Assassination of Jesse James by the

Coward Robert Ford. What about rest for your weary

head? You can stay overnight at the Selkirk Hotel (first

built in the 1920s) – featuring 30 new private guest

rooms and a 65-seat dining room.

A Capital Tour Begin with a stroll through the

Alberta Legislature. Built from 1907 to 1912, the

province’s foremost historic structure is set amidst

beautiful gardens and water displays. The

interpretive centre and gift shop is a favourite stop

before or after a free guided tour. Once the site of

the original Fort Edmonton, the spectacularly

landscaped gardens of this impressive Beaux Arts

building are the perfect spot for a picnic. Its

fountains are a very popular place for getting your

feet wet on warm days. Next should be a walk

around what was formerly the residence of the first

six Lieutenant Governors. Known as the Alberta

Government House, you can drop in on weekends to

view its collection of Canadian art. Visit the Royal

Alberta Museum next door and take a peek beneath

the surface of the prairies, inside our Aboriginal

Many of Edmonton’s festivals are meant for those on a shoestring

budget. downtown Edmonton pulses with free performances by

internationally known street acts – from magicians to comics –

for 10 days during the International Street Performers Festival.

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R “When I performed at Capitol Ex in 2008, there was such energy in the crowd, I had forgotten what love there is in my hometown. Edmonton’s an easy place to be an artist – any kind of artist. With the number of festivals, concerts and performances always going on under our big, blue skies, it’s amazing we’re not all artists!”


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dId yOu kNOW that Edmonton’s first industry was actually fur, followed by coal? Take a walking tour of the capital and learn that much of the original coal seam remains unmined, right below the downtown streets.

history or deep below the snow pack at the Wild

Alberta Gallery. Always a hit with the small-fry is a

visit to the Valley Zoo, home to more than 100 exotic

and native species.

It’s all in the Game Streak your face with blue paint

and start the wave at an Edmonton Oilers hockey

game. Or, rip it up over the thumping beat of a

lacrosse game with Edmonton’s Rush or at a football

game starring the Edmonton Eskimos. Prefer the

roar, grit and flames of open wheel racing? The

Rexall Edmonton Indy revs into high speed every

summer in the capital. Oh, and did we mention

Edmonton’s new Capitals baseball team and the Oil

Kings junior hockey teams, and the fact the

Edmonton region boasts more than 70 golf courses?

Just a Short Drive Away Elk Island National Park is

one of the finest spots to view wildlife in Alberta

and it’s just a 30-minute drive east of the capital.

You’re bound to spot a few of the 1,700 elk, 600

plains bison and 375 wood bison, as well as deer,

moose and beaver that call this place home. Take up

a 9-hole round of golf in the park and then wind

down with an overnight in an authentic tipi at Elk

Island Retreat. In the early 1900s, this region was

home to the largest Ukrainian settlement in Canada.

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village provides

costumed interpreters who play historic characters

and recreate day-to-day activities which you can join

– from churning butter to painting eggs. The 30

historic buildings on site are originals, moved here

and restored to preserve their heritage. Venture

south of the city to the Canadian Petroleum

Discovery Centre where oil production began in 1947

at the Leduc #1 Historic Site. Numerous exhibits

salute Alberta’s oil industry with information on its

history, technology and progress.

A-maze-ing Fun Sure, it’s corny but we’re not talking

about a few lonely cobs here. The Great Prairie Corn

Maze, just east of Bon Accord, transforms acres of

corn into an elaborate maze that can keep families

lost for hours. As can the five-km creation of twists

and turns that resembled a curler (at the Roar of the

Rings event) in 2009, found at the Edmonton Corn

Maze. Another immensely popular corn maze is the

Amazing Field Maze, just south of Leduc. Spanning

more than 10 acres, various messages get cut into

the corn each year. While you’re on the fringes of the

capital take an amble through St. Albert, home of a

top-notch International Children’s Festival and the

site of western Canada’s largest farmers’ market.

Jetting AboutTake a jet boat tour through the heart of Edmonton or blast up the Peace River to a guest ranch.

Men-Only SpasRelax in the “Executive Lounge” at The Board Room in Edmonton, Alberta’s first men- only spa.

Sky highMost people don’t even know there are streetcar bridges in Edmonton – let alone one that travels over the world’s highest streetcar bridge! The High Level Streetcar operates spring through fall giving visitors a trip over the High Level Bridge – built in 1912.

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From Mennonites to single operators, you’ll find

more than 200 vendors selling fresh, local produce –

every Saturday from July to September.

Change Gears The best way to experience the

dozens of urban parks and recreation areas that

meander through Edmonton is – slowly. Rather than

race through these green belts in your vehicle, rent

a bike or a Segway, or even a canoe for a leisurely

paddle down the North Saskatchewan River.

Options for canoeists include guided or unguided

trips through the centre of the city. Edmonton

Canoe offers a series of canoe programs and

rentals. Cyclists should check out Velocity Cycle and

Instant Mountain Bike Rentals. For maps and bike

events, the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society

is a terrific resource.

Green Thumbs Up The Devonian Botanic Garden,

developed by the University of Alberta, lies just

southwest of the city. Discover Canada’s most northerly

botanic garden, 80 acres of display gardens and 100

acres of natural areas. Indoor show houses, tours, plant

sales, and special events are yours to discover. When

there, be sure to visit the Kurimoto Japanese Garden

and the Sensory and Healing Garden.

Less than a Tank Away In the northwest wedge of

Edmonton is one of Alberta’s oldest settlements, the

city of St. Albert, seeped in French heritage. Historic

attractions here include the Father Lacombe Chapel,

built in 1861 by the pioneering priest and his Métis

helpers. It’s also the burial site for Lacombe, who

was a central figure in the area’s early days. Besides

the historic buildings perched above the Sturgeon

River is St. Albert Place, a contoured brick building

designed by Douglas Cardinal. Inside is the Musée

Héritage Museum. Other highlights in St. Albert

include its massive Saturday-only summer market,

the trail system at Red Willow Park and the

Woodlands Water Play and Skateboard Park plus its

many historic murals.

Old is New Again The Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA),

designed by Randall Stout Architects, is set to rise

from the rubble as a new structure wrapped in curvy

steel ribbons. Slated to open Jan. 31, 2010, the gallery

space has nearly doubled and will showcase three

floors of exhibitions. Opening shows include major

works by Edgar Degas, Yousuf Karsh, Janet Cardiff and

Georges Bures Miller.

dId yOu kNOW that Edmonton has hosted the Commonwealth Games, the World Figure Skating Championships and the World Championships in Athletics? Just recently hockey Canada announced that in 2012, the World Junior Championship will be held in Edmonton and Calgary. The facilities the public gets to use after these events are remarkable.

Go FishEven city slickers fish, as there are operators and prime fishing holes within the urban edges of the provincial capital.

Backcountry BlissDip deep along a perfectly designed three day backcountry canoe circuit near Lac La Biche.

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Morning

What a cool way to see a city wake

up – by jet boat. Next to their little

coolers, fishermen cast their lines into

the North Saskatchewan River.

Cyclists pedal to work. Families of

ducks and geese snooze in the reeds.

Even kayakers and canoeists seem

to use the river as an early

morning playground.

Rented a cool, new Segway and am

now cruising through downtown and

parts of the North Saskatchewan

River Valley; biggest urban park in

North America. The path system

meanders from parks to golf courses,

across historic bridges, past ponds

and through forests.

Afternoon

Too nice to dine inside so I found a

great outdoor bistro in Old Strathcona.

I think this is one of the coolest

neighbourhoods in all of Canada.

Poets are gathering next door…

what’s “blink” poetry?

I’ve been seduced. I was trying to

decide which show to attend at the

Fringe Festival when someone on

stilts started rapping about jolly cows

and lonely canola fields. Now I’m in a

parade heading toward an outdoor

stage and he’s way off in front, like a

mad Pied Piper.

Someone swooped out of a tree and

started doing the bunny hop. No one

is seated any longer. We’re all hanging

on to the waist in front of us, jumping

forward. Then backward. Then, a-1-2-3.

I’m laughing with absolute strangers.

Hundreds of them.

Evening

Was able to nab some tickets for an

outdoor concert tonight at Hawrelak

Park so I’m wolfing down an early

dinner, overlooking the river valley

where I cycled this morning. The

Cornish game hen with a juniper

berrysauce is crispy, almost like Peking

Duck. It’s sitting on a nest of white

asparagus, crunchy beets and roasted

pine nuts. Sublime.

I know the Saturday afternoon blues

jams at the Commercial Hotel are an

institution but the nights give you lots

to groove to, as well. Blues on Whyte

is exactly what you’d expect from an

über-swinging, Chicago-style blues

bar. Hot. Thick air. Sultry music. Big

Dreamer brought down the house.

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Cultural and heritage Loop

Distance: 300 km (180 mi)Travelling time: Two to three days by car Begin: EdmontonEnd: Edmonton

EdMONTON ANd AREA ROAd TRIP

Where can you experience the world’s largest indoor triple-loop rollercoaster, eat a platter of perogies dished up by a ukrainian Baba, see bison up close and take in more festivals than you ever thought possible? Edmonton. use the capital as a base and fan out on short jaunts.

1 From Edmonton head east on Hwy 16 to Elk Island National Park. Get there

early as prime time for wildlife viewing is in the morning when the 1,700

elk, 600 plains bison and 375 wood bison are up and about. Whether you

drive, bike or hike through Canada’s smallest national park, there are plenty

of interpretive plaques and points of interest that explain the park’s

historical importance.

2 Follow the signs to nearby Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. Costumed

interpreters lead you through more than 30 restored historic buildings and

then let you loose to experience numerous hands-on activities and games.

3 Make your way back to Edmonton and in keeping with our historic theme,

visit Fort Edmonton Park. At one of Canada’s largest living history parks,

discover how our pioneers and fur traders lived, take a ride on a steam

train or relax on a ferris wheel, 1920s style.

4 Take a free tour of Alberta’s magnificent Legislature Building and marvel at

its Beaux Arts details and its elegant outdoor gardens and fountains. Next

on your urban tour, visit the Royal Alberta Museum where you’ll gain a

sense of the scope of Alberta’s natural and human history. In the evening,

poke around Old Strathcona, beloved for its bohemian ambiance and terrific

shopping. Dine at one of the area’s eclectic restaurants and then finish up

your night with a guided ghost tour.

5 Drive south on Hwy 2 to Leduc where oil was discovered on Feb. 13, 1947.

This very find transformed Edmonton into the Oil Capital of Canada – neatly

explained at the Leduc #1 Historic Site and the Canadian Petroleum

Discovery Centre and Hall of Fame. Here, you’ll also find a replica oil rig,

drilling equipment, photos and hands-on displays. Head back to Edmonton

on Hwy 60 and stop at the Devonian Botanic Gardens. Blissfully serene, a

walk through its Japanese Garden and around its extensive collection of

native and alpine plants is always a lovely escape.

6 Spend a day at West Edmonton Mall. Here, you can splash around the

world’s largest indoor waterpark, flip around Galaxyland (home of the

mindbender, the world’s largest indoor triple loop rollercoaster), or enjoy

the one-stop shopping experience at the 800 plus stores and services and

re-energize at one of the 100 dining establishments.


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Calgary AttractionsBar U Ranch pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ab/baru

Butterfield Acres butterfieldacres.com

Calaway Park calawaypark.com

Calgary Attractions calgaryattractions.com

Calgary Farmers’ Market calgaryfarmersmarket.ca

Calgary Stampede calgarystampede.com

Calgary Tower calgarytower.com

Calgary Zoo calgaryzoo.org

Canada Olympic Park canadaolympicpark.ca

Downtown Calgary downtowncalgary.com

Eau Claire Market eauclairemarket.com

Fish Creek Park tpr.alberta.ca/parks/fishcreek

Fort Calgary Historic Park fortcalgary.com

Glenbow Museum glenbow.org

Heritage Park Historical Village heritagepark.ca

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary calgary.ca/parks/naturecentre

Kananaskis – Calgary’s Mountain Playground tpr.alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/flashindex.asp

Lougheed House lougheedhouse.com

Spruce Meadows sprucemeadows.com

The Military Museums themilitarymuseums.ca

TELUS World of Science calgaryscience.ca

Savour the City Get your bearings with a panoramic

sweep of the city from the observation deck of

Calgary’s premier landmark, the Calgary Tower,

where you can dare to teeter across its glass floor at

160 m (525 ft). Time it right and you could dine at

its newly renovated, ever-revolving, restaurant in the

air – Sky 360. Then zip down for an amble along

Stephen Avenue Walk, a lovely historic strip of

handsome sandstone buildings and high-end

restaurants, galleries and shops. Enjoy the dynamic

arts and music scene at a variety of stages including

the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts and the

Grand Theatre. Taste the city’s cosmopolitan cuisine

downtown or at any number of multicultural

restaurants in eclectic neighbourhoods. Or, for an

in-depth dining experience take a two-hour guided

Urban Safari Tour that blends unique restaurants,

famed for regional cuisine, with a little architectural

soupçon and local insight into the regional food

scene as well as the history of the city.

Child Friendly Calgary Look for the bright yellow

sun and green streak of grass if you want the official

seal of approval by “kid critics,” employed by an

organization that rates attractions, hotels and events

in Calgary according to children’s needs. Top marks

go to the Calgary Zoo, renowned for its spectacular

Destination Africa pavilion and the Canada Wilds

area as well as its sleepovers, tours, free feedings,

demos and underwater viewing hippo pool. Other

big hits with families of all ages are Canada Olympic

Park (hop on the fastest zipline in North America or

try out its new Zorbing attraction where you roll

down a hill in a giant plastic bubble); Calaway Park

(western Canada’s largest outdoor amusement park);

the Aerospace Museum; the TELUS World of Science;

Calgary Spaceport; Shakers Fun Centre and

Butterfield Acres (a hands-on working farm).

Can you Hear the Drums? From the floor of a tipi,

listen to an elder whisper tales of ancient ways. You

can almost hear the rumble of buffalo hooves

barrelling across the dusty prairies as you discover

thousands of years of history of First Nations people

at Nitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life, a permanent

exhibit at Calgary’s Glenbow Museum. And be sure

to tour the Glenbow’s innovative gallery, Mavericks:

An Incorrigible History of Alberta where the story of

our colourful province is told through the eyes of 48

mavericks. Ever wanted to wear a Northwest

Mounted Police uniform or spend time in a

turn-of-the-century jail? Step right up to Fort Calgary

Calgary pulses with a youthful, entrepreneurial energy yet it still respects its humble roots – most evident in the 10 day July whoop-up known as the Calgary Stampede. The city is known as the gateway to the Canadian Rockies, less than an hour’s drive away. Amble down one of the longest urban pathways in North America and rub elbows with folks who are cycling, jogging and roller-blading. you’ll even see people fishing for trout in the Bow River – on their lunch hour! Pub

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did you know?In addition to being one of Canada’s largest cities, Calgary is also one of the youngest and fastest-growing. Other nuggets you need to know:

• Americans make up 10 per cent of Calgary’s one million plus population.

• Calgary’s elegant Stephen Avenue Walk became a National Historic District in 2002.

• The city has a healthy culinary scene, boasting of more than 3,700 restaurants.

• Although Native Blackfoot moved through the area of Calgary approximately 2,000 years ago, nobody stayed put until about 300 years ago when the Sarcee and Stoney natives moved down from the North and began warring on this turf.

• White settlers first arrived in Calgary in the late 1700s. In 1875, Fort Calgary was built at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers.

• The name “Calgary” comes from Calgary Bay, a remote village on the Isle of Mull in Scotland and is said to translate from Gaelic to “garden in the cove.”

• Calgary is committed to green spaces. We have 29 major parks, 40 regional parks and a total of 7,500 hectares of open spaces, including all parks.

• Calgary has the longest continuous bike path in Canada with 635 km (394 mi) of paved paths.

for a chance to relive the Wild West. Another

must-see is the $65 million expansion of Heritage

Park Historical Village, replete with a spiffy new car

museum, steam train rides, an antique midway, an

old-fashioned bakery, candy store and school house

– all staffed by highly trained interpreters. Then

march through another chapter of our history at the

also newly expanded, Military Museums – full of

vintage tanks, carriers and WWI paraphernalia.

Spine Tingling Fun Want to dazzle your guests or

family with an unusual history lesson that might

actually make their blood run cold… well, maybe

just tepid? Consider a night of ghostly entertainment

that dips into the mischief, mayhem and murders

of Calgary. All four ghost tours focus on historic

neighbourhoods – Downtown Calgary, Inglewood,

Kensington and 17 Avenue SW – and are led by a

guide in a black cape with a proverbial lantern.

Which is the Biggest Rock of all? Just south of

Calgary in the town of Okotoks is the largest glacial

“erratic” in the world, weighing in at 18,000 tons. A

Calgary brewery, Big Rock, and Okotoks itself were

named for this giant rock dragged from the Jasper

area and deposited 10,000 years ago by glacial ice.

The Adventures of “K Country” Take a short drive

west of Calgary, through the foothills of the Rockies,

to Kananaskis Country. Discover horseback riding,

hiking, canoeing, rafting, fishing, bird watching,

overnight pack trips, guest lodges, heli tours and a

world-class hotel. An Olympic downhill ski hill, miles

of cross country ski trails and a 36-hole golf course

are all less than an hour west of Calgary.

Jump to It! Spruce Meadows is one of the world’s

top equestrian facilities that hosts 15 major horse

jumping competitions annually and offers more than

$6 million in prize money.

More of our Western Ways You could be having a

Mojito at a sun-kissed rooftop restaurant in Calgary

over lunch and be ridin’ a snortin’, buckin’ bronco 30

minutes later. Your western fantasy lies just 15

minutes north of Calgary, near Balzac, where an

arena is open year-round to put wannabe bronco dId yOu kNOW the Caesar cocktail was first created in Calgary in 1969 by bartender Walter Chell? Today, the Caesar is Canada’s No.1 selling cocktail – more than 250 million Caesars are downed every year. you must try one when you’re here.

Take Calgary’s CTrain (a light rail transit system) downtown and you

won’t pay a cent. The route along 7 Avenue is a free-fare zone.

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OO “When I’m away from Calgary I miss the space and freedom we have here. And the clear water of the Bow River plus the easy access to mountains where I love to hike and backcountry ski. One of my favourite things to do in Calgary is snorkel down the Bow, looking for fish.”


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dId yOu kNOW that you can rove around Stampede Park any old time, not just during July’s 10 day shindig? Explore the grounds and you’ll discover who the “Big Four” were. These heroes are constantly mentioned in Calgary for they were the four businessmen who bankrolled Guy Weadick for $100,000 so he could kickstart the Stampede, back in 1912. The Big Four were: George Lane, A.E. Cross, A.J. MacLean and Patrick Burns.

riders through their paces. First, is Bull Riding 101 –

a classroom-based, behind-the-chutes look at the

sport of bull riding. This is where you get to test your

skills on the back of a mechanical bull. Get Bucked is

the second course, aimed at graduates who have

demonstrated enough chutzpah to ride a live bull in

a relatively safe, controlled environment. Fantasy

Adventure Bull Riding is the world’s first bull riding

school that provides a gritty, personal experience

into our wild and woolly past.

Other Nearby Nuggets No time to drive the entire

Cowboy Trail? Settle for a sample by popping into

Bragg Creek, a funky “western” town, just 50 km

(30 mi) southwest of Calgary. This quaint hamlet is

full of restaurants, boutiques, antique shops and craft

galleries. Nearby is Diamond Valley, “The Heart of

the Cowboy Trail,” which includes Turner Valley (tour

the Turner Valley Gas Plant Historic Site), Black

Diamond, Millarville (great farmers’ market on

Saturdays in the summer) and Longview (pop into

Ian Tyson’s Navajo Mug for a coffee and some

country tunes or pick up a chewy wedge of beef

jerky made right on the premises of the Longview

Jerky Shop). Can’t get enough of our western ways

and stunning high ranch country? Just south of

Longview is the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site,

a fantastic swath of land that tells the tale of how

massive and powerful “corporate” ranches were,

in their day. Once stocked with 3,000 head of cattle

driven north from Montana, it was also renowned

throughout North America as a leading breeder

of Percherons – some of these draft horses run

free today on the ranch’s tumble of foothills.

Another area that celebrates Calgary’s western

roots is the nearby town of Cochrane. Be sure to

scoop up a cone from Mackay’s Ice Cream parlour

while you’re there.

All-Star Workouts You might just find yourself

working out next to an Olympic athlete at one of

North America’s biggest athletic centres, Calgary’s

Talisman Centre or Canada Olympic Park (COP) –

future home of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. At COP,

you’ll discover the legacy left by the XV Winter

Olympics with its luge, skeleton and ski jumping

facilities where Olympians from around the planet

still train. You’ll spot even more elite athletes in the

near future as WinSport Canada’s $276 million

expansion rolls out, making this Centre of Sport

Excellence the new home of Hockey Canada. Other

popular athletic facilities include the speed skating

CALGARy & AREA

The Bar u Ranch Visit this national historic site in Longview and discover our rich ranching history. Use a branding iron. Chow down on buffalo burgers.

ultimate Amusement Calgary’s Calaway Park is western Canada’s largest outdoor amusement park, home to 33 rides including the Samba Spin as well as the Dream Machine and Falling Ace. Mini-golf, live shows, a midway and an RV park/campground are part of the complex.

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“Oval” at the University of Calgary and numerous

municipal pools and recreation complexes – many of

which, like the Calgary Rotary Challenger Park, are

multi-use, barrier-free facilities. If you’re more of a

spectator, check out the roster of games and

concerts held at the Pengrowth Saddledome – home

of the NHL Calgary Flames. Or, McMahon Stadium,

where the Canadian Football League’s Calgary

Stampeders play.

Hollywood North Location, location, location – that’s

precisely what movie makers seek when they’re

preparing to shoot. If you experience déjà vu, say in

a place such as Ranchman’s Cookhouse (Calgary’s top

honky tonk dance hall), there’s a very good reason.

That’s precisely where the saloon scene in Brokeback

Mountain took place. Or, if Heritage Park looks

familiar it might be because Brad Pitt shot a scene

there featured in The Assassination of Jesse James

by the Coward Robert Ford. Even little coffee joints

such as the Dairy Lane Milk Bar in the

neighbourhood of West Hillhurst have made it big –

in this case in the recently shot, made-for-TV movie,

Blue Smoke, based on a Nora Roberts novel.

Calgary Stampede The 10-day summer shindig,

known as the “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,”

is more than just a midway or a rodeo. The corporate

city of more than a million shuts down, while parties

rev up. Streets are lined with hay bales. Pinstripes

get traded in for Wranglers and shiny belt buckles.

Free pancake breakfasts happen daily. Platters of

“prairie oysters,” get slurped back as people

celebrate our woolly past – when life was full of

buckin’ broncos, bulls, steers and corner saloons. But

the Stampede is also about the “New West” where

oil barons and entrepreneurs flourish, just like those

Stetson-wearing cowboys once did. This is exactly

the time where you can pony up to a bar with

rootin’ tootin’ cowboys or two-step till sun-up. While

the entire city gets gripped by Stampede fever the

epicentre is Stampede Park, where more than

100,000 people converge each day. Here you’ll find

cowboys from all over the planet showing off their

skills at the world’s richest outdoor rodeo. Plus a

staggeringly large midway, agricultural shows,

big-act concerts and a nightly grandstand show

complete with fireworks.

dId yOu kNOW that Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada, averaging 332.93 days of sunshine each year? And the downtown core is crisscrossed with elevated, enclosed sidewalks? They call them Plus 15s as they’re 4.5 m (15 ft) above street level. There are about 15 km (9.3 mi) of them, linking malls to hotels, museums, restaurants and office buildings.

Winds and WakesWhether it’s summer or winter, winds always howl across Ghost Lake, luring kitesurfers to this spot, just west of Calgary.

hay daysExperience a dry float in a heated hay bath inspired by Alberta’s cowboy country, and then expand your awareness with pulsating light at Calgary’s Sublime Spa.

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45Official Alberta Vacation GuideOfficial Alberta Vacation Guide

CALGARy IN A dAy

Morning

The whoosh of hot air blasting into

an enormous balloon is surprisingly

loud, but that only lasts a couple of

moments and then all is silent as we

drift over our hotel. The sun begins to

sneak over the prairies, to the east,

staining those tidy fields of wheat

with streaks of purple, crimson, and

then finally gold. Over the lip of the

basket I can see the rocks in the clear

ribbon of water known as the Bow

that winds through Calgary. What’s

that? A deer in the city? Dozens roam

freely in Nose Hill Park. I look west

and all I see is a wall of snow-kissed

peaks, the Canadian Rockies.

Even though it was more than 20

years ago that Calgary hosted the

Winter Olympics, the spirit’s still very

much alive at Canada Olympic Park

(COP). I stood exactly where Eddie

the Eagle did on top of the 40 m

(120 ft) ski jump, closed my eyes and

yes, I jumped ... on North America’s

fastest zipline.

Afternoon

Raced over to the Calgary Farmers’

Market and wolfed down the juiciest

Greek Souvlaki I’ve ever had. Bought a

bag of cowboy popcorn for the road.

I was so close that I just popped over

to Heritage Park where the S.S. Moyie

was about to leave the dock.

Scrambled on to this sternwheeler

and got a great history lesson while

we cruised around the Glenmore

Reservoir and then I checked out the

new Gasoline Alley.

I knew if I got to the Glenbow

Museum I’d never want to leave so I

saved it for last. The Aboriginal

section is superb. Tipis were such an

ingenious design. And those sod huts

pioneers lived in – with their

chandeliers and pianos they brought

over from their homeland – must

have been so chilly in the winter.

Evening

The days are long here in the summer

so we were able to enjoy a patio table

at the River Café until very late. Of

course I had to order Alberta beef but

the view of Prince’s Island Park and

the lagoon and the downtown skyline

were just as tasty.

Some friendly local at dinner said we

had to learn to two-step at the

Ranchman’s, so we put on our

western duds and went to this

cookhouse and dancehall. We missed

the free dance lessons but how often

do you to get to ride a bull? Sure it

was mechanical, but what a hoot.

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Visitor Information CentreUNESCO World Heritage SiteAirport


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The Cowboy TrailDistance: 735 km (457 mi)Travelling time: Three to five days by carBegin: MayerthorpeEnd: Cardston

CALGARy ANd AREA ROAd TRIP

Explore Alberta’s historic Cowboy Trail and discover how the West was really won through its art, history, food, hospitality and culture. The trail begins in Mayerthorpe (northwest of Edmonton) and ends in Pincher Creek – a nudge above Montana. While it’s possible to drive the entire distance, most people carve it into little two and three day loops, using Calgary as a logical fly-in gateway.

1 Head south on Hwy 22 from Mayerthorpe and be sure to stop in at Rocky

Mountain House, home to a newly expanded national historic site that

re-enacts the story of Canada’s fur trade and rugged voyageur life. Paddle

back in time in a voyageur canoe that will guide you down the North

Saskatchewan River, ending at this very site.

2 Head south and use Sundre as a base for wilderness trips or horseback

ventures into the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve.

3 Small-town charmers include Bragg Creek (loaded with artisan and antique

shops plus hiking and mountain biking loops), Millarville (home to a massive

farmers’ market held on Saturdays throughout the summer), Turner Valley (it

was here that Canada’s first major crude oil discovery was made), Black

Diamond and Longview. Just south of Longview lies the Bar U Ranch – full of

original buildings, ongoing archaeological digs and intriguing exhibits.

4 At the junction of Hwy 22 and Hwy 3 you’ll find Pincher Creek where you

can poke around Kootenai Brown’s Pioneer Village and then jog north to

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Here you’ll

find the world’s largest, oldest and best preserved buffalo jump – plus a

fascinating museum.

5 To complete the official Cowboy Trail, travel south and then veer east on

Hwy 5 to Cardston where the Remington Carriage Museum houses one of

North America’s largest collections of carriages, buggies and wagons. It’s a

spectacular example of another era … the Wild, Wild West.

CALGARy & AREA


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Canadian Rockies destinationsBanff banfflakelouise.com

Banff Centre banffcentre.ca

Banff National Park pc.gc.ca/Banff

Canmore tourismcanmore.com

Grande Cache grandecache.ca

Hinton town.hinton.ab.ca

Icefields Parkway icefieldsparkway.ca

Jasper jaspercanadianrockies.com

Jasper National Park pc.gc.ca/jasper

Kananaskis Country kananaskisalberta.ca

Lake Louise banfflakelouise.com

Willmore Wilderness Park willmorewilderness park.com

Kananaskis Country – Cradles Nine Parks Less than

an hour’s drive west of Calgary lies “K Country.” While

most of that swath is wilderness, tiny Kananaskis

Village has everything you need: a couple of fine

hotels, superb golf courses, a ski resort, bike loops,

hiking trails, horseback riding and campgrounds, plus

plenty of wildlife without the crowds.

Canmore – has Three Sisters Framed by one of the

world’s most spectacular mountain ranges, Canmore

lies an hour west of Calgary – another gem in our

crown of Rocky Mountain splendour. Sandwiched

between Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country,

Canmore has plenty of condos and homes to rent,

making it an ideal base for a family vacation. Loads of

restaurants, art galleries, hikes, mountain bike trails,

golf courses, theatre, the Canmore Nordic Centre and

festivals galore translate to something for everyone.

Banff – is that a Castle in the Peaks? Located 130

km (81 mi) west of Calgary, Banff National Park is a

UNESCO site that offers hundreds of hiking trails,

pristine glacial-fed lakes, wildlife, horseback riding, ski

resorts and a magnificent Stanley Thompson-designed

golf course – all in a protected national park setting.

The entire park occupies nearly 6,641 km2 (2,564 sq

mi) of land in which lie the charming town of Banff

and hamlet of Lake Louise. Look for award-winning

restaurants, theatres, museums, spas, a summer arts

festival, camping and world-class accommodation

such as two magnificent, historic Fairmont properties.

Art Matters At the base of Tunnel Mountain, flanking

the east side of the town of Banff, you’ll see a

cluster of buildings – like a kingdom unto its own.

Known as The Banff Centre, this “kingdom” began in

1933 as a two-week drama camp. Since then it’s

grown into an internationally recognized arts

complex that houses a conference centre (where

visitors can stay overnight if attending a

performance), two theatres, the town’s most scenic

(and cheapest) swimming pool, a rock climbing wall,

art studios, galleries, artist-in-residence cottages, one

of Canada’s biggest summer arts festivals and a

unique mountain film and book festival, in

November. From innovative jazz and poetry readings

to Indie band performances, theatre, ballet, classical

music, artists’ talks and workshops – this place is one

of Banff’s artistic cornerstones.

Lake Louise – What Makes it that Colour? Find out

why Lake Louise, nestled at the foot of Victoria

Glacier, is known as the “Jewel of the Rockies,” and

you’re at the top of Tunnel Mountain, breathing in pine-scented air, and now know what Alberta-born folkie, Joni Mitchell, was on about when she sang I Can See Clearly Now. Clarity is all around – in the crisp air, in the charm of a pretty town called Banff, in the whitewater froth of the Bow River and in all this Rocky Mountain space. Good thing you brought your boots, your bike, your golf clubs ... Lake

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Must-see in Jasper National ParkAthabasca Falls. Medicine Lake. Columbia Icefield. Mount Edith Cavell. Jasper Tramway. Pocahontas. Lake Annette, Pyramid and Patricia Lakes. Lake Edith. Sunwapta Falls. Maligne Canyon. Maligne Lake. Punch Bowl Falls. A Jasper Motorcycle/Sidecar Tour.

Must-see in Grande Cache, hinton and AreaGrande Cache Tourism & Interpretive Centre. Hinton Nordic Ski Centre. Hinton Mtn. Bike Skills Park. Hoodoos. Miette Hot Springs. Natural Resources Interpretive Park. Sulphur Gates. William A. Switzer Provincial Park. Willmore Wilderness Park. The Canadian Death Race. Brule Sand Dunes.

Must-see in Banff National ParkBow Valley Parkway. Banff Gondola. Cascade Gardens. Banff Park Museum. Banff Summer Arts Festival. Cave and Basin National Historic Site. Johnston Canyon. Banff Upper Hot Springs. The Fairmont Banff Springs. Bankhead. Vermilion Lakes. Bow Falls. Whyte Museum. Lake Agnes Tea House. Moraine Lake and Valley of the Ten Peaks. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Lake Minnewanka.

Must-see in kananaskis CountryBow Valley Provincial Park. Kananaskis Village. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Sheep River Provincial Park. Spray Valley Provincial Park. Highwood Pass (highest road pass in Canada).

Must-see in CanmoreCanmore Nordic Centre. Cougar Canyon. Grassi Lakes. Riverside Trail Networks. Canmore Museum & Geo- Science Centre.

is one of the most photographed lakes in North

America (along with its neighbour, Moraine Lake).

Ride a gondola. Trek to an historic log teahouse such

as the one at Lake Agnes or the Plain of Six Glaciers.

Or, lace up your cross country ski (or hiking) boots

and venture off into the nearby wilds for a

quintessential 11 km (7 mi) trek into Skoki Lodge,

built in the ’30s. Ski at one of North America’s most

scenic resorts or simply write postcards while having

“high tea” at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Take the High Road The Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93)

stretches 230 km (143 mi) from Banff National Park

to Jasper, past a chain of massive glaciers and

waterfalls that tumble down the Continental Divide.

Stop in at Peyto, Hector or Bow lakes and marvel at

the peculiar colour of water, due to deposits of glacial

silt. Another must-see is the Columbia Icefield, 325

km2 (125 sq mi) of ancient glacial ice, some of which

you can see from the highway. Better yet, hike to the

base of the Athabasca Glacier or take a tour on a

specially designed coach, the “Ice Explorer.”

Jasper – the Biggest of the “Jewels” Jasper National

Park is Canada’s largest mountain park, spanning

10,878 km2 (4,200 sq mi). About a four-hour drive

west of Edmonton, Jasper is known for its canoeing,

kayaking, fishing, skiing, wildlife watching, cycling and

hiking. Marvel at seven mountain ranges from the top

of the Jasper Tramway, take a cruise to picturesque

Spirit Island, or mountain bike on the endless trails

surrounding the town. In the town of Jasper, you’ll find

world class accommodation, eclectic dining, laid-back

pubs and great museums.

Rocky Mountain Fringes Veer beyond Jasper and

you’ll discover lesser-known hubs for outdoor

enthusiasts such as the town of Hinton. Rugged

scenery, endless outdoor adventures plus interpretive

tours about coal mining, forestry and natural resources

surround this town on the Athabasca River. Visitors

keen to hike, fish, camp, water ski or bike won’t want

to miss William A. Switzer Provincial Park. High in the

foothills of the Rockies, the town of Grande Cache has

a panoramic view of 21 mountain peaks and two river

valleys. Built on a mountain plateau, Grande Cache

faces south toward the Continental Divide and the

pristine Willmore Wilderness Park and is another

excellent centre for outdoor adventures.

History Bubbles Up Two of Canada’s most historic

hot springs are in Banff and Jasper. Both offer

jaw-dropping views of peaks and valleys that appear

dId yOu kNOW that two of Canada’s most iconic hotels look like castles – with their turrets, sweeping staircases and stunning surroundings? The Fairmont Banff Springs and The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

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“Like so many of us transplants, I came to Jasper for a year and never left. My favourite tour is something we call the Sunburst Canoe Program. It starts at 6:30 AM when I pick up our guests, coffee and fresh croissants and head out to Pyramid Lake where we have a picnic on an island and watch the sun wash over the Colin Range.”


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dId yOu kNOW that Banff is a Mecca for artists? Guess that’s why there are so many art galleries! you’ll probably see more black and white photos shot by Byron harmon than any other photographer. he was an American who arrived in Banff in the early 1900s and made it his mission to shoot every major peak in the Rockies.

to tumble around them. The Upper Hot Springs in

Banff also offers spa facilities and the newly

renovated Miette Hot Springs in Jasper is more noted

for its nearby hikes and interpretive trails.

All-Star Views Sometimes it’s effortless to zoom in on

a dazzling view – just drive the Icefields Parkway. But

others take sweat. Here are a few breathtaking vistas

where you’re likely to burn through batteries, a

memory card and your quads! Peer over the ledge of

Ha Ling Peak in Canmore and spot Calgary’s bumpy

skyline – about 100 km (62 mi) away. Lake lovers will

adore all the tarns and little lips of pearly blue lakes

along the backcountry route from Lake Louise to Skoki

Lodge. For wildflowers, the slog up Jonas Pass in

Jasper National Park is worth every gasp. At the pass

you’ll see a 15 km (9.3 mi) long corridor filled with

delicate alpine flowers and the occasional caribou.

Also in Jasper is the multi-day hike along the Skyline

Trail that places you on a 5 km (3.1 mi) ridge walk

that’ll stagger you with range upon range of snow

kissed peaks. Near the entrance to Willmore

Wilderness Park, north of Jasper, look for the Sulphur

Gate Lookout which offers stunning views of the

sheer cliffs along the confluence of the Smoky and

Sulphur Rivers. Those who crave the jaw-dropping

views but can’t hike the distance can always take a

gondola ride in Banff, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise

and Jasper that’ll whisk you to the top of a peak in

minutes. Want something divinely decadent? Go

heli-hiking and stay in a backcountry lodge.

Horse Sense Twist around in your saddle and marvel

at the windswept ridges that tumble into each other

under a taut, blue Alberta sky. You’ve worked hard

for this view. Sun up, you were helping “cookie” fire

up a campstove. By 9 AM you’d packed your gear

and learned why you throw a stick in a cup o’ joe

when you’re brewing a pot over a snapping fire. And

now, you’re high on a mountain pass listening to

twigs snap in the woods, searching for signs of

grizzlies. Yes, you can go on guided multi-day

horsepacking trips with bear experts, biologists,

horse whisperers or just plain ol’ cowboys. Plenty of

operators, guest ranches and themed “educational”

horsepacking trips can be found in Canmore, Banff,

Lake Louise, Jasper and Grande Cache.

CANAd

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Wildlife Wonders The chances you’ll spot bighorn sheep, mule deer and elk in our Rocky Mountain parks are almost a given. However, sightings of moose, bear, cougars, wolves and caribou are far less likely – apart from seeing them displayed in a museum or in a heritage property. Look for the latter at the Banff Park Museum in Banff, the Wildlife Museum in Jasper, the new tourism and interpretive centre in Grande Cache, Num-Ti-Jah Lodge (along the Icefields Parkway) and the Fairmont properties in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.

A Feast with a ViewBest views from restaurants include the posh Three Ravens at The Banff Centre, the five-diamond Eden in the Rimrock Hotel in Banff, the lobby bar at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the lakefront deck at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

Wildlife FenceThat 2.4 m (7.8 ft) high fence that stretches along the Trans-Canada Hwy., between Banff and Lake Louise, was built to prevent wildlife from crossing the busy road. Research says that 11 species of large mammals have used the 24 underpasses and overpasses more than 94,000 times since 1996. That’s a lot of wildlife!

What’s that you hear? If it’s autumn and you’re on a golf course in the Rockies, it’s likely a bull elk bugling for a mate. You’ll find them clanking their racks and locking their egos during the fall rut. Wherever you are, do watch for animal crossings as many golf courses have widened their designs to accommodate wildlife.If you cycle along the Bow Valley Parkway, between Banff and Lake

Louise, there are at least 15 good reasons to stop – the precise number

of interpretive panels that connect visitors to the area!


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Ski destinationsCastle Mountain

Just two-and-a-half hours south of Calgary, near the

town of Pincher Creek, lies Castle Mountain. Castle

has long been a Mecca for hardcore skiers, powder

hounds and riders but with the opening of Mt. Haig,

there’s a whole lot more terrain for beginners and

intermediate skiers. skicastle.ca

Nakiska

Site of the 1988 Winter Olympic ski events, Nakiska

is the closest of the “big” mountain ski areas to

Calgary and is an Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) Training

and Race Centre. Known for its groomed fall line

skiing, Nakiska boasts six lifts, 28 runs, a 735 m

(2,412 ft) vertical rise, the longest magic carpet in

Alberta, and has accommodation just moments from

the daylodge. skinakiska.com

Ski Norquay

Located 10 minutes from the town of Banff, Ski

Norquay offers well-groomed trails, 28 runs, a

503 m (1,650 ft) vertical rise, a great ski school, a

night-lit terrain park, as well as a wide variety of

pricing options including hourly rates – a bonus for

families. banffnorquay.com

Sunshine Village

Home of the longest ski season in Canada, Sunshine

Village is known to have Canada’s best all-natural

snow. Located 20 minutes from the town of Banff,

Sunshine Village encompasses three mountains,

seven quad chairs, the world’s fastest eight-

passenger gondola lift, 107 runs and a vertical rise

of 1,070 m (3,514 ft). There’s also a newly renovated

lodge on the hill, with a wing of new suites that just

opened. skibanff.com

The Lake Louise Ski Area

Canada’s single largest ski area offers 18 km2

(11 sq mi) of terrain on four distinct mountain faces,

serviced by 11 lifts (including five quad chairs and

one six-passenger gondola). Lake Louise has 139

runs and a vertical rise of 1,010 m (3,365 ft).

Continually rated as “North America’s most scenic

resort,” this internationally renowned ski destination

is an early season mainstay on the World Cup

Downhill circuit. skilouise.com

Make Green the Colour of your Next AdventureChoose an Alberta-based adventure company that applies sustainable business principles to their activities. Whether they offer kayaking, rafting, hiking, biking or horseback riding – ask if they use local suppliers for goods and services and if each activity is led by a well-informed interpreter/guide.

At the vanguard of responsible tourism is Banff National Park where you’ll find Canada’s first all-hybrid electric transit fleet, a.k.a. Roam. Impossible to miss, all four buses are painted with wildlife imagery of grizzlies, elk, goats and wolves. These new hybrids reduce emissions and encourage tourists to park their cars and jump aboard Roam, instead.

Ski GreenWind turbines may not be powering our ski lifts, yet, but an increasing number of Alberta’s ski resorts are turning a green leaf. Upgraded snow making systems at most resorts means less water and better energy efficiency. Low-flow toilets, automatic shut-off devices and organic food items have become standard fare. What most fans of the World Cup circuit, which typically opens its season at Lake Louise Mountain Resort don’t know is that every night segments of the race’s fencing are removed allowing wildlife to roam in the area. Regular monitoring confirms these openings are frequently used by deer, coyotes and elk. In 2006, Sunshine Village Ski Resort was awarded the Silver Eagle award for ‘Excellence in Water Conservation.’ In four years they reduced their water usage by 29 per cent and their water-related operating costs by 40 per cent.

Marmot Basin

Located in Jasper National Park, Marmot

Basin is one of the least crowded family

friendly ski areas in North America. Seven

lifts (including the longest, new high-

speed quad chair, the Canadian Rockies

Express, in Alberta’s Rockies) service 84

trails. skimarmot.com


BANFF ANd LAkE LOuISE IN A dAy

Morning

How often do you wake up in a

castle? I arrived late last night so I

had no idea how big and sumptuous

The Fairmont Banff Springs actually

is. Fossils embedded in their stone

staircases. Knights in armour tucked

in niches. A golf course so stunning I

wish I played.

The concierge told me I could run up

Sulphur Mountain and take the

gondola back down. Can I actually run

up 1,000 m (3,000 ft) to the summit?

It’s supposed to have panoramic views

of the Bow Valley and a cool little

boardwalk to the Sanson Peak

Meteorological Station. If Norm

Sanson hiked up here thousands of

times – even into his ’80s – to record

the weather, surely I can do it once.

Let’s just agree that Norm was

extraordinarily fit! Decided to go for a

dip in the historic Upper Hot Springs as

they’re just at the base of the gondola.

Perfect antidote for sore muscles.

Afternoon

Jumped on a Roam (one of Banff’s

hybrid-electric buses) and was at the

Cave and Basin National Historic Site

in moments. This is a great little

museum that tells how the discovery

of the hot springs turned into

Canada’s first national park. I love

mountaineering legends so I ambled

through the Whyte Museum of the

Canadian Rockies. Could have spent

all day there, but I wanted to see

Banff’s wildlife so I hurried over to

the Banff Park Museum. Who knew

that Banff once had a zoo? And that

grizzly bears could be blonde or

almost black?

Grabbed a burger in Banff and drove

to Lake Louise where I went on a tea

house tromp. First, I took all those

switchbacks up to the log charmer at

Lake Agnes and then took the high

traverse over to the original tea

house at the Plain of Six Glaciers.

No need to pack much – hearty

soups, loaves, muffins and dozens of

types of tea are available at both!

Evening

The sun was sliding over Victoria

Glacier when I got back down to Lake

Louise so I just nabbed a window seat

in the Lakeview Lounge and soaked it

all in. Decided I wanted more so I

drove to nearby Moraine Lake where I

sat outside listening to the lodgepole

pines creak and moan in the breeze.

What should I order – steelhead trout

with a mango salsa or Alberta beef?

My waiter tells me there are more

remarkable hikes that fan out from

this valley ... perhaps I should stay

another day?

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Visitor Information CentreUNESCO World Heritage Site


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The Icefields ParkwayDistance: 230 km (142 mi) (Parkway alone)Travelling time: About two to five days by carBegin: EdmontonEnd: Calgary

CANAdIAN ROCkIES ROAd TRIP

Ride the “backbone of the continent.” The Icefields Parkway, between Jasper and Lake Louise, boasts mountain peaks as high as 3,300 m (11,000 ft), more than 100 glaciers, subalpine meadows, ice-blue lakes and wildlife. Considered one of the world’s top 10 most scenic drives, the parkway can be driven year-round.

1 Head west from Edmonton on Hwy 16 to the Cadomin Caves, near Hinton.

These caves are the best known in Alberta. At Hinton take a stunning

side trip north to Grande Cache, home of the Canadian Death Race and

the gateway to the spectacular Willmore Wilderness Park: 4,600 km2

(1,840 sq mi) of mountain wilderness accessible only on foot or horseback.

2 While in Jasper, take Canada’s most scenic boat tour (according to Reader’s

Digest magazine, 2007) on Maligne Lake, golf, or have tea and a spa

treatment at the luxurious Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Then again, you

could hike the half-day Bald Hills loop, join a multi-day horse pack trip

along the Skyline Trail, explore the old mining town known as Pocahontas,

or simply relax in the newly restored Miette Hot Springs.

3 From Jasper, follow the spectacular Icefields Parkway south to Banff National

Park. Points of interest include Sunwapta Falls, Parker Ridge, Panther Falls

and Peyto Lake Lookout. Just remember – if you make only one stop, let it be

the Columbia Icefield Centre. Here, you can hop on a specially designed Ice

Explorer for a tour up the icy tongue of the Athabasca Glacier, zigzagged by

crevasses, lateral moraines and ice that formed 400 years ago.

4 In the tiny village of Lake Louise, you will find two of the most photographed

lakes in the world – Lake Louise and its neighbour, Moraine Lake. Trek to

backcountry tea houses, rent a canoe for a leisurely paddle across these lakes

or hire a guide for a technical climb – the roster is rich for outdoor enthusiasts

and, actually, anyone who enjoys gazing at grandeur.

5 From Lake Louise, take the scenic Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A) to Banff,

stopping at Baker Creek and Johnston Canyon (great spots for a picnic, hike

or overnight). Then use the town of Banff as a base and explore its past by

starting at the Cave and Basin Centennial Centre. In the summer, hop on

the Banff Gondola or take a boat ride on Lake Minnewanka. Culture buffs

should check out the summer-long arts festival at The Banff Centre.

6 As you head east to Calgary, squeeze in more outdoor adventures in

Kananaskis Country, a sharp detour south off the Trans-Canada Hwy. A

small village with two hotels and a hostel serves as a great base for

golfers, hikers, cyclists, anglers and skiers plus there are numerous places

to camp in this park.


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Alberta South destinationsBlackfoot Crossing Historical Park blackfootcrossing.ca

Canadian Badlands canadianbadlands.com

Crown of the Continent crownofthecontinent.org

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park tprc.alberta.ca/parks

Dinosaur Provincial Park tprc.alberta.ca/parks

Drumheller traveldrumheller.com

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump head-smashed-in.com

Lethbridge chinookcountry.com

Medicine Hat tourismmedicinehat.com

Waterton Lakes National Park pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton

Tread SoftlyLeave lighter footprints by taking local transit. In the tiny town of Waterton, rent an Italian Surry – these romantic bicycles built for two are complete with four wheels, a jaunty bench-like seat, steering wheel and hand brakes.

Great Canadian Barn dance For a toe-tappin’ good time mosey up to an old fashioned barn dance and enjoy a hearty beef dinner, available every weekend in the summer in Hill Spring.

The Tenderfoot’s Almanac Other family favourites are fossil hunting with a guide from the Royal Tyrrell Museum near Drumheller, horseback riding in Waterton and camping near the hoodoos in Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.

Historical Highs Nowhere is the transition from

prairie to peak more dramatic than at Waterton-

Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World

Heritage Site. Straddling the Canada/U.S. border, this

park has exceptionally rich plant and mammal life.

In the rolling foothills nearby, visit Cardston, a town

established in 1887 by Mormon pioneers who

travelled from Utah in one of the last great covered

wagon migrations. The Remington Carriage Museum

takes you back to the horse and buggy days with

carriage rides and the largest collection of horse

drawn vehicles in North America. Explore the history

of the clay industry in Medicine Hat and see the

world’s largest exhibit of Medalta pottery and Hycroft

china (once used exclusively by CPR-owned hotels).

Then step outside and if the endless prairie sky

doesn’t make your head wobble, the 20-storey-tall

Saamis Tepee, certainly will. From here, amble down

into the Seven Persons coulee, an enormously rich

archaeological site where experts believe some 83

million artifacts lie buried!

Where the Dinosaurs Roamed Prepare to be awed

by the eerie beauty of the Canadian Badlands. At

Dinosaur Provincial Park, another UNESCO World

Heritage Site, tiptoe in the footsteps of the dinosaurs

and see where complete dinosaur skeletons have

been unearthed. At the heart of Dino-land is

Drumheller – just two hours from Dinosaur Provincial

Park – which offers all the conveniences of a modern

town and all the intrigue of 70 million years of

geological history. Just outside Drumheller, the newly

renovated Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

has an extensive display of dinosaur skeletons and a

huge roster of special programs. There’s no need to

hustle back to a large urban centre – plenty of

charming rural towns offer a wide range of

accommodation, such as Rosebud. Famous for its

old-fashioned dinner theatre productions you can

chow down on a country style meal in the

Mercantile Dining Room with live music and then

enjoy a first-rate play.

Beyond the Pavement Southern Alberta is a Mecca

for fly fishers and ranch-goers. Guided, all-inclusive

fly fishing operations are popular on the Old Man,

Crowsnest and Castle rivers. Want to haul in a

monster fish that predates dinosaurs? Then join a

guided sturgeon fishing trip on the South

Saskatchewan River. Ranches offer horseback riding,

cattle roundups, mountain biking and whitewater

rafting. Just shop around.

Southern Alberta can turn you into a happy shutterbug. If its ethereal evening light doesn’t seduce you, then its three uNESCO World heritage Sites just might. Paddle past ancient petroglyphs and pictographs. Bed down in a tipi. Peek over a buffalo jump. Fly fish, horseback ride – or just listen to the wind moan through the hoodoos of the Canadian Badlands.


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The Turning of Time Hold an original plate in your hand and you might be spirited back to the ’20s when Alberta Clay Products and Medalta Potteries were shipping stoneware all over the globe. The Medicine Hat Historic Clay District’s 150-acre working industrial museum is massive and its new visiting artist program is very innovative. So is the old beehive kiln, its collection of 30,000 pieces, the factory tour – where there were once 18 kilns – and funky galleries. Discover more about the “Hat,” by ambling through its historic downtown and along the Esplanade. Download a walking tour at: tourismmedicinehat.com/documents/HISTORICAL WALKINGTOUR2.pdf

Blackfoot Crossing historical ParkPerched on a windswept bluff on the Siksika Nation Reserve, an hour east of Calgary, this $33 million historical park overlooks one of the most significant sites in Canadian history. This is where the famous Treaty No. 7 was signed in 1877, a groundbreaking agreement that allowed the peaceful settling of traditional Blackfoot territory. This is also where Chief Crowfoot is buried.

In the shape of a stylized tipi, this eco-friendly museum – Canada’s largest Aboriginal museum – is artfully decorated with Blackfoot symbols from a buffalo-jump entranceway to an eagle-feather fan above the doorway. Inside you’ll find the requisite museum, artifacts, guided walking tours, art gallery, gift shop, restaurant, theatre, visual exhibitions – even tipi sleepovers.

Buried in History Drive through the Crowsnest Pass in

southern Alberta and you immediately feel tiny and

inconsequential when entering the shadow of Turtle

Mountain. The rocks are the size of condos and the

slide still looks fresh… there’s no vegetation, just a 90

ton jumble of jagged boulders that the wind

hopscotches around. On April 29, 1903, at 4:10 AM,

the entire face of this mountain peeled away,

pummelling the town of Frank (pop. 600), killing 92

people. The tales of survival, bizarre warning systems,

luck, fate and how those in the mine were spared,

are legendary in these parts. A newly renovated

interpretive centre is loaded with local anecdotes,

award-winning films and a seismic monitoring system.

It’s also a great place to connect with old-timers who

are still thrilled to tell the tales of Frank.

Rock Stars Under a full moon, paddle down the Milk

River in Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park and listen

to the wind hiss through the coulees and canyons of

the Canadian Badlands. Hoodoos rise out of the

sandy shores as though sculpted by the hands of

fairies into otherworldly shapes. The warm breezes

that blow off the prairies nuzzle your back just as

they have for thousands of years. Members of the

Blackfoot Nation believe this is the place where their

ancestors were brought to die. The bodies were

trussed to the branches in big cottonwoods lining the

Milk River while others were lodged in caves in the

nearby eroded sandstone cliffs. No one knows the

exact dates of this place. Even the Blackfoot call it

Ayin’eep (“It Has Been Written”) because it existed

before they came. Today the site contains the largest

collection of native rock art in North America.

A Starry, Starry Night Cypress Hills Interprovincial

Park, where people have lived for 10,000 years, is

the only park to straddle two provinces (Alberta and

Saskatchewan) and is the highest point between the

Rockies and Labrador, resulting in a unique

ecosystem. Some 400 plant species, 37 species of

mammals, four ecological zones, parkland, foothills

and boreal forest have been recorded here. In 2008,

Cypress Hills received its “Dark-Sky Preserve” status

– because of its programs that profile the night skies,

including astronomy, night hikes, and nocturnal

wildlife ‘watching.’

Play chess for free on Medicine hat’s giant chess board.

Located near the Esplanade, it’s also close to the public

library where there’s free Internet access.

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P “I love Alberta for this land is my book. It’s my history. It’s who I am. The language I speak comes from this land. The air I breathe is the same as what ran through my ancestors. The sweat that ran though their pores is the same as mine. I thank the Great Spirit for the beautiful place he’s laid out for me.”


ALBERTA SOuTh

TWO uNESCO SITES IN A dAy

Morning

Woke up to the smell of bacon and

coffee and drifted back again. Must

have been the fluffy duvet and crisp

mountain air in the town of Waterton

because I rarely sleep in. Couldn’t get

enough of the views so we took the

scenic boat tour that stops in the

United States. Posted a memo for

peace on their park bulletin board

and scanned the shores for grizzlies

on the way back.

Popped into Fort Macleod for a bison

burger, en route to Head-Smashed-In

Buffalo Jump but got sidetracked at

The Empress Theatre. Turns out it’s

the oldest operating theatre in the

province and once had vaudevillian

acts from as far away as New York

and Australia. I wanted to curl up on

one of their love seats and watch

tonight’s show but I’m camping at

the Jump.

Afternoon

Got lucky and wandered into the Fort

Museum when the Mounted Police

Musical Ride was about to start.

Learned how those Mounties get their

boots so shiny. They buff them with

floor polish. Really. I might get a pair

custom made for me (at Calgary’s

Alberta Boot store).

I finally made it to Head-Smashed-In

Buffalo Jump and can see why it’s a

UNESCO site. This 305-meter-long

(1,000 ft) jump is the oldest, largest,

and best-preserved buffalo jump on

Earth. Blackfoot elders who operate

many of the programs at this site say

it earned its name when a young

brave stood at the bottom of the

jump to watch buffalo barrel off the

edge of the cliff.

The crowds started thinning so I

ambled along the grassy cliff tops

peering over into the scrub where

archaeologists claim skeletons lie,

some 11 meters (36.09 ft) deep,

that date back 5,700 years. The area

on top of the cliff is where it all

began … the Blackfoot’s intricate

system of stone cairns that formed

drive lanes forcing the bison to

stampede off the precipice.

Evening

While the wind whipped the flaps at

the top of our tipi, I leaned against an

authentic backboard and listened,

really listened, to an elder whisper

tales of Napi and other mythical

creatures that ruled our First Nations

people for centuries. The low thud of

drums and distant yelp of coyotes

stirred something deep inside me, as

I slunk deeper in my sleeping bag.

Of all the experiences that have

connected me to our Aboriginal

people, a stay in an authentic tipi on

these hallowed grounds is IT.

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Reel AdventuresDistance: About 400 km (249 mi)Travelling time: One to two days by carBegin: DrumhellerEnd: Fort Macleod

ALBERTA SOuTh ROAd TRIPS

Alberta has been a popular backdrop for hollywood for decades with southern Alberta’s style of frontier history and unspoiled wilderness an all-star favourite. On this road trip we sneak behind the camera to look at places featured in classics such as Unforgiven and Brokeback Mountain.

1 There’s plenty to see around Drumheller, as Clint Eastwood discovered when

filming Unforgiven, his Oscar-winning western. About 17 km (10.5 mi) west

of Drumheller, on Hwy 9, the prairies dissolve into the spectacular Horseshoe

Canyon in the Drumheller Valley. Next to the valley was the location of

Morgan Freeman’s shack in Unforgiven. While in Drumheller do what Brad

Pitt and Angelina Jolie did when filming Jesse James and take your children

to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Western fans will also find more scenes from

Unforgiven in Brooks, Stettler and Longview (along the Cowboy Trail). Head

south on Hwy 56 from Drumheller to the Trans-Canada and then veer west

to Cluny where you’ll see signs for Blackfoot Crossing. Stop at this national

historic site that is steeped in the history of the Blackfoot people and then

carry on westward to Hwy 22 and then drop south to Longview.

2 This stunning ranch country has been the backdrop for numerous westerns

– just ask the folks at the Longview Jerky Shop while picking up a pack of

chewy beef. They served Clint Eastwood while Unforgiven was being shot.

Next, head south along the Cowboy Trail to the tiny town of Cowley, where

some Brokeback Mountain scenes featuring Jack’s 1950 GMC truck were

filmed outside the town’s fire hall. In the Savory Suite Café on Railway

Avenue in the post office building, look for the “Brokeback Mountain was

filmed here” plaque.

3 From Cowley, head east on Hwy 3 past the wind turbines near Pincher

Creek to Fort Macleod – the backdrop for several scenes in Brokeback

Mountain and Passchendaele. The town of 3,000 has maintained its

historic Main Street where you’ll see the Red Coat Inn, the temporary digs

for the cast and crew for both movies. While on Main Street, head to the

Photo Plus/The Source Apartment Building where you’ll spy the staircase

leading to Ennis and Alma’s apartment. A poster commemorates the

controversial Brokeback smooch scene. While here, look for the Queen’s

Hotel, built of sandstone in 1903. Inside is the dance-floor locale, Cassie’s

Bar, from Brokeback. The streetscape was used in Passchendaele to

represent 1917 downtown Calgary. Just down the block is Alberta’s oldest

theatre, the enchanting Empress, which still runs movies and hosts top

stage presentations. Of course, while you’re in Fort Macleod do as Ennis did

and have a meal at the Java Shop, near the Greyhound Depot and don’t

forget to tour The Fort – Museum of the North West Mounted Police.

For more Reel Adventures, visit albertamoviemaps.com.

ALBERTA SOuTh


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Badlands Circle TourDistance: Distance varies with loopsTravelling time: About three to four days by carBegin: DrumhellerEnd: Calgary or Edmonton

ALBERTA SOuTh ROAd TRIP

On this excursion, marvel at Alberta’s two-billion-year-old geological history – on full display in the lunar-like landscape known as the Canadian Badlands. Listen to the wind whistle around canyons, explore ancient bone beds, Blackfoot Crossing historical Park and enjoy remarkable dinner theatre.

1 Whether you begin in Calgary or Edmonton, aim for the world’s largest

dinosaur in Drumheller. The information stop at this attraction doubles as

the Drumheller Tourist Information Centre and is the perfect starting point

for several short drives. Head west on the Dinosaur Trail, a 48 km (30 mi)

route through the Drumheller Valley.

2 Continue west to the Little Church, described as being able to seat

thousands but only six at a time. Continue north to Horsethief Canyon for a

spectacular view of the badlands. Then, cross the Red Deer River on the

Bleriot Ferry, one of the last remaining cable-operated ferries in Alberta.

Head back to Drumheller to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, home of more than

35 dinosaur skeletons, interactive galleries and innovative programs.

3 Next, head west on Hwy 9 for Horseshoe Canyon – a picturesque pocket of

badlands representing 70 million years of history. Travel further west on

Hwy 9, then south on Hwy 840 to Rosebud for dinner theatre.

4 Back in Drumheller, look for the Hoodoo Trail, a 25 km (15.5 mi) drive east

along Hwy 10 which takes you to Canada’s most complete coal mine

experience. Explore the newly excavated 61 meter (200 ft) long tunnel at

the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site. At this point zigzag south to Cluny.

5 From Cluny, follow signs to Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park. A stylized tipi

serves as the interpretive centre where ancient legends are told through

innovative methods. Outside you’ll find medicine wheels, Chief Crowfoot’s

gravesite and a tipi village where you can camp overnight.

6 Head east on Hwy 1 and north to Dinosaur Provincial Park on Hwy 36. The

Field station (where 35 species of dinosaurs have been found) offers

guided walks and popular badlands bus tours.

7 Stay east on Hwy 1 to Medicine Hat. Here you can visit the world’s tallest

tipi and tour the Medicine Hat Historic Clay District. Other diversions include

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, the Windmill Museum in Etzikom, Devil’s

Coulee Dinosaur Heritage Museum in Warner and Writing-on-Stone

Provincial Park near Milk River. Then head back to Calgary or Edmonton via

Hwy 2 or Hwy 22.

ALBERTA SOuTh

Refer to map on page 62


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Alberta Central destinationsAlberta’s Lakeland albertaslakeland.ca

Boomtown Trail boomtowntrail.com

Brazeau Regional Tourism brazeautourism.ca

Camrose tourismcamrose.com

Kalyna Country kalynacountry.com

Lac La Biche Region laclabicheregion.com

Lacombe Tourism lacombetourism.com

Lloydminster lloydminstertourism.ca

Nordegg West Tourism travelnordegg.com

Prairies to Peaks Tourism prairies2peaks.ca

Red Deer tourismreddeer.net

Rocky Mountain House whereadventure begins.com

Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ab/ rockymountain/ index_e.asp

Sylvan Lake town.sylvan-lake.ab.ca

Trail of the Buffalo trailofthebuffalo.com

Larger than LifeEvery province has them – those wacky, tacky icons that make for goofy photos. Line up at Vegreville for a shot with the world’s largest Easter egg or head to Vilna, home of the giant mushrooms or St. Paul, where you’ll find the world’s first UFO landing pad. Don’t forget Andrew, home to the world’s largest mallard duck and Donalda, proud to cast a beam from the world’s tallest lamp.

Central Wonders Alberta Central is massive, for it

stretches from the tumble of the Rockies in the west

to the prairies in the east. Within this area lies:

Bighorn Country, famous for its 700 km (434 mi) of

hiking trails, crosscountry skiing, horseback riding,

hunting, fishing, rafting, canoeing and kayaking;

Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve, southwest of

Nordegg, featuring natural grasslands and dozens of

species of birds, mammals and amphibians

uncommon to other Rocky Mountain passes; David

Thompson Highway, Hwy 11, named after the

explorer who was one of the world’s most prolific

cartographers and fur traders; Alberta’s Lakeland,

aptly named for its 250 lakes, white sandy beaches,

3,200 campsites and 400 km (248 mi) of trails.

Retrace those Early Footsteps Can’t get enough of

David Thompson – even if you did spend time delving

into his life at the newly expanded Rocky Mountain

House National Historic Site? Then head to Lac La

Biche, one of the earliest western hubs of the fur

trade (1798) and home of the oldest sawn lumber

building in Alberta. Southeast, near Elk Point, lies Fort

George-Buckingham House – two rival trading posts,

constructed side by side in 1792. Interpretive displays

offer a glimpse into the lives of Thompson, the

voyageurs and natives affected by the posts. Further

west and south, explore the historic churches and

other sites in a 20,000 km2 (7,722 sq mi) swath of

rich farmland in one of Canada’s oldest Ukrainian and

East European settlements, Kalyna Country. This area,

the world’s largest Ecomuseum, includes Lamont

County, also known as the church capital of North

America, where you’ll find 47 churches – more, per

capita, than anywhere else on this continent. Poking

out of the rich ranchland and charming towns are

distinctive “onion-domed” sanctuaries of the Ukrainian

pioneers that reflect architectural traditions that hark

back to Byzantine Christianity in Eastern Europe.

Pick Away at our Past Just south of the town

of Provost lies a massive area studded with

arrowheads, buffalo bone fragments and shards of

pottery that date back 3,000 to 5,000 years. Known

as the Bodo Archaeological Site, the centre is open

to visitors until the end of August, with new

programs slated for 2010. Call 1-780-753-6353 to

book a tour.

From the dizzying heights of the Rocky Mountains you drop into central Alberta. down heritage rivers that david Thompson paddled to forts once lined with beaver pelts and striped hudson’s Bay blankets. The landscape gives way to boreal forests, tree-lined lakes, lonely grain elevators and checkered fields. Want cultural and geographic diversity? you just found it – magnified – in Alberta Central.


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Wildlife Guaranteed Just east of Edmonton lies tiny, fenced-in Elk Island National Park – an “island” of conservation for bison, elk, moose, deer, beaver, coyotes and a variety of birds. With approximately 3,000 large mammals, the park is one of the best spots in Alberta for wildlife watching. Serious birders who wish to join a mountain bluebird banding program can do so at the Ellis Bird Farm (available in June and July). Others will enjoy the self-guided trails, educational programs, tea room and wildlife habitat. Another great base for birders is Thunder Lake Provincial Park, near Barrhead, where numerous colonies of blue herons reside.

More Central diversionsSylvan Lake’s sandy beaches have made this resort one of Alberta’s favourites since 1901. It’s now just as famous for its waterslide park, boating, campgrounds and scenic cruises aboard the Miss Mermaid. Other beaches worth the drive include the ones in Bonnyville, Cold Lake and Lac La Biche. In Innisfail on Wednesday afternoons in the summer, watch a demonstration at the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre – the only one of its kind in Canada. Or, poke into the 1911 Camrose Railway Station Museum, full of local railway heritage and an archive library. In Carstairs, visit PaSu Farms – a working sheep farm that also has a large restaurant and boutique full of exhibits that focus on wool and sheepskin products. Visit Lac La Biche in March when the Winter Festival of Speed takes over the frozen expanse of the lake, turning it into an adrenaline addict’s dream. Snowmobile racing, motorbike and ATV racing plus a pond hockey tournament also takes place.

Scandinavian Surprises The lovingly restored

buildings in the tiny towns of Markerville and

Dickson provide a remarkable trip back to the

pioneer days of central Alberta. A century ago,

settlers from Iceland and Denmark cleared and

drained this boggy land to create farms and unique

communities. One of the highlights is the Markerville

Creamery (circa 1932) which illustrates how butter

was made in earlier days. The other must-see is a

visit to the Stephansson House Provincial Historic

Site. Stephan G. Stephansson (1853-1927) was a

farmer by day and a prolific poet by night. Many

Icelanders today make the pilgrimage to Markerville

to visit Stephansson’s house, where he raised eight

children. Just south of Markerville is Dickson, the

oldest Danish settlement in western Canada where

you can visit the Dickson Store Museum, beautifully

restored to appear as it did during the 1930s.

Even Stephen Halfway between Edmonton and

Calgary is Red Deer, a modern, thriving city where

half the folks cheer for the Edmonton Oilers and the

other half for the Calgary Flames. See for yourself

at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame & Museum,

where more than 6,000 artifacts of sports history,

trivia and games reflect their love for anything

athletic. You’ll find chuckwagon races and livestock

shows at Westerner Days plus a reconstruction of a

fort originally built in 1885 during the Riel Rebellion

at the Fort Normandeau Historic Site and

Interpretive Centre.

Unique Urban Landscapes Camrose: Tour the

downtown district lined with 100-year-old

buildings. Country music fans should bring a blanket

or a comfy chair for the four-day Big Valley Country

Music Jamboree, Canada’s biggest country music

festival, held annually in early August. Lacombe:

Named after the famous priest and diplomat,

Father Albert Lacombe, the town is lined with

Edwardian edifices, including a unique flatiron

building. Cold Lake: Visit Canadian Forces Base

4wing, especially during Maple Flag where you can

view the crews in training and watch simulated air

combat drills. Lloydminster: Canada’s only

two-province city has a divided population; 60 per

cent live in Alberta, the rest in Saskatchewan.

In the summer, take a free 60-minute guided tour of a sawmill or

pulp mill through the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce. To book,

call 1-780-778-5363.

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“One of my favourite lines I’ve ever written is ‘wherever I go I find the last place on that dirt road is the first thing on my mind.’ Besides living within two hours of mountains, grasslands and the badlands what I miss when I’m on the road is the lack of fear we have here. No banana spiders or snakes will eat us for lunch – the worst thing we have are mosquitoes and they never last long.”


ALBERTA CENTRAL

WETASkIWIN ANd STETTLER IN A dAy

Morning

I admit it – I thought I’d be the last

person to find a museum devoted to

transportation remotely interesting.

But I’ve just finished “working” on an

assembly line for Model T’s and had

my photo taken with Tin Lizzie at the

Reynolds-Alberta Museum in

Wetaskiwin. Before that I saw a 1929

Duesenburg Phaeton Royale Model J

(only kind in the world) and a 1913

Chevy Classic Six (oldest known Chevy

in the world), but how they transform

these heaps in the restoration studio is

what really boggled my mind.

I felt like a character in The Great

Gatsby or Out of Africa. With a scarf

swirled around my head we took off

in the museum’s old biplane and

swooped around for 10 glorious

minutes. Flying is so different when

the wind is whooshing around you

and the cows in the fields far below

appear like plastic toys. Still don’t

understand how the lines separating

crops stay so straight. It was a

checkerboard of colours up there.

Afternoon

Arrived in Stettler just in time to

scoop up our tickets for the Murder

Mystery run on the Alberta Prairie

Railway steam train. Within

moments of chugging away we’d

witnessed a shoot-out, met a

Mountie, and spied our first coyote

loping across a farmer’s field.

Evening

Arrived in Big Valley, confused. I’m

not sure if it’s what I consumed in the

Lone Star Saloon or if I’m just thick,

but I can’t separate the characters

from the theatre company from the

passengers. We’re all wandering

around this cute town trying to solve

the mystery by chatting to locals

before we settle down to a country

dinner, served in the old town hall.

Laughed all the way back to Stettler

with my new friends (one of them

the “murderer”).

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Alberta’s yellowhead highway

Distance: 613 km (380 mi)Travelling time: About four days by carBegin: LloydminsterEnd: Jasper

ALBERTA CENTRAL ROAd TRIPS

you’ll love what this cultural venture along the yellowhead highway (hwy 16) has to offer. Named for a golden-haired trapper, Pierre Bostonais, who once led fur traders through the Rocky Mountains, what you’ll find today is a journey through some of Alberta’s most expansive territories.

1 Begin in Lloydminster, the only city in Canada to straddle two provinces.

Settled by the British Barr colonists, this area was wholly dependent upon

agriculture until 1933 when oil and gas were discovered.

2 Head west along the Trans-Canada/Yellowhead Highway to Vegreville,

famous for its Pysanka, a giant Ukrainian Easter Egg, more than 7 m (23 ft)

long and 5.5 m (18 ft) wide, weighing 2,270 kg (5,000 lb). Continue west

to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, where Ukrainian pioneer life in

east central Alberta is re-enacted.

3 Visit the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton and discover 11,000 years

and 500 generations of history. Next, visit Canada’s largest living history

park – Fort Edmonton.

4 Continue west on Hwy 16 past the murals of Stony Plain, Wabamun Lake

and Pembina River Provincial Park to Edson. Once used by early settlers to

access the North, this town now houses the Galloway Station Museum,

jammed with artifacts, as well as a 1917 caboose and 1964 Lockheed jet

that sits in the RCMP Centennial Park. Just west lies Hornbeck Provincial

Recreation Area complete with campground and fishing in Sundance Creek,

noted mostly for its trout, perch, burbot and lake chub.

5 Just 20 minutes east of Jasper National Park is Hinton, where coal mining

and the forestry industry still play major roles in the town’s economy. Take

an unusual tour of a coal mine, pulp mill or sawmill and gain a unique

perspective on Alberta’s past.

6 Jasper National Park, Canada’s largest mountain national park, is loaded

with wildlife. It’s also historic – teeming with stories of fur traders, gold

seekers, miners, railway workers and intrepid explorers whose tales are

told at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives. The range of outdoor

activities in Jasper is vast: wildlife viewing, fishing, rafting, golfing,

horseback riding and hiking. And those are just a start.


david Thompson Explorer’s Trail

Distance: 345 km (215 mi)Travelling time: One to three days by car

Begin: StettlerEnd: Saskatchewan River Crossing


One of the most spectacular gateways to the Rockies is the david Thompson highway (hwy 11), a tranquil alternative to the popular Trans-Canada (hwy 1). Named after one of the world’s greatest geographers, this “trail” officially begins in Stettler and heads west along hwy 11 to the junction of hwy 93, skimming through prairie farmland, the foothills, remote wilderness areas and several historic sites.

1 Begin in Stettler, where you’ll find one of Canada’s last remaining

passenger steam trains operated by Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions.

This historic adventure links Stettler with Big Valley, and offers a variety

of “themed” excursions.

2 Continue west on Hwy 11 to Red Deer, and visit Waskasoo Park, Fort

Normandeau, Heritage Ranch, Kerry Wood Nature Centre and the Red Deer

& District Museum.

3 Just west of Red Deer lies Sylvan Lake – western Canada’s largest outdoor

waterpark surrounded by sandy beaches, a large marina, fishing, golfing

and camping facilities.

4 Follow Hwy 11 west to Rocky Mountain House, where you should visit the

newly renovated national historic site – home of an excellent visitor centre,

the ruins of four forts and a buffalo paddock.

5 Continue west to Nordegg, then to Abraham Lake, one of Alberta’s largest

reservoirs. Then the highway enters the Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve

– precisely the spot where David Thompson traded goods with the

Kootenay Indians in 1800.

6 Keep west to Saskatchewan River Crossing where this trail ends at the

junction of Hwy 93, just inside Banff National Park. It was from here, in

1807, that David Thompson continued his trek over the Rockies into

present-day British Columbia. From Saskatchewan River Crossing, visitors

may journey north via the Icefields Parkway to Jasper and then east to

Edmonton on the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy 16). Or, turn south on the

Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) to Lake Louise and Banff.

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The Boomtown TrailDistance: 332 km (207 mi)Travelling time: About one to two daysBegin: CalgaryEnd: Camrose


An alternate route between Calgary and Edmonton is hwy 21 a.k.a. the Boomtown Trail, studded with “boomtown” architecture. Whether it’s nostalgia for the Wild West or the lure of towns that reinvent themselves, you’ll find it somewhere on the Boomtown Trail.

1 Head east of Calgary on Hwy 1 to Strathmore, then zigzag north and east

to the lovely town of Rosebud, famous for its popular dinner theatre and

School of the Arts. Little craft stores, a tiny museum and the actual theatre

have breathed new life into a handful of turn-of-the-century buildings.

2 From Rosebud, meander north and west on to the Boomtown Trail toward

Three Hills. When you see Hwy 581 jog west on it and follow the signs to

the Custom Woolen Mills, a working museum. Here, history is replayed as

raw wool is processed on unique machines that date back to the industrial

revolution. Many items such as comforters, handwoven blankets and

sweaters are sold on the premises.

3 Next, weave back to Hwy 21 through towns such as Three Hills and Trochu,

famous for their excellent golf courses. Also at Trochu is an Arboretum (100

different plant species) plus the St. Ann Ranch & Trading Co. originally built

as a francophone settlement in 1905. Now a provincial historic site, St.

Ann’s features several museums, an interpretive centre, a tea room, as well

as a handsome B&B. Another nearby side-trip is a jaunt to Dry Island

Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, where Cree Indians stampeded bison over a

cliff some 2,000 years ago. Just north on Hwy 56 lies Big Valley, a perfect

replica of a frontier town complete with two art galleries, a fudge factory,

tea room and barber shop.

4 Back on Hwy 21 point your compass north to Bashaw where an original

boomtown theatre has been restored to its 1915 glory. This is a good point

at which to jog east on Hwy 53 to Donalda where you can see the world’s

largest lamp, some 12 m (42 ft) high. Right beside it is the largest

collection of oil lamps in North America, about 850 of them! Before

returning to the Boomtown Trail, head north on Hwy 56 to Meeting Creek,

where one of the finest examples of an early grain elevator, complete with

hydraulic engine, is open to the public.

5 From here, jog north along the shores of Dried Meat Lake or west to

Hwy 21 and then north to Camrose. If you time it perfectly (arriving the

first weekend in August) you will find yourself at one of Canada’s

premiere country music festivals, the Big Valley Jamboree. Otherwise you’ll

discover Camrose is yet another boomtown on the Trail, first settled by

Scandinavians in the late 1800s. As a tribute, a 10 m (30 ft) Viking longship

is on display in the Bill Fowler Centre.



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Huge, Wild and Right Next Door There’s something

about the North that elevates the soul and soothes

the spirit. Perhaps it’s the fact there are more birds

here than people. More sunny hours (in the

summer) than not. More history than anywhere else

in Alberta. Whatever your motivation for visiting

Alberta North, you’ll find what so many visitors are

searching for these days – “authenticity.” There’s no

room or reason for pretence in this sparsely

populated swath of rugged beauty – just boreal

forests, immense space and dozens of warm lakes,

wide rivers, sandy beaches and wildlife. RV travellers

and other motorists will find good, paved roads and

abundant places to rest or relax, thanks to numerous

provincial recreation and natural areas and dozens of

lovely, quiet campgrounds, many of them on the

waterfront. Those visitors wanting the comforts of

small towns or urban centres – from Grande Prairie

to Lesser Slave Lake, Athabasca, Fort McMurray and

Peace River – will be pleasantly surprised at the

amenities and services available.

Marvel at Mother Nature’s Treasures What’s green

and white – no – yellow and mauve and purple all

over? The aurora borealis, a.k.a. the northern lights,

dance and flicker across Alberta’s northern landscape

all year-round, but most sharply from October

through March. The province’s best viewing platform

is the fur-trading post, and now oil capital, Fort

McMurray. Numerous tours take visitors out on

guided photo safaris that start late at night when the

colours are brightest. During the day guests can go

dog-sledding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling,

downhill skiing, skating or snuggle up on a

horse-drawn sleigh ride.

Modern Amenities to Backcountry Basics En route

to the Alaska Highway, visit Grande Prairie to see

trumpeter swans and the Great Northern Casino. This

fully modern city, a.k.a. the “Shopping Capital of the

North,” is loaded with malls, theatres and museums

plus it offers excellent bird watching, fishing and

hunting opportunities. The two must-see attractions

are the Grande Prairie Museum in Muskoseepi Park

which has a surprisingly large and eclectic collection

of artifacts from dinosaur bones (found nearby) to

pioneer and farming implements as well as the

Grande Prairie Regional College, designed by

renowned architect Douglas Cardinal. Just south,

Kakwa Wildland Park, provides a breathtaking

backcountry experience, framed by mountains,

foothills, meadows, streams and rivers. Nestled in a

Make northern Alberta the backdrop for an outdoor experience of a lifetime by horseback, canoe/kayak, jet boat, ATV, or simply by foot. Experienced guides will help you catch the big one, see many of its 230 species of birds, learn traditional Aboriginal uses of plants, and take you to places where bison, deer, moose, bears and wolves still roam freely.

ALBERTA NORTh

Alberta North destinationsAthabasca athabascacountry.com

Fort Chipewyan woodbuffalo.ab.ca/visitors

Fort McMurray fortmcmurraytourism.com

Grande Prairie gptourism.ca

Peace River mightypeace.com

Slave Lake lesserslavelake.ca

Wood Buffalo National Park pc.gc.ca/woodbuffalo

Fort McMurray Take a tour of the Oil Sands Discovery Centre. In the winter, watch the northern lights.

Grande Prairie Go birding and search for trumpeter swans.

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A Northern CatchDon’t think that all of Alberta cuisine is off the hoof. Try the superb walleye fish cakes that are served in fishing lodges all over the North. Here’s a recipe from John Semple of Points North Adventures:

Fish Cakes

1 lb. minced walleye

1 small can of crab meat, drained

2 to 3 green onions, chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper

1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped parsley

1/4 cup of mayonnaise

1/2 cup of seasoned bread crumbs

Mix all ingredients. Form into patties. Dip in eggwash. Coat with seasoned breadcrumbs. Fry in small amount of vegetable oil until crisp, about 3 minutes each side.

haying in the ’30s Every August long weekend, the town of Mallaig recreates Alberta’s past with an event that uses horse drawn equipment to perform tasks from haying and threshing to road construction and shingle making.

majestic valley where three rivers converge, the

town of Peace River boasts excellent cuisine and

amenities plus the spectacular beauty of the valley

and numerous outdoor adventures from ranch stays

to jet boat excursions.

Hooked on Alberta For a world class fishing holiday,

circle northern Alberta on your map as it attracts

both novice and expert with its hundreds of lakes on

the Canadian Shield, plus its rivers and spring-fed

creeks. There’s more water here than any other area

in the province. And the range of lodging is almost

as extensive as the species of fish. Choose from

houseboats and rustic fly-in cabins to luxurious

lodges, tipis and camps. Let’s dip below the surface

of just one lake – Lesser Slave (the largest vehicle

accessible lake in Alberta, only two and a half hours

north of Edmonton). This lake is home to more than

15 fish species which can be caught from shore but

the pros say it’s much better to take a boat (rentals

available in town). The walleye is said to grow up to

9 kg (20 lbs), the northern walleye up to 4 kg (10

lbs). Every lake in the North has its water-fed

legends – that’s why so many anglers fly from

one to another.

Discover Dunvegan This historic town in the Peace

River Valley is the site of one of Alberta’s earliest fur

trading posts and missionary centres. Interpreters

dressed in period costume guide you through 19th

century log buildings, meticulously restored. Equally

impressive is the entryway – over the longest

suspension bridge in Alberta. Dunvegan Provincial

Park is laced with paved walking trails, 67 campsites,

a boat launch and u-pick gardens.

Fort McMurray’s Must-Visits At Fort McMurray you

can canoe or jet boat along the historic routes of

Alberta’s earliest hunters, trappers and explorers.

Experience the Oil Sands Discovery Centre from the

seat of a 150 ton truck or marvel at the town’s

colourful past at Fort McMurray Heritage Park. Next

to the shopping malls, luxe hotels and spas are golf

courses where you can tee off at 11 PM (the sun

barely sets here in the height of summer), scuba

dive or skydive plus enjoy a vast network of hiking

trails and spectacular sand dunes. Just new is the

35,303 m2 (380,000 sq ft) Suncor Community Leisure

Centre with two field houses, a running track, curling

rink, hockey rink, library and squash courts.

dId yOu kNOW that you’ll find everything you need in the North’s urban centres? Grocery stores. Camping shops. Museums. Even spas!

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I could do for some air was huck myself off anything – picnic tables, roof tops. Anything. Not much has changed ... I’m still hucking myself into the air – more air. But I still come home to Grande Prairie where I can be riverboating or skidooing within three minutes of town.”


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More Northern GrandeurAlberta Professional Outfitters Society apos.ab.ca

Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation borealbirdcentre.ca

Fort Chipewyan Bicentennial Museum woodbuffalo.ab.ca/visitors

Fort Vermilion Heritage Centre geocities.com/ fort_vermilion

Historic Dunvegan albertaparks.ca

Oil Sands Discovery Centre oilsandsdiscovery.com

Sticky BusinessOh, the things that stick! Oil in Alberta was first reported in 1719 by a Cree Native who brought samples of the tar sands to Fort Churchill. He told them the First Nations people used the gooey stuff to waterproof their birch bark canoes.

Northern Adventures Thanks to the “Magnificent

River Rats Festival,” historic Athabasca is fast

becoming known as Northern Alberta’s “Festival

Town.” But it’s far more than that, evident in its

heritage buildings and its history as a boatbuilding

hub. Indeed, 150 years ago, this is where

paddlewheelers and scows came to be repaired

before loading up with furs for their return journey,

eastward. Robert Service, the renowned poet, lived

at Athabasca Landing for a time and captures those

wild and woolly days in much of his early work.

Just a couple of hours northwest of Athabasca is

Lesser Slave Lake, the largest recreational lake in

Alberta, with 108 km (67 mi) of sandy beaches and

clear warm water. It’s bordered by two beautiful

provincial parks; Lesser Slave Lake and Hilliard’s Bay

where you can camp, fish, boat, kayak, hunt, ice

fish and golf. Special annual events include the

Sand Sculpture Championship, Songbird Festival and

the Elks Pro Rodeo.

Climb the Roof of Alberta The largest national park

in Canada, Wood Buffalo National Park, is an

astounding 45,000 km2 (17,100 sq mi) of protected

land. This UNESCO site boasts the biggest herd of

wood bison in the world (about 5,000) where these

magnificent beasts still roam as freely as they have

for thousands of years. Endangered species such as

the whooping crane and peregrine falcon also call

the park home. They keep company with more than

one million ducks, geese and swans that migrate

through the park each year. Launch your Wood

Buffalo adventure from Fort Chipewyan (Alberta’s

most remote community) on the western shores of

Lake Athabasca. More than 200 years of history are

on display at the Fort Chipewyan Bicentennial

Museum. Marvel at murals in the local Roman

Catholic Church that were painted with blueberry

and cranberry juice mixed with fish oils. Discover

more about the Dene people with an interpretive

tour focused on fishing, wildlife viewing and native

cooking. Fort Chipewyan is accessible by boat, plane

and winter road.

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Sink your chops into a tasty bison “smokie” with coleslaw, potato salad, pickles and lemonade. All for free

– every Wednesday during summer at Grande Prairie’s Visitor Information Centre.


ALBERTA NORTh

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Morning

I yank on my toque and head lamp

and swing out of my bunk bed at The

Nest, a cool little hostel at the Boreal

Centre for Bird Conservation on Lesser

Slave Lake. We wander down to the

banding lab. We can hear the birds

starting to twitter and chirp. The

coffee’s on. The mist is starting to curl

off the lake.

So far, I’ve caught three little warblers

in the net lines. Placing the first one

in a little yellow bag was a struggle

but I’m slowly getting the hang of it.

Measuring their wingspan and

muscles and snapping a little

aluminum band on their spindly legs

takes experts less than a minute.

They’re so small, I worry I might

break one in two.

We caught a flycatcher with an old,

battered band on its leg. The head

researcher went wild because he’d

put that very band on this bird’s leg

10 years ago. Recapturing a bird is

sooooo rare; the chances are less

than one per cent. Learned the

Boreal Centre has banded 50,000

birds in its 15 year history.

Afternoon

Added an American red-start, a

Tennessee warbler, flycatchers,

chickadees, a red-eyed vireo and

a tundra swan to my life list.

Hopped in my car for a 90-minute

drive west to another birder’s

paradise – Kimiwan Lake, which they

say is “The Bird Capital of Canada,”

close to the town of McLennan. All I

can see are waterfowl. I have my

scope out on the boardwalk and I see

geese, mallards, grebes, pintails,

wigeons, mergansers, scaups.

A guide tells me that 250,000

waterfowl and 27,000 shorebirds live

or migrate through here every year.

It’s so hot here that I just lay down

on the boardwalk for a little siesta

and it started shaking. Truly, the

planks were vibrating. I looked up

and the sky was plastered with white

flapping wings. I thought I was in a

Nat Geo centrefold.

Evening

I heard there were nightly skits at the

Marten River Campground, at the

north end of Slave Lake Provincial

Park, but I didn’t think they’d haul me

up on stage and dress me up like a

flying squirrel. That’s when other

human-sized “birds” began pecking

at me, twittering with environmental

messages and singing wacky songs

that were so funny, I cracked up.

Then the interpreters (university

drama students from all across

Canada) punted me off the stage

calling me a bird brain and a

not-so-fair feathered friend.

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Northern AlbertaHeritage Trail

To EdmontonVisitor Information CentreUNESCO World Heritage SiteAirport


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Northern Alberta heritage Trail

Distance: Varies with routeTravelling time: About seven to 12 days by carBegin: EdmontonEnd: Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie or High Level

ALBERTA NORTh ROAd TRIP

Immerse yourself in this spectacular northern landscape by touring its many historic sites that pay homage to pioneering roots that reach back to the 1700s. Churches, museums and interpretive programs tell the tales of the heroic pioneers, missionaries and Aboriginals who settled this vast area.

1 Play a round of 1920s-style miniature golf at Fort Edmonton Park or stay a

night in the restored 1920s Hotel Selkirk. Then travel north on Hwy 2 to

St. Albert for a tour of the Father Lacombe Chapel, the Musée Heritage

Museum and a 1909 replica of a train station. Continue north to Morinville to

the St. Jean Baptiste Church and then on to the famous murals in Legal, the

heart of French culture in Alberta. End in the historic town of Athabasca and

enjoy self-guided tours of the town and riverfront.

2 From Athabasca, head east on Hwy 55 to Amber Valley and visit the

museum that celebrates the history of the black pioneers. Be sure to tour the

Lac La Biche Mission, full of role-playing interpreters who’ll spirit you back

150 years. Zip back to Hwy 63 and then start heading north to Fort McMurray

where you’ll find the Heritage Park Museum and the Oil Sands Discovery

Centre. Further north is Fort Chipewyan, Alberta’s oldest settlement.

3 Steer west of Athabasca on Hwy 2 into the Lesser Slave Lake region, where

David Thompson arrived in 1799, via canoe. Whatever you do, don’t miss

Grouard, once a Roman Catholic mission and later a gold-seeker’s hub.

4 Head north on Hwy 2 to Peace River to see the gravesite of Twelve Foot

Davis, named for the fortune he made from a 4 m (12 ft) gold claim in the

Klondike. En route, visit the Northern Alberta Historic Railways Museum in

McLennan and detour on to Hwy 49 to Girouxville to visit its museum of

5,000 artifacts.

5 Highlights along the Mackenzie, Hwy 35, include the Old Hospital Gallery &

Museum and the Battle River Pioneer Museum in Manning. Stay north until

High Level (home of the Mackenzie Crossroads Museum) and then head

east on Hwy 58 to Fort Vermilion (see the Heritage Centre collection).

Turn south to La Crete, a thriving Mennonite community reflected in its

Mennonite Heritage Village.

6 Drive south on Hwy 35 to Grimshaw, jog west and south to Grande Prairie

and stop along Hwy 2, at numerous historic sites. Pop into the Fairview

Pioneer Museum, the original fur trade post at Historic Dunvegan Provincial

Park, Spirit River’s Settlement Museum, Sexsmith’s 1916 blacksmith shop

museum, Beaverlodge’s Centennial Museum as well as the Heritage

Discovery Centre in Grande Prairie.


Customs and Immigration Visitors to Canada require a

valid passport, proof of identity or other travel

documents. Contact: Western Hemisphere Travel

Initiative knowyourborder.gov; Passport Canada

ppt.gc.ca; nearest Canadian Consulate or Embassy

cic.gc.ca; Canadian Border Services Agency

cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Weapons Revolvers, pistols, fully automatic firearms

and other weapons and self-defence sprays (e.g. mace,

pepper spray) are prohibited entry into Canada. All

firearms (e.g. hunting rifles, shotguns) must be

declared. To obtain information on firearms legislation,

please call the Canadian Firearms Centre inquiry line

at 1-800-731-4000.

Banking and Currency Traveller’s cheques and credit

cards are accepted at most commercial establishments,

banks and currency exchange offices. Banking hours are

generally 9:30 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Friday; some

banks are open Saturdays. Most automated teller

machines (ATMs) accept one or more of the following

networks: Interac, Cirrus or Plus. They are found at

banks and in retail areas.

Taxes Alberta is the only province in Canada with no

Provincial Sales Tax (PST). There is a four per cent

Tourism Levy on accommodation. The Canadian

Government charges a five per cent Goods & Services

Tax (GST) on most purchases. The Foreign Convention

and Tour Incentive Program (FCTIP) provides a tax

rebate to visitors purchasing tour packages that include

short-term in Canada. For more information in

Canada: call 1-800-668-4748; outside Canada, call

1-902-432-5604; or visit cra-arc.gc.ca/tax

Tipping The average tip in Canada is 15 per cent.

However, depending on the level and the nature of the

service, tipping may range from 10 per cent to more

than 20 per cent. Tips are generally given for good

service by food and beverage servers in bars and

restaurants, taxi drivers, tour guides, hotel bellman and

estheticians. While it is not required to tip other service

staff, you are at your liberty to do so.

Air Travel Alberta is home to two international airports,

one in Edmonton and one in Calgary. Easy access to

Alberta from more than 100 cities world wide is

available with most major airlines and charter

companies. For specific information on scheduled and

charter flights, contact your local travel agent.

Rail Travel Alberta is served by VIA Rail scheduled

service. Stops are scheduled in Edmonton and Jasper.

Call 1-888-842-7245 (in North America) or the VIA

number in your area for reservations and information. In

the U.S., VIA Rail can be booked through AMTRAK at

1-800-872-7245.

Rocky Mountaineer offers service from Calgary, Banff

and Jasper to the West Coast of British Columbia. These

routes through Canada’s Rockies are considered some

of the world’s classic rail trips. For details, visit:

rockymountaineer.com

Motorcoach Travel Special tours and services are

available throughout Alberta including the Rockies.

Drivers and guides offer historical information and

insight into the area.

Brewster Vacations: 1-403-762-6700 or in

North America: 1-866-606-6700

Greyhound Bus Lines: 1-800-661-8747

Red Arrow Motor Coach: 1-800-232-1958

health and Travel Insurance Alberta has an excellent

health care system; however, the health care plan does

not cover out-of-province visitors. Clarify your coverage

before entering Alberta through your personal insurance

carrier. Contact your local travel agent for further details.

highway Travel Alberta is accessible from the east and

west by two officially designated Trans-Canada routes.

Hwy 1 crosses Alberta in the South and the Trans-

Canada Yellowhead Hwy (Hwy 16) crosses Central

Alberta. North-South travel is provided on Queen

Elizabeth II Hwy, or you may want to take the scenic

route through the mountain parks on the spectacular

Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93).

Camping Camping is available throughout the province in

private campgrounds and resorts, national parks and

provincial parks. Reservations can be made at private

campgrounds and at certain parks. Camping fees range

from $10-$40 per night depending on services. To receive

a campground guide, call Travel Alberta at 1-800-ALBERTA

(252-3782), stop in at a visitor information centre, or visit:

TravelAlberta.com/camping

Alberta Public holidays (please see page 26)

u.S. Ports of EntryInternational visitors driving to Canada can use any of the following ports of entry:

Alberta Aden Carway Del Bonita Wild Horse Coutts Chief Mountain

MontanaWhitlash Piegan Del Bonita Wild Horse Sweetgrass Chief Mountain

Average TemperaturesSummer:June to August 20°C (68°F)

Fall:September to November 11°C (52°F)

Winter:December to February -11°C (12°F)

Spring:March to May 9°C (48°F)

Metric Conversion Canada uses the metric system. All highway and traffic indicators are in km and km/h, gas is sold by the liter, temperature is measured in Celsius, and the electrical current is 110 volts.

Distance:1 kilometer = 0.62 miles

Speed:100 km/h = 62 mph

Volume:3.8 liters = 1 U.S. gallon

Temperature:25°C (77°F)

Travel essenTials Roc

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hostelling in Alberta Hostels vary from basic (bed,

kitchen facilities) to superior standards (family rooms,

laundry facilities, licensed café, showers, sauna). Alberta

offers 15 hostels in Banff, Jasper (along the Icefields

Parkway), Kananaskis Country, David Thompson Country,

Calgary and Edmonton. For more details, visit hihostels.ca

or contact Central Reservations at 1-866-762-4122, or

e-mail: [email protected]

Fishing and hunting Regulations Fishing licences

outside the national parks can be purchased from select

sporting good stores, convenience stores and some gas

stations. For details, call: 1-888-944-5494.

Hunting regulations and special licensing requirements

vary depending on the type of hunting. Hunting is

absolutely prohibited in the national parks. For

everything you need to know about fishing and hunting

in Alberta, visit: mywildalberta.com

Pets Owners must accompany their pets when entering

Canada. Owners of dogs and cats must bring a

certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian clearly

identifying the pet and certifying that it has been

vaccinated against rabies within the preceding 36

months. There are exceptions made for seeing-eye

dogs and puppies or kittens that are younger than three

months old. For more details on border crossings with

a pet, contact:

Canadian Border Services Agency

Within Canada, call: 1-800-461-9999

Outside Canada, call: 1-204-983-3500 or

1-506-636-5064 or visit: cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Renting an Automobile All car rental companies have a

strong network of outlets in Alberta. To rent a car you

must be 21 years old and hold a valid driver’s licence

and a major credit card. (A small surcharge may apply

to drivers under 25 years of age).

Renting a Motorhome/RV Renting a motorhome is a

convenient way to explore Alberta. You may purchase

insurance at the time of rental. For best rates, it is

recommended that bookings be made three to four

months in advance.

Visitor Information Centres Knowledgeable and

friendly Alberta specialists await you at the 10

provincial Travel Alberta Visitor Information Centres,

strategically located along key highways and at border

entry points. Stop in for a variety of province-wide

tourism information including all Travel Alberta guides

and official road map. Let our specialists help customize

your vacation in Alberta.

To complement the provincial information services

network, more than 100 communities across Alberta

operate local and regional visitor information centres

that offer detailed travel information. A number of

these have been recognized as accredited centres that

provide a broad range of amenities and services.

Operating hours at visitor information centres vary, and

many are seasonal.

Meetings and Conventions There are visitor and

convention centres in Calgary, Edmonton, the Canadian

Rockies and many of the smaller cities, which are able

to host meetings and conventions. The full-service

resorts, hotels, lodges and restaurants in Alberta’s

most popular destinations are ideal sites for conferences

and meetings. A Meetings, Convention & Incentive

Travel Guide is also available from Travel Alberta.

Visit: TravelAlberta.com/meetings

Travel Alberta Guides Drop by a Visitor Information

Centre for a Travel Alberta Vacation Guide,

Accommodation Guide, Campground Guide or

Official Road Map. Call 1-800-ALBERTA (252-3782) to

order any of these guides or do so online at:

TravelAlberta.com/guides

Be Responsible Whether you’re in one of Alberta’s

urban centres, the badlands, prairies or the Rockies,

you can respect our environment by being a

responsible visitor:

• If you fly to Alberta, consider purchasing carbon offsets.

Independent agencies funnel these carbon offsets, or

voluntary donations, into renewable-energy research,

reforestation projects and other carbon-reduction

schemes. Visit aircanada.ca or offsetters.ca for more

details on carbon offset programs.

• Become familiar with local cultures and

communities, especially those of our First Nations’

people. Take time to listen to the people. Encourage

local conservation efforts.

• Respect the natural environment of the places you visit.

• Choose products that are reusable and recyclable.

• Buy goods and services from companies that respect

the environment.

• Support the integrity of your destination – whether it’s

noted for its architecture, heritage, cuisine, aesthetics

or ecology.

• Choose those (hotels, airlines, resorts, tour operators

and suppliers) who advance energy and

environmental conservation; water and air quality;

recycling; safe management of waste and toxic

materials; noise abatement; community involvement;

and which provide experienced, well-trained staff

dedicated to strong principles of conservation.

CONTACT

PhoneToll-free Canada & U.S. 1-800-ALBERTA (252-3782)

International 1-780-427-4321

E-mail [email protected]

Fax 1-780-427-0867

Post Travel Alberta Box 2500 Edmonton Alberta, Canada T5J 2z4

Travel Alberta assumes no responsibility or liability in connection with the services listed and provided by the operators. While every effort is made to ensure the information contained in the brochure is correct, Travel Alberta disclaims any liability in negligence or otherwise for any loss or damage that may occur as a result of reliance upon any of this material. All information is accurate at press time but is subject to change without notice. Travel Alberta provides this publication for information purposes only. Travel Alberta does not endorse any of the persons or entities listed in this publication or make any representations or warranties as to their reliability, financial condition and suitability for any particular purpose. You are advised to make your own inquiries of any person or entity in this publication to determine if he/she/it is satisfactory for your purposes. All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced from this publication without prior written permission from Travel Alberta.

Some photographs in this publication are courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission.

you could win a free seven-day holiday to Alberta by simply completing the survey at

TravelAlberta.com/survey. And after reading this Vacation Guide you’ll be able to

customize your trip for two.


Must Attend• Banff Summer Arts Festival

• Calgary Stampede

• Edmonton International Fringe Festival

• The Canadian Badlands Passion Play

• Big Valley Jamboree

• Magnificent River Rats Festival

• Banff Mountain Film Festival

Must Experience• Columbia Icefields

• NHL Hockey Game

• Royal Tyrrell Museum

• Spirit Island Boat Cruise

• Horseback Riding

• Hiking

Must Photograph• Lake Louise/Moraine Lake

• Fringe Festival, Edmonton

• Glaciers, Icefields Parkway

• Calgary Stampede

• Sunset, Canadian Badlands

• Northern lights

• You in Alberta

Must know• Alberta population: 3.5 million

• Capital: Edmonton

• Size: 4th most popular provincial destination

• Provincial Flower: Wild Rose

• Highest Peak: Mt. Columbia 3,747 m (12,294 ft)

• Canada’s oldest national park: Banff

Must Eat• Beef jerky

• Beef on a bun

• Cheemo’s perogies

• Big Rock beer

• Bernard Callebaut chocolates

• Field Stone fruit wine

• Prairie oysters

• Alberta game/wildmeats

Package Tours Let a professional tour

operator design an itinerary for you.

Choose from North American and

International based tour operators who

offer fully escorted tours, fly/drive

packages, and a variety of independent

“Land Only” packages. We’ve made it

easy for you to link directly to tour

operators in the country of your choice.

For a complete list visit: TravelAlberta.

com and click on Packages and Tours.

Things to Know Before You Go Most of

the nuts and bolts that go into planning

a vacation are on the previous page,

Travel Essentials. Prefer to call? Dial

1-800-ALBERTA (252-3782), only in

North America. Or meet an Alberta

Travel expert at one of our Visitor

Information Centres.

More Siteful Information This Guide is

merely a starting point. Our newly

enhanced website has a wealth of

information plus the ability to customize

your holiday so you can design a

vacation where you truly get away from

it all. From budgetary matters to specific

interest areas, Travel Alberta will

connect you to some of the planet’s

most beautiful wilderness areas and

fascinating cultural escapes. Visit:

TravelAlberta.com.

When to Go Alberta is a four-season

destination but most visitors plan their

vacation around the summer or winter.

Summer holidays typically revolve

around outdoor activities such as hiking,

biking, fishing and golfing – or our

massive festivals from the Calgary

Stampede to the Edmonton Fringe.

In winter, the focus is on skiing and

snowboarding. Summer days are long,

sunny, hot and simply stunning. Winter is

marked by fluffy snow and sunny skies

– perfect for skiing. Late spring and early

fall are also lovely times to visit, marked

by fewer visitors and lower prices.

What to Pack The diversity in Alberta

calls for shrewd packing. If you’re

heading to the Rockies for any sort of

outdoor adventure, dress in layers. Apart

from a handful of very formal urban

restaurants most dining establishments

in Alberta welcome casual attire.

Always bring sunglasses and a hat to

provide protection from strong sunlight.

With airlines tightening luggage

restrictions, remember to leave all

liquids and sharp objects in your piece

of check-in baggage. Your carry-on bag

should contain valuables, medications,

reading materials and vital documents.

National Park Entry Permits are

required for entry into any national park

in Canada – and Alberta has five. You

can buy a day pass at a park gate but if

you’re intending to spend time in many

of our parks consider an annual National

Parks of Canada Pass that’s good for one

year from the date of purchase and

comes with a booklet of discount

coupons. National park fees have been

waived until 2011 as have fees to

historic sites – more good news for

budget-minded travellers!

We hope this Vacation Guide moves you to new places both physically and emotionally. More planning tips to help you ...

Hot

Air

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RED DEER

GRANDEPRAIRIE

FORT McMURRAY

RAINBOW LAKE

GRANDECACHE

HINTON

LLOYDMINSTER

OYEN

MEDICINE HAT

MILK RIVER

HIGH LEVEL

CALGARY

LETHBRIDGE

WALSH

PEACE RIVER

DRUMHELLER

CROWSNEST PASS

145 km90 mi

271 km168 mi

690 km439 mi

456 km283 mi

296 km184 mi

138 km86 mi

198 km123 mi

187 km116 mi

288 km179 mi

488 km303 mi

460 km286 mi

158 km98 mi

250 km155 mi

276 km172 mi

139 km86 mi57 km

35 mi

26 km16 mi

104 km65 mi

189 km118 mi

223 km139 mi

140 km87 mi

84 km52 mi

169 km105 mi

54 km33 mi

239 km149 mi

188 km117 mi

Wood BuffaloNational Park

DinosaurProvincial Park


Elk IslandNational Park

EDMONTON

FORTCHIPEWYAN

CANMORE

LAKE LOUISEFIELD

JASPER

BANFF

WEST GLACIER

146 km91 mi

79 km49 mi

232 km144 mi

ColumbiaIcefield

JasperNational

Park

BanffNational Park

Waterton LakesNational Park

ICEFIELDS PARKWAY

Visitor Information CentreUNESCO World Heritage SiteAirport

For greater detail, please refer to the Official Alberta Road Map.

1 Edmonton & Area 2 Calgary & Area3 Canadian Rockies4 Alberta South5 Alberta Central6 Alberta North

key destinations and driving distances

Alberta Map

XX%

Cert no. XXX-XXX-000

The Official Travel Alberta Vacation Guide is printed on

recycled, post-consumer waste certified by both the

Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council. The 30% recycled content in

our pages translates into the conservation of trees, energy,

and water as well as a decrease in pollutants.

Travel Alberta Visitor Information Centres

Canmore Year Round

Crowsnest Pass May – September

Field, British Columbia May – October

Grande Prairie May – September

Hinton May – October

Lloydminster May – September

Milk River May – October

Oyen May – September

Walsh May – September

West Glacier, Montana May – September


Across the Bow River from The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is a series of pocket beaches –cool little spots to picnic or simply admire Bow Falls and iconic peaks such as Sulphur Mountain and Mt. Rundle. The area is also a dream for rafters, trail runners, horseback riders, fishers and hikers.

TravelAlberta.com/Rockies

WIN A

Trip of a Lifetime!*

We want to know how helpful this Official Vacation Guide was in planning your holiday. All you have to do is:Fill out the survey at TravelAlberta.com/survey

You’ll automatically be entered into Travel Alberta’s Trip of a Lifetime contest which will award some lucky winner with a seven-day customized holiday for two. This incredible $5,000 vacation for two includes accommodations, airfare, car rental and activities for an extraordinary holiday that only you could create.

* Some restrictions may apply.

TRAVELALBERTA.COM 1-800-ALBERTA

Documents

Travel Alberta 2010 Vacation Guide