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 dinosaurs, you’ve got to come here. When you drive into town, you’ll see a...
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 of riding the flat, floating platform and seeing it pull itself across the...
For a taste of everything Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park offers, hike the Matapiiski (Hoodoo) Trail. It takes you through sandstone columns and hoodoos, across grasslands, offering sweeping vistas of the Milk River Valley, coulees and the Sweet Grass Hills (Katoyiss) behind it. It also showcases a few Indigenous rock markings, including the epic Battle Scene. These...
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park (Áísínai’pi in Blackfoot) is a sacred place, surrounded by mixed grasslands, spectacular hoodoos and winding coulees. Located along Alberta’s southern border and the Milk River, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a natural and cultural experience like no other. Called Áísínai’pi by the Blackfoot People...
The Edmonton region is in the heart of aspen parkland, where the prairie meets the northern boreal forest. Mixed forests, open meadows, wetlands, small lakes, and hummocky hills create a scenic and adventurous landscape for outdoor recreation, nature escapes, and camping trips. Whether you live in the area and want an escape from the city, or you’re...
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 going far from home. Pigeon Lake Provincial Park is one of the most popular places...
The first time I camped at English Bay Provincial Recreation Area on Cold Lake’s northwest shore in Alberta, I immediately felt it was special. There was a lot to take in: the quiet rustling of aspen and birch leaves in the lake breeze, the wide-open expanse of Cold Lake, and the dense boreal forest along the gold-sand shoreline. I felt instant peace and could...
Alberta’s Lakeland Region offers abundant campgrounds near quiet lakes and a welcome escape from city life. With dozens of lakes, provincial parks, municipal campgrounds and forested recreation areas, it’s a popular destination for families, paddlers, anglers and anyone looking to slow down for a few days. We’ve visited several campgrounds...
Moose Lake is a sandy-bottomed lake located in northeast Alberta. In the heart of the Lakeland Region, this lake is popular for its sandy beaches, multiple campgrounds, fishing and boating opportunities. The lake is fed by Thin Lake River and flows out via Moose Lake River, which enters the Beaver River Basin and eventually empties into Hudson Bay. Needless to say...
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 interpretive centre in the province, welcoming visitors to learn about and...