As the second largest country in the world, Canada is blessed with natural wonders on a scale unlike many other nations on the planet. Many of these wonders are based in the western province of Alberta, making it the perfect place to explore. For those planning a trip to this spectacular part of the world, our contributing writer introduces things to do in awesome Alberta.
Things to do in Alberta, Canada
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Alberta’s landscape consists of mountains, prairies, desert badlands and vast forests — more than 600 lakes. You could easily spend weeks and months on end in Alberta. We will just give you a selection of the things to do in awesome Alberta. Highlights to whet your traveling appetite include exploring this Canadian province and its stampedes, scenery, and skiing.
Check Out Calgary
When searching for things to do in Alberta, don’t miss a stop in Calgary. The largest city in the province and likely starting point for your Alberta Adventure is Calgary. If you are going to be flying in here, check out Wingate By Wyndham Calgary Airport as a place to stay.
If traveling to Calgary in the winter, be prepared for a deep freeze, but it really comes to life in July with the annual Calgary Stampede. Wild west fanatics will find rodeo attractions, country music and outdoor spectacles galore. It is hard not to get swept away in the rootin’-tootin’ fun of it all!
One of the other big attractions is the Calgary Tower, which offers 360-degree views of the city and the Rocky Mountains beyond.
Beautiful Banff
No trip to Alberta would be complete without heading over to Banff National Park. The ski season is just getting started and you will find some of the best slopes in the country right here.
Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, the tourist town of Banff is where people tend to base themselves. Wildlife is in abundance here including bears, wolves, and elk.
During the summer months, hiking is a popular activity and you certainly have to pay a visit to the stunningly turquoise Lake Louise. You can even canoe out over the lake, though it will be frozen solid throughout winter.
Moraine Lake is another must-see attraction, and it has the advantage of being much less-visited than Lake Louise.
The Jewel of Jasper
Like Banff, Jasper National Park is named after the town that lies in its heart. The biggest national park in Canada takes in countless waterfalls, lakes, glaciers, mountains, and forests. Less frequently visited than Banff, travelers sense a great feeling of remoteness in Jasper. Other opportunities include ample skiing and snowboarding adventures for winter sports enthusiasts.
If you are traveling between Banff and Jasper, the Icefields Parkway is the road that you should take. Without a doubt, this is one of the most beautiful drives in Canada.
A relatively new attraction is the Glacier Skywalk, a 280-meter high glass walkway with views over the valley below.
For lovers of the Great Outdoors, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Alberta. Fill an entire holiday in this region alone, before moving onto some of the other treasures that Canada has to offer.
