As Canada’s sunniest province, Alberta is a stellar year-round destination. In fact, its largest city Calgary averages around 333 days of sunshine a year, more than any other Canadian city.
But it’s not just the weather that makes it appealing, with endless reasons to put Alberta at the top of your travel wish list. We’ve picked out 10 of the best to recommend to clients when planning an itinerary which is bursting with must see and do experiences.
1. Not your first rodeo
Billed as ‘The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’ the annual Calgary Stampede celebrates Alberta’s heritage through the spectacle of rodeo. The world’s largest event of its kind, it runs over 10 days, featuring chuckwagon, relay races and a dazzling Grandstand Show.
2. Parklife
Home to the world famous national parks of Jasper and Banff in the Rocky Mountains, Alberta also lays claim to Canada’s largest, Wood Buffalo National Park. The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is here too and is the first transboundary protected area to be established anywhere in the world. Formed in 1932, it comprises Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and Glacier National Park in the United States.
3. Ice giant
Continuing with the trend of going big, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Icefield, can be found in Alberta. In fact, there are more than 100 glaciers along the iconic Icefields Parkway. Exploring can be undertaken aboard a massive Ice Explorer, going on guided glacier walk, or traversing the glass-floored Columbia Icefield Skywalk.
4. Indigenous lands
As the only province with a recognised land base for the Métis people, travellers can pay a visit to Métis Crossing near Edmonton. The unique combination of a cultural centre and historical village pays tribute to one of the three Indigenous groups that live in Canada. Through workshops, cultural exhibits and events, visitors will discover more about the past and present of Canada’s Indigenous peoples.
5. Star quality
Canada’s clear skies are ideal for a bit of stargazing, and fortunately Jasper is the largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve on the planet. Stretching over more than 11,000 square kilometres, the stargazing opportunities are incomparable, with even the iconic rainbow hues of the Northern Lights visible even from the town of Jasper.
6. Natural high
Wildlife and nature flourish in the province, with forested lands covering more than half its surface area and more wildlife crossings in Banff National Park than anywhere else on Earth. The crossings were created to help animals connect their habitats and migration routes without having to cross busy roads, providing safety for this vital part of the ecosystem.
7. Signature seven
Although famed for its beef, there’s a lot more to Alberta’s cuisine. Seven signature foods offer a smorgasbord of standout culinary options for travellers to sink their teeth into- from root vegetables that are sweeter than elsewhere in the world and low-fat but high-iron bison to honey, the highly sought-after nectar of the gods, which has a distinct flavour thanks to the abundance of red clover and alfalfa that honeybees forage on.
8. Bone to pick
Ancient beasts also feature in abundance. Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park contains fossil specimens from 58 dinosaur species, dating back 75 million years. Or visit the ‘Dinosaur Capital of the World’ at Drumheller to see the world’s largest dinosaur, known as Tyra, and climb 106 steps for views of the surrounding Canadian Badlands from her gaping jaw.
9. Spring fling
No need to shell out for a spa day, when you can visit Banff Upper Hot Springs, the highest in the country. The cave with the hot springs that paved the way for the creation of Canada’s National Parks system is open to the public and can be found inside Banff National Park. The park is also home to Canada’s longest cave system: the Limestone Castleguard Cave. It runs for more than 20 kilometres, with experts saying it is likely longer, but as of yet it has not been surveyed further.
10. Walk this way
Both Calgary and Edmonton are ideal to explore on foot thanks to an extensive network of river pathways. Take a stroll along the North Saskatchewan River Valley, the longest continuous urban parkway in North America. Or to escape the city bustle, explore one of the many rural trails on a hike, or snowshoeing in winter, and immerse yourself in incredible nature.
