Northern Explorers is an advocate of family travel and adventure. Read our stories and find tips for family-friendly destinations, attractions and trip ideas.
Dinosaur Provincial Park is one of our favourite destinations in the Canadian Badlands. It has some of the province’s most impressive badlands scenery, with flat-topped buttes, mushroom-capped hoodoos, sandstone formations, and giant cottonwood trees; the landscape alone is enough...
A visit to the Royal Tyrrell Museum is a must-do when visiting Drumheller. It’s usually the main attraction for families visiting the region. Kids love dinosaurs (and big kids do, too)! My family has been a few times over the years, both with toddlers and school-aged kids, and it’s worth...
Tucked away in Alberta’s stark, dramatic badlands, Drumheller is the ultimate prehistoric playground for a family road trip. You’ll find yourself in a surreal landscape of striped canyon walls, towering hoodoos, and the meandering Red Deer River valley. If you have a kid who loves...
Did you know there is a free river ferry in the heart of the Canadian Badlands in Alberta? The Bleriot Ferry takes vehicle and foot passengers across the Red Deer River. The ride is short and sweet, but it’s a fun, scenic roadside adventure for kids. My 9-year-old son got a kick out...
Just over an hour southwest of Edmonton, Pigeon Lake is a go-to spot for people looking for an easy escape from the city. The lake is surrounded by sandy beaches, forested campgrounds and quaint lakeside communities. You can camp, boat, fish, hike, and relax by the water without...
Métis Crossing offers a hands-on cultural learning experience. It’s located a 1.5-hour drive northeast of Edmonton, near Smoky Lake, Alberta. The grounds sit on the edge of the North Saskatchewan River, on the original river lots of Métis settlers. It is the first and only Métis cultural...
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...