Page 38 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to Canada

AB
36
4,888,723
Edmonton
www.travelalberta.com
Calgary International Airport,
18.4 km (11 mi.) from downtown
Edmonton International Airport,
30 km (19 mi.) from downtown
ALBERTA
HORSEBACK RIDING IN KANANASKIS COUNTRY • TRAVEL ALBERTA/SEAN THONSON
Alpine Vistas,
City Sojourns and
Rural Retreats
The birthplace of the nation’s Wild West
cowboy culture, Alberta is blessed with
abundant wildlife, jaw-dropping scenery
and must-do adventures that run right
through all four seasons. Check out trail
rides in the Rockies, guided ice walks
through frozen waterfalls or horse-and-
buggy tours through historic towns.
BY SUSAN MATE
Seize the chance to engage with the First
Nations Peoples and watch the fancy footwork
and rhythmic jangles of the dancers compe-
ting at a powwow or performing at one of the
heritage sites and festivals.
The awe-inspiring peaks of the Rocky
Mountains enthrall visitors to the province’s
west, while massive ranches and parklands
beckon to the east. The northern boreal
forests offer secluded hiking, paddling and
birdwatching, while the Canadian Badlands
lure visitors with its lunar-like landscape
and vast dinosaur bone beds.
Urban escape artists flock to Alberta’s
two largest cosmopolitan cities, Edmonton
and Calgary, for retail therapy, gourmet
dining, and shopping at North America’s
largest shopping and entertainment
complex, West Edmonton Mall. Smaller
cities, including Red Deer, Grande Prairie,
Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge
and Airdrie, serve as important regional
hubs for shopping, government, tourism
and agriculture/industry.
The annual Calgary Stampede celebrates
all things cowboy and rodeo early each July.
Edmonton’s K-Days follows up with a tribute
to northern Alberta’s Klondike heritage, while
dozens of other festivals across the province
celebrate Alberta’s unique pockets of regional
pride—think perogies in Vegreville, or beef
jerky in Longview.
NATURE’S WONDERLAND
Alberta has incredible national and
provincial parks across the province.
Spread across 661,848 sq. km (255,541 sq.
mi.) of pristine terrain, the five major snow
resorts and sprawling backcountry lure