Our Country, My Canada: Alberta Bucket List

Out in the mighty west of Canada lies Alberta, the highest-populated of the country’s three prairie provinces. This particular province is home to widely diverse range of natural landscapes. From mountains to prairies, desert badlands to towering conifers, Alberta has it all. Its cities also have a little something for everyone. Cosmopolitan Calgary blends western culture with soaring skyscrapers, and the provincial capital of Edmonton pairs natural history with urban prosperity. Wherever you look, there is something to see and do in Alberta! We’ve chosen 10 of the best things to cross off your Alberta bucket list this year!

1. Experience the beauty of nature

The very first national park in Canada is located in Alberta. Which one? Beautiful Banff National Park. Other awe-inspiring parks that call Alberta home include Jasper National Park, Elks Island National Park, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and Wood Buffalo National Park. All five parks offer incredible hiking, kayaking, biking, and wildlife viewing – plus plenty of snowy adventures for winter travelers.  Stay at a nearby Best Western and see them all with plenty of time to explore!

2. Step back in time with a historical park

Alberta is also home to a number of historical parks. Leap back 75 million years to the time when dinosaurs roamed this land at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller or the Dinosaur Provincial Park in Brooks. Fast forward to just 8,000 years ago when you visit Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. Here, you can witness the largest collection of rock art on the North American plains. Back near Drumheller, the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site will lead you underground and back into the region’s coal mining history. There are also historical sites for Alberta’s fur trading and cowboy history scattered throughout the region. Heritage Park, in Calgary, is one of North America’s largest living history museums, covering nearly 100 years of history. Its exhibits span from the fur trade of the early 1860s to not-so-distant 1950s. Pick a time period and get exploring!

3. Feel like a native in the big city

Less than 300 kilometers separate Alberta’s two big cities: Calgary and Edmonton. Both are hosts to numerous historical sites and attractions. Looking for some local hockey? Check out Rexall Place in Edmonton, and the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. Both cities are home to unique architecture, including the Peace Bridge in Calgary and four pyramids of Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton. While in Edmonton, don’t miss out on the Edmonton River Valley Park, 22 times larger than New York’s Central Park, or get a new perspective on the city of Calgary at the top of Calgary Tower, 191 meters from top to bottom! The list of exciting and fun things to see and do between Calgary and Edmonton is a long one – you’ll want to clear some time on your visit to experience as much as you can.

4. Embrace the arts in Edmonton

Those aren’t the only buildings with architecture that seem more “art” than “building.” The Art Galley of Alberta in housed inside some truly modern architecture. Like anything else, though, it’s what’s inside that counts. The Art Gallery of Alberta is home to exhibits that are “focused on the development and presentation of original exhibitions of contemporary and historical art from Alberta, Canada and around the world.” It is the oldest cultural institution in Alberta, being founded in 1924. It’s a great way to expand your artistic horizons and get a glimpse at some truly authentic Alberta culture.

5. Find your future alma mater

Got youngsters with you? They won’t be little for long. Weave in some time to visit Alberta universities in with your sightseeing. Two of the major universities in the area are the University of Alberta in Edmonton and the University of Calgary in (you guessed it) Calgary. While in Calgary, don’t forget to take a stroll around Mount Royal University, another wonderful university in the area. Other key colleges to visit include Red Deer College in Red Deer and University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge. With so many top-ranked universities in this province, you’re sure to find one your pride and joy will want to call his/her alma mater.

6. Score big with winter sports

For fans of winter sports like hockey and curling, Alberta is the place to be. The province is filled to the rafters with hockey arenas, curling rinks, and a healthy dose of sports fans. The city of Red Deer is home to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, to serve as a kind of starter course. Then, head to Edmonton to catch an NHL Oilers or University of Alberta game. Then, in Calgary, stop by the Saddledome for a Calgary Flames or Calgary Hitmen game. Feeling more like curling? Get your fill at the Medicine Hat Curling Club. Whether you prefer rocks or pucks, Alberta hockey and curling scenes are impressive to say the least.

7. Cheer on the home team all year round

Hockey and curling aren’t the only sports in Alberta. Football, baseball and soccer also have their own followings in this great region. The Alberta Soccer Association is the number one organizer of youth soccer in the province – serving 18 districts. Edmonton boasts five levels of little league baseball, and the Alberta Amateur Baseball Council oversees the Collegiate Baseball League. For football fans, the Calgary Stampeders will have you cheering in the stands at McMahon Stadium or root for the Edmonton Eskimos at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium as they score touchdown after touchdown. The buzz of the hometown crowd is contagious! Whatever sport you call your favorite, Alberta delivers!

8. Discover your inner cowboy with Alberta rodeos

Alberta has not lost its western roots. Rodeos here are some of the toughest in the world. If looking for a white-knuckle, high octane event, try the 10-day Calgary Stampede in July. Professionals from around the world compete in this event to test their roping, riding and barrel racing skills and attempt to win some of the world’s richest purses. In November, the five-day Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton features the largest indoor pro rodeo in Canada, where new stars are born every year. You won’t want to miss a single day of these events, so be sure to book a stay at a nearby Best Western and see it all!

9. Pick your own produce at a prairie farm

Once you’ve found your inner cowpoke, why not explore some of Alberta’s rich agritourism? Plenty of farms and markets are scattered throughout this prairie province, from orchards and wineries to farmers’ and you-pick markets. It’s a great way to bring home some home-grown produce and get a feel for what it takes to bring your dinner from the farm to your kitchen table. Whatever part of Alberta you choose to visit, there is sure to be a farm there to explore. If the rodeos have you begging for time in the saddle, Alberta is also home to some working guest ranches, where you can get your fill of horseback riding or watch the kids’ eyes light up at the ranch petting zoo. Grab your cowboy boots and get along, lil’ doggie!

10. Tap into your wild side at the Calgary Zoo

If you like your travel entertainment a little on the wilder side, you can’t miss the Calgary Zoo. This lovely place is home to almost 800 animals, excluding individual fish and insects. Traverse its 120 acres to view 130 different species. The zoo is organized into six distinct zones, so pick your favorite to start and then spend a lovely afternoon wandering through its lush habitats. Are you a fan of pandas? The Calgary Zoo and Toronto Zoo have partnered together to provide homes to two giant pandas for the next 10 years! Er Shun and Da Mao arrived at the Toronto Zoo in 2013, and will arrive at the Calgary Zoo in spring 2018. No matter which zoo you visit to see this popular pair of pandas, you are sure to fall in love.