The province of Alberta, located in the western part of Canada, is a land full of extreme topography. Although it’s known as the prairie province, Alberta is the home of some of the tallest peaks of the Canadian Rockies. The diversity of Alberta’s landscape continues from these majestic mountains to the bright yellow canola fields of the Grande Prairie, the dense wilderness of the Boreal Forests, and the rugged fossil-filled Canadian Badlands. Because of these extremes, Alberta is a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. In addition to outdoor activities, Alberta has many exciting attractions to offer travelers of all ages.
The crystal clear lakes, snow-capped mountains, and dazzling waterfalls of the Canadian Rockies, located in the Alberta’s south western region, bring skiers, hikers, and anglers from around the world. Challenging slopes can be found in this region’s top ski and snow boarding destinations of Castle Mountain and Marmot Basin. These resorts not only offer world-class ski runs, but accommodations and restaurants to satisfy the most discerning traveler. The Canadian Rockies is also the home of Banff National Park, Canada’s oldest national park. Here visitors can enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful vistas, explore glaciers and ice fields, and catch sight of over 50 species of mammals including grizzlies, elk, bighorn sheep, and moose. For hikers, the Canadian Rockies provide vast network of trails suitable for both experts and novices. Anglers can enjoy pristine rivers and turquoise lakes such as Lake Louise and Lake Moraine.
The Grande Prairie of Alberta, located in the heartland of the province, is home to many attractions. Red Deer, Alberta’s third largest city, offers travelers a wide choice of shopping, dining, and night life. While in the area, enjoy other worth-while sites such as the Historic Fort Normandeau, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, or travel to the nearby town of Stettler to take a full-day excursion across the prairie on the Alberta Prairie Railway, a historic steam locomotive.
The southern region of Alberta contains both prairies and mountains. One of the most beautiful attractions in this area is Waterton Lakes National Park. Sharing a border with Montana’s Glacier National Park, these majestic peaks attract thousands of tourists yearly. North east of the park, the topography changes to barren ravines, rocky towers, and the jagged ridges of the Canadian Badlands. This area earned its “badland” reputation from accounts of outlaws that hid from the law amidst the deep gulches and rocky landscape. Here visitors can visit the town of Drumheller and tour the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which contains one of Canada’s most extensive collections of dinosaur skeletons and fossils. Also in this region, lies one of Canada’s most famous cities, Calgary. Known mostly as the home of the 1988 Winter Olympics, Calgary offers a myriad of attractions including theaters, parks, and the Calgary Zoo. Its also the home of the famous Calgary Stampede which consists of 10 days packed with rodeos, concerts, and festivals. Travelers come from all over the world to enjoy this famous event.
The spacious northern region of Alberta is where visitors can unwind and escape the hectic pace of daily life. This wide-open, sparsely populated region, is the location of Canada’s Boreal Forest. Known as the “green crown of the world,” the Boreal Forest is an evergreen paradise and the largest terrestrial ecosystem in the world. Larger than even the Amazon Rainforest, the Boreal Forest remains wilderness, free of roads and industrial development.
If you’d much rather peruse isles of merchandise than roam the wilds, then look no further than the city of Edmonton, Alberta’s capital. This city features the West Edmonton Mall, Canada’s largest shopping and entertainment center. With hundreds of shops and restaurants, an indoor golf course, ice rink, water park, and amusement park, visitors need not ever leave the confines of the mall. However, if you do venture outside the mall, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the nearby attractions of historic Fort Saskatchewan and the quaint towns of St. Albert and Leduc.
Alberta is a destination that holds something for every traveler. Visitors can experience soaring mountains, rolling prairies, badlands, and explore one of the Earth’s few remaining wildernesses as well as enjoy all the major metropolitan experiences of museums, restaurants, and shopping extravaganzas. All in all, each visit to Alberta offers an opportunity to create an enjoyable and unique memory.
I think this rocky landscape is just magnificent!!! Canada is a special place for sights like this. And the province of Alberta is part of this. I’m very fond of mountains, I would love to stay in a cabin, surrounded by them, like rocky guardians.