Must See Places in Alberta
Part of Western Canada, bordering Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia, Alberta is Canada’s only landlocked province, that is, it is surrounded only by land, without any route leading directly to the sea. Alberta has quite a diverse terrain, which includes the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, glaciers, and lakes; the mutely beautiful flat prairies and wild forests in the north. Of all three of Canada’s prairie provinces, Alberta is the biggest.
Apart from the wide variety of nature, you would get to feast your eyes on in Alberta, its two main cities, Edmonton, which is the capital of Alberta, and Calgary, are metropolitan urban cities in their rights, which have many sightseeing options for tourists too. These cities often get neglected in favour of the famous Canadian cities of Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, but Edmonton and especially Calgary have a lot to offer too. There are also small rural farm towns that make for charming little getaways, and the many national parks in the Rocky Mountains are one of the biggest tourist attractions in Alberta.
Of the many places worth a visit on your trip to Alberta, here is a list of some of the best ones that you must make sure to see while visiting Alberta.
Banff
Banff National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Canada and comprises a stunning mountainous landscape, some of the best ski resorts in Canada, beautiful, pristine lakes, an abundance of wildlife, and also a quaint little tourist town called Banff. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most popular place to explore in Banff is Icefields Parkway, one of the most picturesque highways in Canada, where at one point a narrow valley forms between the glaciers of the Rockies, providing a beautiful landscape along with the mountain lakes and icefields; Sulphur Mountain, from where you will get one of the best views of the entire place; Lake Louise, which is breathtakingly beautiful and probably the most popular lake in Canada; Chateau Lake Louise, one of the best resorts in Alberta; Moraine Lake and Bow Lake, other famous lakes in Banff; and some of the most popular ski resorts in Alberta such as Lake Louise Ski Resort and Sunshine Village Ski Resort.
Calgary Stampede
If you are planning on visiting Canada, especially the province of Alberta, during early July, then you must head on to Calgary where a ten-day rodeo event takes place annually in early July. A rodeo event involves cowboys participating to show their riding and other skills. There are all things cowboy and rodeo, cultural exhibits, and also quite a lot of country music at the Calgary Stampede. There are also parades and exhibitions by the First Nations of Canada. People come to visit and participate in the festival from all over North America and the rest of the world too. Other than the rodeo exhibition you would also find the rest of the city transformed during the ten days, with local establishments and businesses also participating in the event in their way. The event and rodeo in and of itself are quite crucial to Calgary’s identity as a city. It is known worldwide as Stampede City or Cowtown.
Drumheller
Popularly known as the Town of Dinosaurs, Drumheller is a small town in Alberta that was inhabited by dinosaurs millions of years ago. Of the various dinosaur fossils found in and around Drumheller the most significant ones are displayed and showcased at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. All paleontologists and even laypersons interested in dinosaurs would love to visit the museum where they would be offered quite an insightful and in-depth look at the anthropological history of this place. Far from just fascinating for its history and anthropology, Drumheller also attracts tourists for its badlands which consist of some popular hiking trails such as the Dinosaur Trail.
Jasper National Park
Jasper, Albert
Jasper is another popular national park in Canada. It is the largest national park in Canada, covering an area of more than ten thousand square kilometres. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jasper National Park was built at the beginning of the 20th century and though it’s not as famous as Banff, it is still a national park that many tourists frequent in Canada. The Park is full of lakes, waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, etc., some of the most popular of these picturesque tourist attractions of Jasper National Park being Mount Edith Cavell, one of the most important mountains in Alberta; such lakes as Pyramid Lake, Maligne Lake, and Medicine Lake; Tonquin Valley, located in the area of a continental divide; Columbia Icefield, the largest ice field in the Canadian Rocky Mountains; Athabasca Falls; Miette Hot Springs; and the Marmot Basin area that is available for skiing.
West Edmonton Mall
The city of Edmonton might not have a lot to offer in terms of tourist attractions but if you are going to be in the city for some work, you must make sure to visit the West Edmonton Mall, which is Canada’s largest shopping centre. It is a huge complex with many places and recreational activities offered therein, such as the World Waterpark, the ice rink known as the Mayfield Toyota Ice Palace, mini golf, an aquarium that offers tourists live shows, a bowling alley, and of course such places as all malls have like movie theatres, shopping stores, and restaurants.
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is not only the most serene lake in Banff town. But it is also one of the most precious lakes in the entire world! The Lakeshore trail is a mesmerizing trail for planning a hike at Moraine Lake. Hiking around Moraine Lake is a special experience that all travellers with all levels of skills should enjoy. Climbing to the top of the Tower of Babel is worth it if you want to see some of the most breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. It's the ideal location to experience peace and tranquillity away from the hectic life of the big city, with the turquoise lake and 10 peaks in the backdrop. Since hiking is one of the most popular activities here, it is advised to take the Consolation Lakes trail as it is not only an easy trail for hiking, but it also allows you to delve into the infinite beauty of alpine lakes and surrounding mountains in the background.
Wood Buffalo National Park
Did you know that the Wood Buffalo National Park is one of the biggest parks in Canada? This park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since the location of the Wood Buffalo National Park is remote, it may not have many tourists paying visits each year. However, this truly makes it a hidden gem where numerous natural treasures lie. The main attraction of this national park is the divine flora and fauna. Constructed in 1922, the main aim of this park was to protect and preserve the final groups of beautiful animals also known as the Wood Buffalo. As of now, Wood Buffaloes do thrive there hence the name of the park. Other divine animals that can be spotted in the Wood Buffalo National Park are- Moose, Black Bear, Caribou, Beaver, and Whooping cranes. This national park is a dark-sky preserve, allowing visitors to witness the Northern lights in Winter.
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