BRITISH COLUMBIA
Alberta | _ | | _ | | | One of Canada's best kept urban secrets, Edmonton is an attractive, fast growing, friendly city, so special that even other Canadians choose to come and experience the good life!
With all the added advantages of a large city, Edmonton still benefits from being small enough to have a cosy, welcoming atmosphere.
Our sophisticated, compact downtown area, invites visitors to come visit our contemporary stores, attractions, galleries, museums and theatres. The bohemian area of Old Strathcona is a charming town within a town and has an abundance of cafes, unique shops, theatres and galleries.
Edmonton is without doubt a nature loving centre and has over 460 city parks in additional to our pride and joy, the River Valley, which provides more greenery than any other city in Canada!
The largest mall in North America, the West Edmonton Mall chooses to make Edmonton its home. With over 800 stores and services, an indoor zoo, waterpark, ice rink, golf course and an amusement park, it's no wonder its known as The Greatest Shopping & Entertainment Complex in the World!
Of course, Edmonton is not just about shopping and parks (as if that's not enough!); the city also flaunts an amazing selection of year round festivals, earning its name and distinction as the Festival City. Whether your passion is jazz, art or beer, there's a festival in Edmonton to suit all. See Edmonton's official Festival Calendar for full listing of annual festivals.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit the city of Edmonton and experience your own insight into our urban life!
| | | _ | | _ | | | Jasper is without doubt a jewel in the crown of the Rockies. This mountain
town is modest and quaint and has a relaxed, gentile air. Visitors from far
and wide arrive into Jasper and breathe a collective sigh as the hustle and
bustle of other places just melts away.
Discovered in 1810 by surveyor David Thompson, Jasper has a population of
approximately 4600, and is located at the north end of the Rocky Mountains in
Jasper National Park.
Arguably one of the most picturesque mountain towns in North America, Jasper
is known for its naturally stunning landscape and enchanting town site. The
mountains lining the town site protect the inhabitants from extreme weather
conditions and help create a four-season destination.
Of course, with all of the breathtaking countryside on hand, Jasper is
naturally a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, whether you are an avid bird
watcher, skier or adventure lover.
Choose from raft tours, horseback riding, Harley Davidson tours, waking
trails, boat tours, mountain spas, helicopter tours, downhill skiing/boarding
at Marmot Basin Resort and more. There's something for everyone in
Jasper.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Known as the Heart of the New West, Calgary is an energetic city located just three hours by car from Edmonton and less than an hour away from the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Surrounded by the rolling foothills, expansive prairies and dramatic badlands of the Canadian West; a visit to Calgary is a sure bet for stunning views and a great mix of city slicker chic with a country and western twist!
Founded as a fort in 1875 for the North West Mounted Police, Calgary quickly became a busy trading hub and is now known as a thriving business centre with one of the youngest and best-educated workforces in the country.
A visit to this innovative city will amaze you with gleaming glass and steel skyscrapers that simply seem to merge successfully with historic, sandstone buildings.
As site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, Calgary has always embraced an active lifestyle. During your visit catch a Calgary Flames NHL hockey game, fly down the luge (bobsled) track or experience our Calgary Stampede for a taste of rodeo!
Boasting an array of restaurants, art galleries, museums, theatres, specialty shops and more! What are you waiting for? Calgary is just waiting to give you a New West welcome!
| | | _ | | _ | | | Waterton Lakes National Park, tucked away on the southwest border of Alberta, along the Canada/U.S. border, is the smallest of the Canadian Rockies parks, yet quite possibly one of the most memorable!
Designated Canada's fourth national park in 1913, Waterton Lakes is still relatively unknown and whilst it may not achieve the visitor numbers that some of Alberta's National Parks receive, it certainly should be on the list as a must-see destination.
With an area stretching 505 square kilometres (195 square miles), Waterton Lakes National Park represents the southern Rocky Mountains Natural Region, where some of the most ancient mountains in the Rockies abruptly meet the prairie.
The park's variety of vegetation communities provides homes for many animals, including more than 60 species of mammals, over 250 species of birds, 24 species of fish, and 10 reptiles and amphibians. Large predators in the park include wolf, coyote, cougar, grizzly bear and American black bear.
In addition to stunning scenery, rare vegetation and abundant wildlife, the park has an abundant list of activities available as well as a delightful community with some unique stores, restaurants and bars.
Activities available in the area include; hiking (with over 200kms of trails), climbing, cycling, fishing, golf, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boating, horseback riding and more.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Known as 'The jewel of Canada', Banff National Park; an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the heart of the majestic Canadian Rockies.
Named after the town of Banff in Scotland, Canada's first national park comprises of more than 6,000 square km of lakes, glaciers, lush alpine meadows and towering mountains.
Now one of the world's leading tourist destinations (with roughly 4 million visitors per year!), Banff offers an abundance of activities and sightseeing for every traveller and a charming, unique Townsite in the heart of the park.
Banff is also one of the gateways for the stunning Icefields Parkway; one of the most scenic and memorable drives in the world!
With such a stunningly beautiful and convenient location, Banff is unsurprisingly a huge draw for outdoor enthusiasts. Choose from raft tours, horseback riding, caving, walking trails, boat tours, mountain spas, canoeing, helicopter tours and much more! In addition, for ski and snowboard buffs, Banff is so conveniently placed for Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Ski Resorts; there will be no reason to ever leave!
| | | _ | | _ | | | Fort McMurray is one of the key industrial cities in Alberta being home to the World's largest oil sand deposits, holding over 30% of the world's petroleum reserves.
The oil sands lead to a huge population boom and are not only a profitable resource but have also become a major tourist attraction in the area with tours of the Oil Sand Plant becoming popular.
With a young and vibrant community of over 64,000 people, the community is vibrant, rich in history and has an exciting and prosperous future.
But the city is not just an industrial attraction; once known as Fort of the Forks, Fort McMurray is nestled in boreal forest at the confluence of four rivers.
Clearwater, Hanging Stone, Horse and the Athabasca River provide an abundance of outdoor adventure opportunities in summer and winter alike. Hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, dosgsledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horse-drawn sleigh rides.... there is an activity in Fort McMurray to suit everyone!
In addition to the numerous activities available, Fort McMurray boats an ideal setting to view the exception Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights), a natural phenomenon of colourful lights that dance across the night sky. This amazing site is not to be missed!
| | | | | |
|