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Family Vacations to Alberta

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Alberta – Family Vacation Guide

Looking for a fun-packed family vacation that caters to the whole clan, from toddlers to teens to grandma and grandpa? Look to Alberta. Families will find adrenaline-fueled amusement parks for the kids, including Rat’s Nest Cave, Canada Olympic Park and an indoor theme park. There’s also gentler activities and historic landmarks for the adults, including fishing and gondola rides. And don’t miss the western town of Calgary — the perfect place to explore.

Why Go

  • National Parks

    From Banff to Jasper National Parks, Alberta is home to Canada’s gorgeous jewels outdoor-lovers will enjoy.

  • Outstanding Skiing

    Alberta’s Canadian Rockies is home to world-class ski resorts.

  • Cowboys

    Calgary is home to the world-renowned Calgary Stampede.

Where to Go

Almost the same size as Texas, Alberta is a large province that could take years to discover. Southern Alberta, with the rolling prairies and rich First Nations history, the Rockies with incredible National Parks and the north, home to Alberta’s capital, all offer opportunities for family adventure.

National Parks

Alberta is famous for its breathtakingly beautiful national parks with rugged mountains and glacially fed lakes. Those pictures that you see are actually real! No filter needed! Here are some of Alberta’s most loved parks:

  • Banff National Park: Home to towering Canadian Rockies, aquamarine glacial lakes and rivers, 996 species of trees, and a thousand miles of trails, Banff National Park is the 3rd oldest national park in the world and not to be missed on a trip to Alberta. Be sure to see Banff Upper Hot Springs, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Columbia Icefield, the adorable town of Banff and the Indian Trading Post.
  • Icefields Parkway: This 232 km route running through Banff and Jasper will treat you to jaw dropping views of the Rockies and glacial waters throughout the parks.
  • Jasper National Park: Banff’s less visited big sister, Jasper National Park is just as worthy of a visit as Banff, and maybe more. Here you will find the same magnificent blue waters and stunning mountains, with fewer crowds. Be sure to see Maligne Lake (home to the famous Spirit Island), Icefields Parkway, Athabasca Glacier, and the Glacier Skywalk.
  • Waterton Lakes National Park: Glacier National Park’s Canadian cousin, holds extraordinary natural wonders in a compact space. Be sure to see The Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton Lake, Cameron Lake, Red Rock Canyon, Bear’s Hump hike and the little town where you can’t miss Waffleton for gourmet Belgian waffles.
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Calgary

Alberta’s most populous city, Calgary is packed full of family fun and adventure. Don’t miss these top attractions:

  • Calgary Zoo: Ranking as one of the best zoos in the country, you’ll find animals from all over the world and kids will especially love the Penguin Plunge!
  • Calgary Tower: Head to the top of Calgary Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city.
  • TELUS Spark Science Center: With hands on activities for all ages, even toddlers, this science center will provide hours (or days) of learning and fun.
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Edmonton

Alberta’s capital city has a lot to offer for families including these top attractions:

  • West Edmonton Mall: North America’s largest shopping center has more to offer than just stores. An ice rink, two mini golf courses, bumper boats, billiards, bowling, an indoor water park, and the world’s largest indoor amusement park can provide days of entertainment for the family.
  • Jurassic Forest Learning Center: Located in 40 acres of natural, old growth forest, this educational facility aims to teach about the forest and dinosaurs. Walk along two kilometers of walkways with life-like, robotic dinosaurs that kids will get a kick out of!
  • TELUS World of Science: Another science center that is worth a visit with interactive exhibits and an IMAX theater.
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What to Do

  • Follow the Fossil Trail. Home to the richest source of dinosaur fossils in the world, Alberta’s Fossil Trail spans 1,553 miles from southeast to northwest. Be sure to visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum and see one of the world’s largest displays of full dinosaur skeletons and the town of Drumheller, which proudly calls itself the “Town of the Dinosaurs”
  • Ski. The Canadian Rockies of Alberta get about 75 inches of snowfall a year! The only thing to do with that much snow, besides freeze, is to play in it! Alberta is home to many world class ski resorts. Some favorites are Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, Mount Norquay, and Nakiska. With a ski season from November to May, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to play in the snow!
  • Canada Olympic Park. Canada Olympic Park was the site of the 1988 Games and is now an exciting park for the general public. With climbing walls, bungee trampolines, a mini-golf course, summer bob-sleighing and North America’s fastest zip line, this recreational park is a thrilling way to inject a little adrenaline into your trip.
  • Calgary Zoo, Calgary. Home to an abundance of exotic animals from across the world, including penguins, hippos and prairie dogs.
  • Rats Nest Cave, Canmore. Descend into the shadowy depths of this underground cave and discover the alluring beauty that lurks beneath the Canadian Rockies; crawling, climbing and sliding through the natural caverns to discover its historical and geological quirks. This activity will fascinate the younger ones of the family as they scurry their way past spirals of stalagmite and stalactites, bewitching paleontological structures and the remains of animals engrossed in its walls.
  • Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump at Fort Macleod. In southern Alberta, this sacred ridge of land, once used as a hunting ground by the aboriginal people is now UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hunters would gather herds of buffalo and drive them over the cliff. Kids will enjoy learning about this fascinating history in a unique way.
  • Calgary Stampede. One of the largest rodeos in the world and considered by many as “the best,” the Calgary Stampede happens every year for ten days in July and includes sheep shearing demonstrations, horsemanship, and agricultural programs. They call this the greatest outdoor show on Earth!
  • Banff National Park. In Banff National Park, spotting the elusive wildlife —black bears, wolves, deer, bald eagles — is a thrill for kids of all ages. To admire the lush flora and fauna from a great height, take a gondola ride, which slowly soars through the trees, up to Sulphur Mountain and toward several observation decks — each with an impressive view of the spiraling mountain ranges.
  • Lake Louise, Banff. At Lake Louise, take a moment to breathe, and don’t forget to take your camera — this is the most photographed lake in the world, and the perfect backdrop for a family photo.

Getting Around

There are many tour companies that will take you to the main attractions and traveling by rail can be an extraordinary journey, but you may need a car if you want to explore all the beautiful nature that Alberta has to offer.

 

Written by Vanessa Hunt, Wanderlust Crew

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