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...
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...
Sioux Narrows Provincial Park introduces the quieter side of Lake of the Woods, a popular summer destination in northwest Ontario. While nearby Kenora is a hot spot for water sports, boat cruises, fishing and a bustling downtown, Sioux Narrows offers visitors a natural escape and a peaceful place to build memories as a family. Sioux Narrows is the traditional...
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...
Kootenay Lake from Queens Bay Tucked between the Selkirk and Purcell Mountain ranges, Kootenay Lake in British Columbia is ideal for relaxing and nature-focused family spring break. From natural hot springs to laid-back and historic lakeside towns to rocky beaches, waterfall hikes and world-class downhill skiing, you’ll have no trouble finding activities the whole...
The Kaslo River Trail winds along the north and south shores of the Kaslo River, connected by two bright red, enchanting covered bridges, to make it a family-friendly 3.6 km loop. About halfway, you’ll find magical “Koots” sculptures playing hide-and-seek among the moss-covered boulders and quiet forest. The sound of the river, the playfulness of the sculptures and...
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...