Travel Alberta 2010 Vacation Guide
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Transcript of 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.
explore your passion
Catt
le d
rive
, sou
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f Ca
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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
283848586674
EdM
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& AREA
CALGARy &
AREACAN
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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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3Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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.
4 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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5Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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.
Bruc
e Be
mbr
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NAT
uRAL
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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.”
6 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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7Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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.
Lake
Lou
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evils
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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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8 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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9Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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
Nor
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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 ... “
10 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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!
Slee
pove
r, C
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11Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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12 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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.
Alb
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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!
dean
Sta
nton
PAI
NTER
“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.”
14 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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15Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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.”
Gail
hall
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16 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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
Vol
d G
OLF
dIRE
CTOR
“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.”
18 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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.
Jare
t Lle
wel
lyn
WOR
Ld C
hAM
PION
WAT
ERSk
IER “The Lake of Kastyn Stone
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.”
20 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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21Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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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Lak
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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.”
22 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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.”
Sara
Ren
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24 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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25Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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
The
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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.
Alan
and
Mad
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AuR
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OdGE
“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.”
26 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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27Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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
28 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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29Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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.
30 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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.
kree
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R/SO
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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!”
31Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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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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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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.
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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.
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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
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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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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.
Conr
ad L
ittle
Lea
f IN
TERP
RETE
R AT
hEA
d-SM
AShE
d-IN
BuF
FALO
JuM
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.”
61Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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.
Pow
wow
Tee
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ProvincialParkWriting-on-Stone
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GRANUM
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VAUXHALL
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HANNA
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PORT OFDEL BONITA
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Head-Smashed-InBuffalo Jump
BadlandsCircle Tour
ReelAdventures
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National Park
HIGHRIVER
1DRUMHELLER
5
LONGVIEW
WEST GLACIER
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COALHURST
BOW ISLAND
TABER
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Visitor Information CentreUNESCO World Heritage SiteAirportU.S. Ports of Entry
63Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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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65Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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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67Official Alberta Vacation Guide
ALBERTA CENTRAL
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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.
68 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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.
St. E
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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.”
69Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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MAYERTHORPE
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Alberta’sYellowhead
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David Thompson Explorer’s Trail
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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.
72 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
david Thompson Explorer’s Trail
Distance: 345 km (215 mi)Travelling time: One to three days by car
Begin: StettlerEnd: Saskatchewan River Crossing
ALBERTA CENTRAL ROAd TRIPS
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
ALBERTA CENTRAL ROAd TRIPS
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.
Refer to map on page 70
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75Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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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!
Fort
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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.
79Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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LESSER SLAVE LAkE ANd MCLENNAN IN A dAy
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.
82 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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
ky M
ount
ain
eer
83Official Alberta Vacation Guide
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.
84 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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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Pra
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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
Head-Smashed-InBuffalo Jump
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
86 TravelAlberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA
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