Alberta is so huge that travelers would have trouble fitting it into a road trip; in fact, a drive non-stop from the northern end all the way to Montana (the country’s only land border) would take nearly 15 hours. While vast is an understatement, the snow-covered, sun-drenched slopes of southern Alberta and its vibrant cowboy culture captivated our senior features writer, Hannah Foster-Roe, during her recent sojourn to the province. With first-rate resorts like Banff Sunshine and Mount Norquay right on the doorstep, Albertans truly have little else to do except enjoy skiing. But if skiing isn’t your kind of trip, fear not.
Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Alberta has more UNESCO sites than any other Canadian province, at six sites - most people can find them south of the border, including Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, which includes both Jasper and Banff national parks (and also includes two parks in neighbouring British Columbia). The unusual badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park have some of the highest concentrations of dinosaur fossils in the world, and Writing-on-Stone/snaipi (photo) protects the biggest collection of rock paintings in North America, with 22 rock art panels on the sandstone coulees (canyons). Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump will take you back in time with a look at how the Blackfoot First Nations used buffalo for their survival, food and spiritual practices.
Enter the spirit of the Calgary Stampede
The start of the month kicks off the Calgary Stampede in Canada - it’s claimed the world’s biggest outdoor rodeo - with the sound of galloping horses shaking the city. For just more than a week each year, Calgarians and visitors put on their white Western hats, their cowboy boots, and eat street-made pancake breakfasts to celebrate a tradition that started over a century ago. A pair of white hats from Smithbilt (who crafted the first of the white ones that are now the official symbol for the city) can really sell you the part, dating back to the 1940s.
Try a different spin on poutine
The country's national comfort food is almost universally the combo of fries with squeaky, mild salt cheese curds smothered in savoury gravy. However, in Calgary, restaurants are throwing that script out the window and bringing a refreshing twist to this quintessential Canadian classic.
Up in the University District, brunch darling OEB stuffs all the works into its breakfast poutines - confit duck and beef short rib to lobster scramble and tuna crudo - and, at the CHARCUT down in Downtown (co-founded by Top Chef Canada finalist Connie DeSousa), an earthy whiff of truffle has joined the game.
Learn the art of candle making
From a start-up to a name everyone in Calgary knows and loves, Milk Jar now hosts candle and diffuser making workshops out of the most colourful (and aromatic!) warehouse in the city. During the session, you’ll learn through a fun and calming process of creating your very own custom fragrances by layering oils to invoke memories and stories.
Milk Jar creates candles from coconut soy wax and free of chemicals, using a wooden wick for a subtle fireplace effect. And you’re giving back too as founder Hollie Singer also employs individuals with disabilities and donates $1 from every sale to an inclusive cause.
Scale the Calgary Tower
The space-age concrete and steel skyscraper that completed in 1968 to celebrate the Canadian confederation might now stand as smaller and shabbier than many of the other Downtown towers but the Calgary Tower still offers the best place to view the entire city.
The 360-degree revolving restaurant and glass in the floor of the observation deck require a head for heights to climb this massive 626ft (191m) structure but the city views out to the prairies and the Rocky Mountains from the top are well worth it, especially during sunset.
Taste the province with Alberta Food Tours
Karen Anderson, a cookbook author and former nurse, launched Alberta Food Tours in her desire to "make Alberta's food and people healthy," and now it throws a smattering of tasty and informative adventures across the province. We really enjoyed the guided Sunday brunch tour at Calgary Farmers' Market West, where ambitious gourmets are first presented with a breakfast sandwich, fruit, juice and a coffee.
Following this, you learn the province's seven signature products and meet the food-focused craftspeople celebrating them. Arrive with a rumbling belly, since several tastings at various stalls along the way will delight you with everything from freshly baked cookies to mead cocktails and bison jerky.
Stay in Calgary’s University District
This hip, upcoming neighbour hood sits a stone's throw from the university of Calgary campus, but it doesn't just cater to the students. Thanks to a few tasty eateries, lots of sweet shops, and some 40 acres of grassy patches, it serves as a prime headquarters from which to discover Calgary’s grittier side of town.
At the centre of it, Calgary’s Alt Hotel, University District (shown), boasts chic, smart rooms (some have Rocky Mountain views, no biggie) and a hot new location of the revered Char cut Roast House in the building itself, so dinner is just a short walk away.
FAQ's
1. What makes Southern Alberta a distinct travel destination?
Southern Alberta stands out because it dramatically transitions from sweeping prairie badlands to the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, offering a unique mix of deep-rooted Indigenous history, dinosaur fossil heritage, and dark sky preserves.
2. How can visitors explore the region's prehistoric past?
Travelers can step back in time by visiting Dinosaur Provincial Park and the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller to hike through eroded badlands, view thousands of Cretaceous period fossils, and even join guided excavation tours.
3. Where are the best spots for outdoor stargazing and parks?
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is premier for stargazing as Alberta's first dark sky preserve, while Waterton Lakes National Park offers alpine hikes and boat cruises that cross the international border into Montana.
4. What unique cultural and historical sites are found here?
Visitors can explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump to learn about thousands of years of Plains People culture, or view ancient petroglyphs and pictographs at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.
5. What is the best way to travel through Southern Alberta?
A multi-day road trip is ideal for experiencing the region, allowing travelers to base themselves near Calgary or Lethbridge and take scenic day trips out to the foothills, prairies, and mountain passes.
