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Alberta: Something for EveryoneBy Rita CookI liked Alberta because it reminded me so much of Texas. Indeed, in Calgary the folks will especially agree that yes, there are a lot of similarities. However, as I drove from Calgary to Edmonton by way of Banff and Jasper I not only discovered that it felt like a piece of Texas, but that this wonderful province also offered some of the greatest outdoors I had ever experienced.
One stop in Calgary you won’t want to miss is the Calgary Tower, a premier landmark with a revolving Panorama Room and a sure way to get a better idea of Calgary and the surrounding area. While in the tower look for Canada Olympic Park, a year-round sport and tourist attraction and the site of the XV Olympic Winter Games where freestyle skiing, bobsleigh, luge and ski jumping took place. Nowadays you can take a guided tour of the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum. The Fort Calgary Historic Park is a must-see stop along the way chronicling the city since 1875 with live exhibits and displays. On your way north stop in at the Eau Claire Market next to the entrance of Prince’s Island Park where all kinds of stores and restaurants entice the traveler with arts, crafts and mouthwatering smells.
On your way to Banff be sure and stop in at Canmore. I found this to be the most charming town on the map going north. In the summer you can visit a dog sled company that is home to hundreds of dogs just waiting for the first winter snow. One of the most amazing man-made structures in Banff National Park is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. As you approach the area this castle-like structure pops out at you with all its splendor and glory. Built in 1888 and still offering a stately charm of bygone years, have a spa treatment in the hotel spa and take some time in the Turkish bath afterward. Lake Louise is another jewel in the middle of the wilderness and it is here you can enjoy the Victoria Glacier and some of the best hiking or skiing in the Canadian Rockies. After a good night’s sleep in Lake Louise begin your journey further north toward Jasper along the Icefields Parkway. The Icefield’s Parkway stretches 142 miles from the Trans-Canada Highway from Banff to Jasper. It is an amazing site in any season as it runs along a chain of enormous icefields straddling the Continental Divide. Take about half a day to enjoy this experience and stop at Athabasca Glacier for a Columbia Icefield – Ice Explorer excursion. Finally, you will arrive in Edmonton where the one place you won’t want to miss is the West Edmonton Mall. This mall is not only packed full of first-class stores (800 to be exact), but also an amusement park that features a 12-story triple loop roller coaster – indoors. Of course there is much more to see and do in this city, think of the fact that it is Alberta’s capital and is known for its historic neighborhoods, amazing museums and festivals that span from season to season along with the smiling faces of the inhabitants who live there. Fort Edmonton Park is an all-day affair and you can even exchange your vows here as well. It is the largest living history park in Canada with costumed historical interpreters who make sure you experience life as it was at the 1846 Hudson’s Bay Fort.
Welcoming and friendly, Alberta is Canada’s proudest destination and as a honeymoon or wedding selection you can be sure you will create memories, spark your imagination and return again from season to season to become a part of the incredible outdoor adventure. Places to Stay: Banff: Lake Louise: Jasper: Edmonton: |
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Begin
in Calgary at the Calgary Zoo. Billed as one of the top-ranking zoos in
the world the Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden and Prehistoric Park is renowned for
breeding endangered species. You can hold the festivities outside in front
of the giraffe exhibit or opt for the butterfly garden or park conservatory.
Myself, I enjoyed the wolves and even had a chance to feed them as I learned
this pack was actually saved from certain death and was now living happily
ensconced in the Calgary Zoo.
Alberta
is the perfect place to make memories and it is easy as you drive north from
Calgary and begin to experience the wonder of the Canadian Rockies. It is
here that the lucky in love will have a chance to experience the northern lights
and the uncanny stillness of a silent Alberta night in Banff National Park.
In fact, from natural hot springs to world-class ski resorts to lakes, rivers,
spas and golf courses, Alberta – most notably Banff National Park is the wonder
of Canada’s west.
The
Devonian Botanic Garden is another must see and with a collection of native and
alpine plants. Indeed, there is something for everyone including the
Kurimoto Japanese Garden and butterfly house where people from around the world
come to not only visit, but on occasion also exchange wedding vows.
