Friday, May 14, 2010

Need a reason to visit Alberta? Look no further ...

See below for just a few reasons why you should vacation in Alberta (in no particular order):

1. Banff National Park! Canada's first National Park. The park now consists of 6,641 square kilometres of unparalleled mountain scenery nestled in the heart of the magnificent Canadian Rockies!

2. Jasper National Park! The largest national park in the Canadian Rockies with 10,878 square kilometres of mountain wilderness. Jasper is the wildest of the mountain parks, and contains a superb backcountry trail system as well as the world famous Columbia Icefields.

3. Columbia Icefields! Located on the boundary of Banff and Jasper National Parks, the Columbia Icefields is one of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle. Covering an area of nearly 325 square kilometres, the icefields sometimes reaches a depth of 300-360 metres.

4. West Edmonton Mall - This mall is currently ranked as the fifth largest in the world, covers over 6 million square feet and features well over 800 stores. With an indoor waterpark, amusement park and ice rink, the West Edmonton Mall is a must see on everyone's visit to Alberta!

5. The Calgary Stampede! Billed as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Canada. Visitors will enjoy a festival, exhibition, and rodeo, with countless different exhibits taking place all over the city.

6. Dinosaurs! A haven for dinosaur enthusiasts, palaeontologists and kids of all ages. Alberta is home to one of the largest dinosaur finds in the world! Be sure to add the Dinosaur Provincial Park and Drumheller to your itineraries!

7. Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump! An UNESCO World Heritage Site this place is a must see for anyone wanting to explore Native American culture. The museum is built into the side of a cliff that was used by the plains Indians for thousands of years as a Buffalo trap. Large herds of Buffalo were lured and stampeded to jump over the side of the cliff every season.

8. Waterton Lakes National Park! Perhaps one of the lesser known National Parks be assured that you will NOT be disappointed with a visit to this one. The scenery is a stunning contrast of rugged, windswept mountains rising out of gentle prairie grassland. Visit Waterton Lakes National Park for more info.

9. Our two big cities! Edmonton the capital of Alberta is fast becoming known as a vibrant, fun and attractive urban centre. Calgary is an energetic, corporate city located just three hours by car from Edmonton and less than an hour away from the Rocky Mountains. See for yourself the delights of Edmonton's blue and gold and Calgary's red mile and see which side of our friendly rivalry you fall on!

10. The people! Albertans, like all Canadians are really very nice! Any visitor travelling in Alberta loves meeting the friendly, enthusiastic and positive locals. What a great bonus to vacationing in Alberta!

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