Many of Alberta's best attractions are a legacy of the power of nature, from the ancient glaciers that crown the Rocky Mountains to the canyons, waterfalls, and lakes formed by its ancestors. For those of us who prefer more urban experiences, do not think that in the two main cities of the province there is a shortage of attractions, not at all!
Banff National Park is home to the most beautiful lakes in the world. First, Moraine Lake is a glacier-fed lake that is located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Rent a canoe and glide through its brilliant blue waters, a color that comes from the silt that carries the water from the glacier. If the weather is good, take your camera and go on a pleasant walk along the shore, enjoying the incredible peaks of the mountains that surround the lake. The more famous of the two lakes, however, is probably the picturesque Lake Louise. The lake's turquoise blue rests in front of a mountain range and the Victoria Glacier, making it a true postcard image. You can row in the lake, walk a path along the shore, and do the same thing that thousands of people have done before you: take photos. Although it is very close to Calgary and could make for a great day trip, many people choose to stay in the vicinity at the stunning Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
The largest lake in Banff National Park, Lake Minnewanka, is 13 miles long and requires a one-hour boat ride to see it from all angles. Sure, many trails around this glacial lake offer beautiful postcards of the placid blue-green waters. Beyond the natural beauty, Minnewanka is also rich in history. It was called "lake of the spirits" by the aborigines, who hunted and lived on its shores about 10,000 years ago. You can still find elk, mule deer, mountain goats, and bears around the lake, which were those peoples' diet.
It was a glacier that slowly made its way through the stones and formed the canyon where the Athabasca waterfalls are located. That same glacier now provides the water that falls 23-meter feet in Jasper National Park. Twenty-three meters could be considered not very high, but what it lacks in height, it has strength. There are defined trails that will take you to observation points where you can look out into the canyon, feel the water breeze on your face and see first-hand the true force of nature in action, all safely.
Maligne Canyon, almost 50 meters deep, also in Jasper National Park, is a place to visit in the summer. It is home to fossils, waterfalls, unexpected animals, and lush plant life. Set out on a self-guided tour to cross the canyon on one of the four different bridges, each with its own exceptional view. But you might want to wait until winter; This tourist attraction really becomes something out of this world when the temperature drops below freezing. Put on your sturdiest snowshoes, jump into the frozen canyon, and try not to be left with your mouth open.
Once upon a time, the majestic mountains of the Canadian Rockies were covered in snow. There is still some ice on these mountains, and a trip along the Icefields Highway takes you right to the front door. More than a hundred glaciers sit along this scenic drive between Jasper and Lake Louise, each one more impressive than the last. And who is the star of the show? The Columbia Icefield, the largest of the Rockies. To see this ice field in all its splendor, we advise you to take the Glacier Adventure tour. You will board an Ice Explorer, a huge bus-like vehicle specifically designed to handle the ice field's terrain, and head towards the Athabasca Glacier. Walk on the ice and drink glacial water. Next, head to the Glacier Skywalk, a cliff-edge path where only glass separates you from the gorge, at a depth of 280 meters.
Around 75 million years ago, Drumheller, Alberta, an hour and a half northeast of Calgary, was swarming with dinosaurs, which turned Drumheller into a dinosaur's hotbed fossils and which ultimately led to the creation of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of paleontology. The museum is located in the Canadian Badlands, where it collects, preserves, and presents the paleontological history (read: dinosaurs) of the region. With one of the largest dinosaur skeletons on display globally and more than 160,000 individual pieces, the Royal Tyrrel Museum is a must-see for science lovers and Jurassic Park fans alike.
The Calgary National Music Center, based at the soon-to-open Studio Bell, is a national organization dedicated to music matters. Which, of course, includes musical presentations that take place in a space with 300 seats. But it also includes musical recordings, in one of its many studios with the latest technology; studies are conducted on music and music technology; And, of course, it includes the promotion of music and history education, with the help of more than 2,000 musical instruments and 22,000 square feet of exhibits that tell the history of music in Canada. In other words, if you are a music lover, the National Music Center is a place where you can live your passion and meet people with whom you will have a lot to share.
Have you ever been watching the Olympics and said: "I'd like to try that"? WinSport in Calgary is your chance to do it. WinSport is in charge of the Canadian Olympic Park operation, one of the main facilities at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The site is now a dual function, a world-class training center and an adventure park, where you can ride the fastest and longest single zipline in North America, from the top of a ski jump, or take a seat on a bobsled and slide down the track that made Jamaica's bobsled team famous. Luge, mountain biking, and climbing walls, there is everything in this place full of adrenaline.
Edmonton's River Valley is the largest urban park in North America. At 18,285 acres, it is 22 times the size of Central Park in New York. To put it properly, the valley contains 22 large parks, each of them hosting multiple outdoor activities and all the green space you could wish for. You can bike, hike, jog, snowshoe, or ski; it's more than 90 miles of trails. You can take a Segway tour or head down the North Saskatchewan River for a different perspective of the park in a canoe, kayak, or board. Would you rather lie down on a blanket in the park and have a picnic? There are public grills that you can use. If you like to escape the city and spend a day in nature, Edmonton's River Valley is for you.
How many malls can boast that they have the largest indoor amusement park, the largest indoor lake, the largest indoor wave pool, an ice rink, and a zoo? Oh, and more than 800 stores and 1000 food outlets? Only one. At about 5.3 million square feet, the West Edmonton Mall is the largest in North America and is said to be a small city. Whether you want to learn to skate, play golf, ride a roller coaster, or shop all day, you will never be short of what to see or do in this huge mall. In fact, you could spend the entire weekend at West Edmonton Mall, and you would only know a little, and above all, there is to discover.
All this information is for all the beautiful places that you must visit in Alberta. As you saw, the distances are long since it is a huge province, we recommend that you can have independence and total security through a rented car and Above all, do it through Auto Europe so that you can compare the prices of all our suppliers and always have the best rate in the market, that is why we are the leaders of the industry worldwide.