Alberta has one of the most diverse landscapes in the country. You’ll find majestic mountain ranges of the Canadian Rockies, ranchlands on the eastern slopes, open prairie and grasslands, wind-sculpted badlands and vast boreal forest in the north. While it’s full of natural wonders, Alberta has bustling cities vibrant with art, culture, festivals, world-renowned events, and quaint small towns brimming with warm rural hospitality.
Alberta is made up of three treaty territories, including Treaty 6 in the south, Treaty 7 in the centre and Treaty 8 in the north. The province is the traditional territory of a diverse group of First Nations people including the Blackfoot, Cree, Chipewyan, Dene, Sarcee, Stoney Nakoda people and the Métis Nation of Alberta.
There are many reasons to visit Alberta, and the province offers something for everyone. Here are the top 10 things we love about Alberta, with a deeper dive into the attractions that make this province special.
1. World Famous National Parks
Alberta is home to some of the most famous national parks in the world. The big ones are Jasper National Park and Banff National Park, Canada’s first and oldest national park. But there are others to explore, each with its unique landscape and appeal.
Banff National Park
As Canada’s first national park, Banff is world-famous for its stunning mountain scenery, glacier-fed lakes (like the postcard Lake Louise), ski resorts, Banff Upper Hot Springs and a happening mountain town that offers a range of restaurants, cafes, art galleries, spas, shops and services.
Jasper National Park
Jasper is known for its rugged wilderness and abundant wildlife. The town has all the services you need but at a slower and quieter pace than its counterpart in Banff. Visitors come to explore the jade waters of Maligne Lake, walk over thundering Athabasca Falls and explore the Columbian Icefield.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Located in southern Alberta, Waterton is a hidden gem that combines the prairies and the Rockies. It’s part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and is known for its mountain lake views, the Red Rock Canyon, waterfalls, and the historic Prince of Wales hotel. Read more about waterfalls and hikes in Waterton Lakes National Park.
Wood Buffalo National Park
Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park, located at the far northeast corner of Alberta and stretching into the Northwest Territories. This special place is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It protects a unique boreal ecosystem, Salt Plains, from an ancient inland sea, is home to free-roaming bison and one of the world’s largest inland river deltas.
Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park is located just east of Edmonton and is part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve. This smaller park showcases the best of aspen parkland and includes trails through forests, wetlands, and lakes. Elk Island is a haven for wildlife, including herds of wood and plains bison. Paddling, hiking, camping, bird watching, and stargazing are popular activities here.
Read more about Alberta’s Five National Parks.
2. Life on the Water
Alberta has over 600 lakes and countless rivers and streams. The lake ecosystems are as diverse as its landscape. You’ll find blue glacier-fed lakes in the Rockies, crystal clear lakes in the foothills and north, and expansive sandy-bottomed lakes and wetlands throughout the region. As such, lake life is part of Alberta’s culture. A visit here could include boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, standup paddle boarding and water sports. Here are some of our favourite spots:
Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes are both shockingly beautiful mountain lakes in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Day-trippers come here for boating, paddling, fishing, and, for the brave, swimming.
Lesser Slave Lake is one of the largest lakes in Alberta, and beach lovers will find seven kilometres of pristine white sand in the Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. Spend the day on the beach, head out on the boat or explore the boreal forest in the park.
Elkwater Lake is southeast of Alberta, in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (the Alberta side). Families love coming here for boating, paddling, beach days, playgrounds, camping and dockside ice cream on a warm summer’s day.
These are only three of hundreds of lakes you can explore. Many are accessible and have services in Alberta’s provincial parks and local municipal parks.
3. Exploring the Canadian Badlands.
If you’re new to the badlands, these unique landscapes will take your breath away. The journey to the badlands usually travels through the wide-open prairie and agricultural lands in southeast Alberta. Suddenly, the road will take a turn and dip into a deep valley, and you’ll find yourself in another world!
The Canadian Badlands look like something out of a wild-west movie, characterized by dramatic hoodoos, deep coulees, impressive rock formations, rivers and streams that cut deep into the sandy soil here. Here are our favourite spots in the badlands.
Drumheller is known as the “Dinosaur Capital of the World” and is home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Everyone will love the museum, and your kids will love climbing the three-story-high T-Rex at the visitor and splashing in the town’s spray park nearby.
Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the richest dinosaur fossil locations in the world. Visitors can hike through the otherworldly badlands, camp under cottonwood trees, view fossil houses and even join guided fossil hikes. Read about a winter camping adventure in Dinosaur Provincial Park.
Rosebud is a charming hamlet nestled in the Badlands. It has a thriving art scene, specifically shown at the Rosebud Dinner Theatre and School of Arts. If you love good food, exceptional live theatre, and cozy bed and breakfasts, this is a good stop for you!
4. Summer Festivals in Edmonton
Edmonton is known as the festival city! While Alberta’s capital city has festivals happening year-round, summer is the best time to take in this brilliant festival scene. There is usually something happening every weekend, if not every day, during the summer in Edmonton. Here are some of the top summer festivals:
Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is the largest and longest-running Fringe Theatre Festival in North America and ranks among the top five Fringe Festivals in the world. This event celebrates theatre with hundreds of performances by local and international artists.
Heritage Festival is the world’s largest three-day multicultural celebration. It showcases cuisine, traditions, and entertainment from over 100 countries around the world. Come hungry because you’ll want to eat everything!
Edmonton Folk Music Festival is in Gallagher Park, set in the river valley with downtown Edmonton as a backdrop. This favourite Edmonton festival attracts world-class folk, roots, and blues musicians. It’s a family-friendly festival, so come early to get your spot on the hill!
K-Days is Edmonton’s annual summer fair. The event features a parade, thrilling rides, concerts, games, markets and exhibits. It’s fun for all ages and one of the city’s most anticipated events.
Taste of Edmonton is Alberta’s largest outdoor food festival, showcasing the city’s best restaurants and local dishes. From fine dining establishments to fast food trucks, you’ll find something to suit every taste.
5. The Calgary Stampede
Welcome to the Biggest Outdoor Show on Earth! The Calgary Stampede celebrates the Wild West and dates back to 1886! For ten days, Alberta’s corporate city lets its hair down for rodeo events, parades, concerts, agricultural competitions, and exhibits. The Stampede also runs an expansive midway packed with rides, games, carnival food, and some adventurous food offerings.
Learn why people come from around the world to go to the Calgary Stampede.
6. Immersive Indigenous Experiences
Alberta’s rich Indigenous culture is celebrated through unique and immersive experiences offered by Indigenous businesses, tour operators and communities throughout the province. Engaging in Indigenous tourism supports the Indigenous economy and brings completeness to your trip to Alberta by learning Indigenous stories, culture and experiences. Here are three things you can check out:
Fort Edmonton Park: Experience Indigenous culture through the Indigenous Peoples Experience, an immersive exhibit that allows visitors to explore life through First Nations and Métis peoples’ culture, histories and perspectives. The exhibit focuses on Indigenous life local to amiskwacîwâskahikan (Beaver Hills House/Edmonton).
Métis Crossing: Located near Smoky Lake, this site offers hands-on cultural experiences and explores the Métis way of life through traditional crafts, hands-on learning experiences, food, interpretive tours, and demonstrations. It is also home to a unique herd of white bison. You can see the bison on a guided wildlife tour.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump: A UNESCO World Heritage site, this location was used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years to hunt bison. Walk along the same path the First Peoples took while on the buffalo hunt and learn about the history through interpretive exhibits and guided tours.
7. Skiing and Snowboarding
Alberta is a top winter sports destination for Canadians and international travellers. The province boasts world-class ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains, including:
- Lake Louise, Mount Norquay and Sunshine Village in Banff National Park.
- Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park
- Nakiska Ski Resort in Kananaskis
- Castle Mountain Ski Resort near Pincher Creek
Skiers and snowboarders will also find opportunities to hit the slopes outside the mountains. Both Edmonton and Calgary offer river valley ski areas. You can also check out larger non-mountain hills like Canyon Ski Resort in Red Deer and Tawatinaw Valley Ski Area near Westlock.
8. The Deliciously Diverse Food Scene
Adequately describing Alberta’s diverse food scene in a summarized article is impossible, so we won’t be able to. However, know that you’ll find some of the best eats here. The local food scene is continuously growing and includes everything from gourmet dining experiences, cozy cafes and bakeries, breweries (there are so many breweries), hole-in-the-wall diners, food trucks and farmers markets.
Whatever you’re craving, the big cities and the small towns will have something to tickle your tastebuds. We found some lists for Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary:
- Explore Edmonton’s Must-Try Restaurants in Edmonton.
- Where to Eat and Drink in Red Deer.
- Avenue’s listing for the Best Restaurants in Calgary.
You can also search by location using Travel Alberta’s Restaurant Guide.
9. Camping Adventures for Every Camper
Alberta’s various landscapes and parks offer camping experiences for every type of adventurer. You’ll find fully-serviced campgrounds throughout the province in national and provincial parks and privately owned and operated parks. Whether you want to stay in an RV park with a pool and a golf course or want to unzip your tent to a pristine mountain lake in the woods, you’ll find a camping opportunity to suit!
For those looking for something in the deep wild, check out Alberta’s best backcountry campsites, accessible only by foot or canoe.
10. Roadtrips!
Everything we mentioned above makes Alberta one of the best places in Canada to take an extended road trip. In a span of a few days, you can see snow-encrusted mountains and emerald-green lakes, hike among hoodoos in the otherworldly badlands, camp in the deep woods, drive the open road through the vast prairies and hit a special event in one of the bustling cities.
In fact, the information and tips in this article can help you build the perfect itinerary for an unforgettable road trip. Plan it around your favourite season, activity, or festival, fill in the gaps with the best places to eat and drink, and hit the open road!
What do you love about Alberta?
