Welcome to Traveler Heavens! Are you looking for the best places to visit in Alberta, Canada? Look no further! We’ve rounded up the best spots in Alberta, from the stunning Jasper National Park to the lively city of Edmonton. Whether you’re looking to explore nature or the urban jungle, Alberta has something for everyone. So, explore with us, and let’s find you the perfect destination!
Alberta is the third-biggest province in Canada and home to four of Canada’s national parks. The landscape of Alberta is a stark contrast from its northern neighbor, and it’s easy to see why so many visitors are drawn here year after year.
In Alberta, you’ll find diverse landscapes that range from prairies, mountains, and desert badlands to vast coniferous forests and over 600 lakes. Alberta has a lot to offer! I lived there for years. During that time, I saw and did as much as possible.
If you’ve never been to Alberta, chances are you’re curious about what it’s like and what you should do there. In this article, I will share my favourite best places to visit in Alberta! There are tons of sights and attractions unique to the province, so I want to help make it easy for you to start planning your trip.
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is one of the best places to visit in Alberta. Mountains are one of the most extensive non-polar ice fields in North America. If you want to visit some of the best glacial scenery in Alberta, then Jasper National Park is the place for you.
The park contains the Columbia Ice Fields, one of the largest ice fields in the Rocky You can visit the glaciers, explore and walk on the ice, or try a glass-floored skywalk on top of them. If visiting Canada’s largest national park, Jasper National Park, you can see some of the country’s best wildlife. You might see moose, caribou, deer and other animals as well.
Banff National Park
Banff is a beautiful destination for all types of travellers. You’ll be in awe of the natural beauty of Banff National Park with its impressive mountain scenery, major ski resorts, beautiful lakes, and the town of Banff. There are various forms of wildlife here, including grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, caribou, elk and many more.
From the roads, there are many backcountry and front-country trails to explore, as well as numerous lookouts that offer impressive views over the area from the comfort of your car. The best part about exploring Banff is catching a ride up the Sulphur Mountain Gondola and enjoying the scenic views from the top! As one of the largest parks in Canada,
Banff National Park is immense and can’t be fully explored in a few days. If you prefer the simplicity of camping to stay in a hotel, check into an excellent campground like Emmett’s Meadow Campground. Available on nearby trails and consisting of heated tents and modern amenities, this campground is perfect for those who appreciate style over time constraints.
Calgary
Alberta’s largest city plays a significant role in the early fur trade. Once known as “Calgary, Village on the Hills,” its name comes from the Scottish village of Calgary on the Isle of Mull. The city has grown to be its present-day size at just over 1 million people, including many significant landmarks like the Telus Saddled me arena and Chinook Centre convention complex.
Though Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, it is best known for its annual Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Tower, one of North America’s top skyscrapers. Calgary has an impressive skyline, punctuated by skyscrapers that soar more than 1,000 feet high. Regarding art and culture, Calgary has the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, which is a landmark performing arts center.
Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park is more than just a park where you can see elks, which was its original purpose long before it became a national park. It’s just over 30 km (20 miles) from Edmonton and was established to save bison. Elk Island is Canada’s largest fully enclosed national park, but others are in the country.
Regardless of the weather, you can find numerous animal species while visiting the park. Rabbits and geese are often seen in the fall and spring, with moose and deer taking center stage during summer. Visitors will also have plenty to do through the winter, with outdoor winter sports available. Inside the museum, visitors can find exhibits dedicated to Ukrainian Pioneer history.
Edmonton
Edmonton is one of the best places to visit in Alberta. Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is home to 1.3 million people and was once the largest shopping mall in North America. It was surpassed by Edmonton’s indoor marketplace, now known as the Edmonton City Centre Market, which opened just outside downtown.
Edmonton is known as “Canada’s Festival City.” Its biggest festival is K-Days, which pays homage to the Klondike gold rush. Edmonton also hosts a July street performers festival attracting artists from around the world, just like Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Icefields Parkway and the Columbia Icefield
Canada’s Icefields Parkway is a 230-kilometre drive from Lake Louise to Jasper. It leads past lakes, mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls for visitors to get out and experience the landscapes. The various trails lead hikers to scenic lookouts at various points along the trail. The Ice Fields Centre is one of the many attractions along Saskatchewan’s Icefields Parkway.
This visitor centre features exhibits on the Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier and looks over them from behind. Nearby, models and photos give visitors a unique perspective of what they may have missed when driving by. Banff is a beautiful and scenic mountain valley town in Alberta that overlooks the Columbia Icefield.
There are many places to visit while you’re in Banff, but one of the most popular attractions is Lake Louise. If you want to explore this area thoroughly, stay for a few days, and relax. Jasper National Park has incredible hiking opportunities and even more stunning views on the other side of the Icefield. It’s also significantly cheaper than staying in Lake Louise, so it’s well worth your visit!
Moraine Lake
Beyond Lake Louise is Moraine Lake in the Valley of Ten Peaks. It’s a stunning place with turquoise water and snow-capped peaks, much like Lake Louise. There are plenty of fantastic places for outdoor enthusiasts to explore nearby Moraine Lake is surrounded by ten peaks, all of which are more than 3,000 meters in height and consist of the Wenkchemna Glacier.
The lake rises from the center toward what many call the Rockpile Trail to overlook – a short, challenging route that gives visitors a great view across the lake to the thundering sounds of glaciers or landslides in the distance. as well, including some that have been used for iconic photographs over the years. Getting information about a day hike in Banff National Park leaves much to be desired.
You can only choose the best hikes or research them online if you have paid for an expensive admission ticket. In a perfect world, everyone could read up on their day hike of choice before arriving at the canyon, which is why we created The North Face-Lees Summit trail guide.
This new tool provides in-depth information, detailed maps and GPS data that will ensure you are fully prepared for your adventure no matter how long you spend outside. All you need to do is input your trail of choice, and The North Face-Lees Summit will ensure you have everything you need to tackle each task along the way to Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass.
Lake Louise Ski Resort
Lake Louise Ski Resort is one of the best places to visit in Alberta. Lake Louise Ski Resort is one of Canada’s most popular ski resorts. It has 164 named runs, plus a few locals have to know about it, so there will be something for everyone. With various well-regarded ski schools, a fun and varied terrain, and superb facilities, Lake Louise Ski Resort is perfect for aspiring skiers or snowboarders.
It’s also only 2 hours away from Calgary International Airport, making it easy to get to destinations near and far. Mountain riders are proud of the ski resort. Whether summer or winter, you can ride on the gondola that whisks you up to the top of beautiful mountains and offers spectacular views. Riding on a gondola is an excellent opportunity to spot a bear while enjoying scenic mountainside scenery and vast valley views.
Drumheller and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology
Located about 140 kilometers northeast of Calgary, Drumheller is a small town. The history of this area goes back to 75 million years ago, when dinosaurs first emerged in this region, and many teams have studied them over the years. The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology is where you can learn about fossil discovery and displays many exhibits.
The Drumheller area has a blend of badlands, hoodoos, and beautiful rock formations found in exciting hiking trails. If you’re interested in what the area offers, we recommend “Dinosaur Trail,” a driving tour for folks interested in the area’s main attractions.
Canmore
Canmore is one of the best places to visit in Alberta. Canmore is a town situated in the foothills of North America’s Rocky Mountains. It lends its name to Malcolm 3rd of Scotland, nicknamed “Canmore,” and it gained fame during Calgary’s 1988 Winter Olympics as the hosting site.
If you’re a movie buff, you might want to check out Brokeback Mountain, Shanghai Noon, or The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Some of these films were shot on this city’s beautiful terrains. If you’re on a budget and want to enjoy scenery like Banff and Lake Louise, Canmore is cheaper than other accommodations.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a place to explore in Alberta, many great options are available. From stunning mountain ranges to bustling cities full of culture and history, the province has something for everyone. So whether you’re planning your next vacation or just hoping for a day off work, take a look at these places and see which ones catch your eye!
In this article, I’ve highlighted some of my personal favourite and suggested where you might want to visit them. All destinations are awesome! According to my opinion, Calgary is the best to start. I hope you have enjoyed our list of the Best Places to Visit in Alberta.
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