Page 41 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to Canada

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jaw-dropping boulder fields lining the
highway to the town of Frank, where 82
million metric tonnes of rock crashed down
from the mines at Turtle Mountain and
buried the town. A visit to the Frank Slide
Interpretive Centre tells the story of the
nighttime tragedy.
Deh Cho Trail: The best of northern Alberta
is found along this journey northwest of
Edmonton to High Level. It offers vast
tracts of stunning wilderness with
countless lakes and rivers; the boreal
forests, parkland and wetlands are teeming
with wildlife including rare birds. Explore
old fur trade posts at historic sites such as
Fort Vermilion, or cross Alberta’s longest
vehicle suspension bridge over the Peace
River at Dunvegan.
Cowboy Trail: Western heritage takes the
spotlight along this scenic Highway 22
drive through the foothills of the Rockies
between Pincher Creek and Mayerthorpe.
Highlights of the route include Bar U Ranch
National Historic Site and historic Cochrane
RancheHouse (www.thecowboytrail.com).
FAMILY FUN
Don’t miss the World Waterpark at West
Edmonton Mall, the Calgary Zoo’s Penguin
Plunge or The Brainasium outdoor
playground at the TELUS Spark Science
Centre. Kids enjoy the Tropical Pyramid at
the Muttart Conservatory. The Great
Canadian Barn Dance at Hillspring features
campfires, music and food (www.gcbd.ca),
while the Innisfail Discovery Wildlife Park
is a 36 ha (90 acre) zoo housing more than
30 species of orphaned animals including
bears, wolves and lions (www.discovery
wildlifepark.com). The Royal Tyrrell
Museum offers a Jurassic joyride; also the
chance to climb into the belly of the World’s
Largest Dinosaur in Drumheller in the
Canadian Badlands.
DOWNTOWN CALGARY • LISABOURGEAULT/SHUTTERSTOCK
Nestled into the lush coulees of the
Rosebud River Valley, the abandoned
railway town of Rosebud was overtaken by a
group of faith-based artists three decades
ago. They created a thriving professional
theatre school and arts centre that offers
high-calibre, family-friendly theatre and
music. Many tourists stroll along the
hamlet’s two streets, which are spattered
with funky art shops and galleries
(www.rosebudtheatre.com).
Historic Fort Macleod, in southern Alberta,
is the birthplace of the North-West Mounted
Police—now the RCMP. The first musical
ride in Canada was held in the town in 1876.
Modelled after British Army cavalry drills, the
musical ride is held daily in July and August
(www.nwmpmuseum.com).
SCENIC DRIVES
Crowsnest Highway: This historic route
stretches from Fort Macleod in the
province’s far south to the town of Coleman,
where the province’s coal-mining heritage
was born. Travellers should not miss the