Alberta is made for family adventure vacations from its five national parks and the Canadian Rocky Mountains to all the rodeo fun of the annual Calgary Stampede.
There are five national parks in Alberta: Banff; Jasper; Waterton; Wood Buffalo and Elk Island. Banff is the most visited, as well as the oldest national park in Canada, and home to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
At the heart of Jasper National Park, the Columbia Icefield Adventure includes a tour of the Athabasca Glacier aboard the Ice Explorer, as well as the phenomenal glass-floored, Skywalk experience over the Sunwapta Valley.
Alberta has over 30 ski resorts. Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies is both the largest and one of the most popular with families thanks to a vast terrain, network of lifts across four mountain faces, and all-ability skiing.
Dinosaur Provincial Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its remote Badlands environment where young paleontologists can discover remarkable fossils and join in guided activity programs.
Alberta has six of Canada’s 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park and Dinosaur Provincial Park in Red Deer River Valley.
Called the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’, the annual Calgary Stampede in July attracts more than 1 million visitors. As well as one of the world’s biggest rodeos, it’s known for a family-friendly, carnival atmosphere.
The capital of Alberta, Edmonton sits on the North Saskatchewan River, which gifts the city an expansive river valley park system for outdoor activities. It’s also home to the West Edmonton Mall, one of the largest in the world and as much about fun as shopping thanks to family attractions like Galaxyland and World Waterpark.
Famous for the annual Calgary Stampede, Calgary has a lively spirit year round. Its downtown skyline is dominated by skyscrapers, and older kids will appreciate the views from impressive Calgary Tower. The city is also within driving distance of Banff National Park, and home to the largest amusement park in western Canada, Calgary Park.
Established in 1885 Banff National Park, is Canada’s first and oldest national park and one of the country’s most visited. It’s just over two hours west of Calgary and covers over 2,500 square miles. Its most famous landmark may be Lake Louise, but it’s also known for incredible wildlife, family ski resorts and the town of Banff itself. The park sits in the midst of the Canadian Rockies, and another of its iconic features is the Icefields Parkway: a scenic highway connecting Banff to Jasper National, and known for spectacular views and as an important wildlife corridor.
Another Canadian Rockies resident, Jasper National Park is also a phenomenal wilderness landscape famous for its rugged mountains, clear lakes, and glaciers. There’s endless opportunity for outdoor adventuring here, and hiking and canoeing are both easy to organise with kids.
Visit Drumheller in Alberta, it’s known as the ‘Town of Dinosaurs’ and home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology which contains one of the world’s largest collections of full dinosaur skeletons.
The Canadian Rockies get about 75 inches of snowfall a year so no surprise to find Alberta has several outstanding ski resorts with long winter seasons. Family favorites include Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, Mount Norquay, and Nakiska.
The site of the 1988 Olympic Games this exciting park in Calgary features everything from climbing walls and bungee trampolines to North America’s fastest zip line.
One of the largest indoor water parks in the world, World Waterpark is in West Edmonton Mall. As well as the world’s biggest wave pool, the park also offers 17 different rides and slides, for kids of all ages.
This accessible underground cave in Canmore lets families explore beneath the Canadian Rockies and features phenomenal stalagmite and stalactites, as well as the remains of animals embedded in its walls.
Find this UNESCO World Heritage Site at Fort MacLeod. It preserves and explains over 6,000 years of Plains People culture and kids will be fascinated to learn about the highly skilled Buffalo Runners.
Just east of Edmonton, Elk Island National Park is part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve and one of the best places in the province for stargazing experiences.
One of the world’s largest rodeos, Calgary Stampede takes place over 10 days in July and includes everything from parades and live music to sheep shearing demonstrations.
Banff National Park is the place to spot black bears, wolves, deer, bald eagles, take soaring gondola rides and marvel at the views from the amazing observation decks at the top of Sulphur Mountain.
Take TikTok obsessed teens to one of the most photographed lakes in the world and let them loose. Hiring canoes is a great experience to capture and share.
Driving is the best way to travel around Alberta. Not only can you see the Province at your own pace, especially in places like Banff and Jasper National Park, you can plan the most scenic routes and time journeys to suit the ages of your kids.
Trains are another excellent option for families, and several of the Great Rail Journeys of the World are at home in Alberta. In cities like Calgary and Edmonton, don’t drive, use public transport. And in these green and outdoorsy cities, don’t forget to explore the possibilities of cycling and walking in spring, summer and fall.
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