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 province, listed from the northern locations and working our way down. Let us know if...
Whether you kayak, canoe or use a standup paddle board (SUP), paddling is a great way to explore, connect with nature and get some healthy exercise. The Edmonton region offers several lakes, ponds, and the iconic North Saskatchewan River for paddle adventures. We’ve put together our top picks for the best places to go paddling near Edmonton, Alberta. Why these...
Moose Lake is in the heart of Lakeland, an area in northeastern Alberta along the edge of the boreal forest known for its many lakes. You can’t miss Moose Lake on a map, as it looks like a moose head with two arms jutting out to make up the antlers. Though cottages and homes dot the shorelines, large sections of the lake remain wild, including the large...
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 Dinosaur Provincial Park is the best way to experience this otherworldly landscape...
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 is more than doable, and the rewards are worth the effort. Still, kids have...
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 home to free-roaming bison herds, elk, deer, coyotes, beavers and over 250 bird...
Alberta is home to some of the most famous national parks in the world. These parks offer opportunities for sightseeing, hiking, paddling, camping and connecting with nature. In addition, you’ll find interactive programming and educational opportunities through Parks Canada, as well as a range of accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions. We’ve put...
Waterton Lakes National Park is one of Alberta’s five national parks, located in the southwest corner of the province. It offers pristine lakes, sweeping mountain vistas, waterfalls, hiking trails, campgrounds, the famous Red Rock Canyon, the historic Prince of Wales Hotel, and the quaint Waterton Village. The park’s land area is relatively small compared to...
Chester Lake: A go-to snowshoe (or hike) in Kananaskis Country, Alberta The Chester Lake Trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park stands out as a go-to hike in Kananaskis, especially in the winter. The trail gives the best samplings of scenery in the Canadian Rockies, including Christmas card spruce and pine trees, snow-covered meadows and a beautiful frozen lake with...
When researching ski resorts in Alberta to visit over the holidays with my 8-year-old beginner/intermediate skier, I debated travelling to Southwestern Alberta to Castle Mountain Resort. It is clichély and incorrectly known as “Canada’s best-kept secret” because it is off the beaten path and slightly smaller than the ski resorts in Banff and Jasper National Park. The...