Northern Explorers is an advocate of family travel and adventure. Read our stories and find tips for family-friendly destinations, attractions and trip ideas.
Whitney Lakes Provincial Park is truly a hidden gem in Alberta’s Lakeland Region. This small park is home to four lakes nestled in the forest, a campground, hiking and biking trails and sandy beaches. It also protects something very special: one of the province’s most significant...
Jasper National Park has always been one of our favourite places to hike as a family. With lots of nature to explore close to the welcoming town of Jasper, kid-friendly adventures are easy to find. Picture the combination of mountain views, turquoise lakes, wildlife sightings and well...
Kinosoo Beach is undoubtedly one of the best beaches we’ve explored in Alberta, especially for families. It is a summer hub located in the City of Cold Lake, offering a three-block long stretch of sandy beach, clean and clear water and enough activities and amenities to keep you busy on...
Maligne Lake is one of the most scenic lakes in Jasper National Park, and most picturesque in my opinion! Some would argue that it’s also one of the most popular backcountry paddling destinations in the Canadian Rockies, for good reason. It’s gorgeous, the campsites offer exceptionally...
A day at the beach is the perfect way to spend a summer’s day. Families looking for sandy shores, clear water, and fun amenities like playgrounds and picnic areas will appreciate our guide to these kid-friendly beaches in Alberta. We’ve tried to include beaches throughout the entire...
Dinosaur Provincial Park has some of the most impressive badlands scenery in Canada. It offers the best of the badlands, including flat-topped buttes, sandstone spires, mushroom-capped hoodoos, cactus-lined gullies and the cottonwood glades along the Red Deer River valley. Hiking in...
Exploring the backcountry with kids opens up a new world of outdoor adventure opportunities. Whether you’re hiking, biking or paddling, you can access beautiful wilderness while building lasting memories with your family. Backcountry trips with kids take extra planning and packing, but it...
A 35-minute drive east of Edmonton takes you to the rolling hills, aspen forests, rich wetlands, pretty lakes and starry skies of Elk Island National Park. It is an ‘island’ of natural wonders and a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve, surrounded by agriculture. This wild inland island is...
As you turn the corner and the road starts to descend into the valley, the landscape around you completely transforms from rolling rangelands to otherworldly badlands. Dinosaur Provincial Park has the best and most unique landscape and geological features of the Canadian Badlands, crammed...
Cypress Hills Provincial Park is a unique destination and Canada’s only ‘interprovincial park.’ It’s a collaboration between Alberta Parks, Saskatchewan Parks, and Parks Canada, with the Fort Walsh National Historic Site on the Saskatchewan side. The Alberta side features towering hills...