Spotlight on Grande Cache

Tucked away at the north end of the Canadian Rockies Mountains, 214kms northwest of Jasper, lies a little known destination that is bountiful with stunning, natural landscape, lots of hidden treasures and abundant small-town charm.


The town of Grande Cache located within the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is the gateway to the stunning Willmore Wilderness Park and is actually built on the side of a mountain, overlooked by 20 other mountains!

Sometimes referred to as a “hidden gem” Grande Cache is a town that does everything but try to be a secret! In fact, local residents go all out and roll out the carpet to visitors from far and wide, indeed encouraging us to stay and “Get Lost in Grande Cache”!

Currently most visitors to Grande Cache and area are not accidental tourists by any means and most are in fact on a mission! A mission to either get to Alaska (via the scenic route); visit the untamed wilderness of the area firsthand or to participate in the Death Race! The Death Race (an aptly named killer 125km long mountain trail run!) almost doubles the town’s population overnight!

With a huge variety of first class outdoor activities available including white-water rafting, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, biking and more, it’s a guarantee that visitors to Grande Cache will return for more!

10 Hands-on culinary and agricultural experiences in Alberta

See just a few of our suggestions below (in no particular order):

Alberta is not necessarily known as the culinary capital of Canada, but during the last few years, the province is focussing more on its natural landscape and habitat and recognising our potential in the culinary world. Take a look at some of our hands-on culinary experiences that are available and include some of them in your clients itineraries.

1. Visit a winery!
Whilst Alberta is not usually known for its vineyards, there are two wineries that are starting to make a name for themselves: Field Stone Fruit Winery in Strathmore was Alberta’s first cottage winery and en Sante Winery in Brosseau is Alberta's first and only organic-fruit cottage winery.

2. Visit a Honey Producer!
Did you know that Canada is the world’s sixth largest producer of honey and that Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta produce 80% of Canada’s honey crop? And it’s not just honey. Visit one of our honey operations such as Lola Canola in Bon Accord to find out about beeswax, bee pollen and even honey wine.

3. Drop by one of our microbreweries!
Alberta is now home to a good number of microbreweries and brewpubs including Alley Kat in Edmonton, Wild Rose in Calgary and Grizzly Paw Brewing Company in Canmore to name just a few!

4. Experience chocolate tasting!
The perfect experience for chocophiles! At Kerstin’s Chocolates in Edmonton you will learn about the history of chocolate, and how it is made from beans into bars. Then enjoy tasting a series of dark and milk chocolates from around the world!

5. Enjoy a coffee tasting!
Spend 2-3 hours at Transcend Coffee in Edmonton and you will be introduced to the world of speciality coffee, find out about different brewing methods and taste coffees from around the world!

6. Get lost in a corn maze!
Don’t underestimate the fun involved in finding your way through a 15 acre, 9 foot high corn maze! Alberta has over ten corn mazes and even a sunflower maze in Bowden!

7. Attend a culinary festival!
Alberta benefits from hosting numerous food and drink related festivals throughout the year. A few honourable mentions include: Sorrentino’s Garlic Festival (which happens at 7 venues and is Canada’s largest), International Beer Fest (Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer), A Taste of Edmonton, Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival and the Calgary Greek Festival.

8. Pick some fruit!
It goes without saying that Alberta has endless opportunities to pick fruit. Choose from Saskatoon berries, rhubarb, raspberries, apples, chokeberries, currants, sour cherries, gooseberries and strawberries to name just a few!

9. Visit a ranch!
Ranching families first settled in Alberta in the 1880s, attracted by its moderate climate, wide variety of wildlife species and broad ecological diversity. The families soon transformed much of the rolling grasslands into cattle country. During your visit why not stay at a guest or working ranch and experience the cowboy life for yourself!

10. Go to a Farmers’ Market!
Without doubt, farmers’ markets are becoming big business in Alberta! We are lucky enough to have over 100 approved farmers’ markets and close the 3000 vendors across the province! To find a market near you take a look at the Alberta Farmers’ Market profile.

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!

10 quirky places to visit in Alberta!

The following are 10 of our favourite quirky places to visit in Alberta (in no particular order):

1. The Town of Vulcan
The town of Vulcan is located one hour south of Calgary and an hour north of Lethbridge on Highway 23. A surveyor named the town Vulcan in 1920, after the roman God of Fire and Forge because it was to rest on the highest elevation point. The town has since taken advantage of its unforgettable name by creating a fun and unique Star Trek related identity.

2. The Torrington Gopher Hole Museum
Located 160km north east of Calgary, the museum contains about 40 dioramas set in neatly constructed wooden boxes, each to represent a gopher hole. Inside the holes are taxidermied gophers, dressed in costumes and carrying on anthropomorphic (human) activities. You can see such scenes as a gopher yard sale, a gopher hairdresser, a gopher Mountie etc. An entertaining spot to visit!

3. The Lacombe Corn Maze
Located 3km west of Lacombe, the 15-acre maze is made up of 9 feet high corn divided into 3 phases.

4. Em-Te Town
Em-Te Town is a privately built authentic western frontier ghost town complete with Hogs Breath Saloon, jail house, harness shop, log buildings, livery stable, bank, church, emporium, and restaurant. Visitors can enjoy numerous activities at the facility, and visit for the day or stay overnight in the motel, in a cabin or in a tepee.

5. Zombie Walk
Takes place in Edmonton, on the second Friday in October, hundreds of otherwise geeky, normal people don zombie clothing and makeup and drag themselves through the city streets. The site is amazing, creepy yet fun and the group collect for the food bank too!

6. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Worth a mention in no small part because of the name! Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is known around the world as a remarkable testimony of prehistoric life. This UNESCO World Heritage Site bears witness to a custom practiced by native people of the North American plains for nearly 6000 years. Thanks to their excellent understanding of topography and of bison behaviour, they killed bison by chasing them over a precipice and subsequently carving up the carcasses in the camp below.

7. Lloydminster
Lloydminster is located in the Central Parkland Region on both the Saskatchewan and Alberta side. It is Canada's only "border city", with the provincial border running through the centre of the city, creating a
truly unique municipality! As a resident of Lloydminster, you either live in Alberta or Saskatchewan, depending on your address!

8. Saumer Time Alpaca Ranch
Visit this farm in Onoway, for a warm and fuzzy Alpaca hands on experience! The farm tour includes unique, relaxing and informative experience as you learn about these charming camelids of South America. You can even purchase an Alpaca of your very own!

9. Evansburg – Home of the Grouch
Originally a coal mining town, Evansburg has a population of 603 people, 29 dogs, 41 cats, and one Town Grouch. The first "Grouch" contest was held by the Royal Canadian Legion in 1979, conjunction with the Village's 25th anniversary. It's now an annual event, a part of the Pembina Valley Family Daze festival. The winner is licensed to pester, harass, antagonize, criticize, complain and grumble without fear of reprisal for the whole next year.

10. Oversized roadside attractions are a plenty in the province of Alberta and there are way too many to mention here. These attractions include: A bull and bull rider (Brownvale), a beaver (Castor), a T-Rex (Drumheller), a corn stalk (Taber), a starship (Vulcan) and a piggy bank (Coleman).

Jasper Yoga Escape tour - deemed a success!

The weather was fantastic in Jasper during the first Urban Insight Yoga SoleWalk Tour.
13 participants boarded a 24 seater minibus and travelled from Edmonton out to Jasper on Friday afternoon, arriving in good time to check in and then head downtown for supper.

During the next two days the group enjoyed early morning yoga with instructor Angie Ackerman, followed by a guided hike of Maligne Canyon on Saturday and Beaver Lake on Sunday.

With good food, great company and amazing weather this tour proved to be a great success!

The next SoleWalk yoga tour will be held in the fall.  Join our Facebook page to stay updated.

Spring hiking at Cooking Lake-Blackfoot

The day dawned with a chilly breeze and light grey sky, but the temperature was warm for late March. Hiking is an activity you can do in almost any weather and today was a great day to start the season!


A friend and I decided to hike in Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area, a spot I had visited previously in the height of summer and snowshoed in during the winter.

Covering an area of 97 square kilometres, Cooking Lake-Blackfoot is located adjacent to Elk Island National Park, approximately 40 minutes east of Edmonton.

The area supports a variety of activities including agriculture, wildlife management, natural gas extraction and outdoor recreation.

During the summer, there are numerous activities available including hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Cross country skiing is the main activity during the winter and the area is host to the annual Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival.

With over 85kms of hiking trails originating from 4 staging areas, there is plenty of choice for hikers of most abilities and there are even some shelters and privies en route!

This day, boots with grip were needed as some of the trails were still icy. Those that escaped the ice were fairly sloppy, but not deep enough to lose your footwear!

There are also 85kms of equestrian trails in the area, so it can become a busy spot during the summer. We started our hike early at 10am, and were leaving when most of the horse trailers arrived nearly 3 hours later.

Cooking Lake-Blackfoot is known for its active wildlife, with management programs in effect that have created a wide range of habitats supporting numerous wildlife species. This time round we saw plenty of squirrels, a few birds and one fairly amicable young moose!

This was spring hiking at its best!

Upcoming Beauty & the Beast – sure to be a family favourite!

Two years ago Beauty & the Beast was an almost sold out show in both Calgary and Edmonton! Delighting an audience aged 5 to 8 years, the show was an astounding success.


This year, the Beauty and the Beast returns to Alberta, and will run in Edmonton only at the Citadel Theatre during the month of May.

Check out the Citadel Theatre for more information or check out the Urban Insight Beauty and the Beast package.