Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/1471704
The annual Calgary Stampede celebrates all things cowboy and rodeo early each July. Edmonton K-Days follows up with a tribute to northern Alberta's Klondike heritage, while dozens of other festivals across the province celebrate Alberta's unique pockets of regional pride—think perogies in Vegreville, or beef jerky in Longview. Alberta's dining scene is innovative and local, emphasizing Rocky Mountain Cuisine such as game, fish and world-famous grain- fed beef. From upscale hotel dining rooms in the big city to eclectic alpine bistros in Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise, the restaurants consistently win international awards. NATURE'S WONDERLAND Provincial recreational areas help keep Albertans and their visitors outdoors. Spread across 661,848 sq. km (255,541 sq. mi.) of pristine terrain, the five major snow resorts and sprawling backcountry lure powder- hounds from November to May. Try dogsledding through the untouched Spray Lakes valley, or take a guided ice walk in frozen Maligne Canyon near Jasper. The lakes of Kananaskis Country are a delight for ice fishing in winter and boating, hiking and cycling in the summer. The 4,645-sq. m (50,000-sq. ft.) Kananaskis Nordic Spa includes outdoor hot, warm and cold pools. Alberta's glacier-fed waterways, particularly the Bow and Red Deer rivers, attract anglers with the promise of top-notch trout fishing. In the same day, visitors can play the back nine of a world-class golf course, hopscotch past cactus patches in search of ancient rock carvings in the desert, and then retire to the hotel hot tub to watch the sunset. VENTURING OUT Float your boat down a river or head for calmer waters along Lake Minnewanka or Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. Bonus: hear the crack of avalanches overhead, well out of your path but still powerful. Chase champagne powder from the top of first-rate resorts such as Sunshine Village, Lake Louise or Marmot Basin, or explore them in summer to unveil abundant wildlife and colourful carpets of wildflowers. Canada Olympic Park in northwest Calgary offers a variety of winter and summer activities including: mountain biking, skiing, hockey, outdoor camps, skating and sports training, while Peter Lougheed Provincial Park boasts un-paralleled opportunities for adventure all year round. Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, south of Calgary, chronicles pioneer life from 1882 to 1950; this pristine setting in the shadow of the southern Rockies is featured on many postcards. Travellers with time on their hands head north to Wood Buffalo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site with 44,807 sq. km (17,300 sq. mi.) of protected wilderness where the endangered whooping crane and the world's largest herd of free- roaming wood bison can be found. WHAT'S NEW? Fort Edmonton Park reopens in May with $165M in enhancements. After a 3-year closure, guests are welcomed back with a new signature exhibit: the Indigenous Peoples Experience; expansion of the 1920s-style midway including a new Ferris wheel, games, maze and the Cabinet of Curios exhibit; and a new front entry plaza and admissions area (www.fortedmontonpark.ca). The Calgary Stampede Indian Village has been renamed the Elbow River Camp and relocated to a dedicated new spot where the Elbow and Bow River meet on the east edge of the grounds. Over the 10-day Calgary Stampede, visitors can speak with elders and their families from the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai, Tsuut'ina and Stoney Nakoda First Nations. Local artisans are on hand selling jewellery, art and traditional Saskatoon berry jam and sweetgrass, as well as foods such as bannock. Enjoy an all-inclusive high alpine experience set amongst the dramatic backdrop of Alberta's Columbia Icefield. Glacier View Lodge includes 32 contemporary guest rooms and a cosy lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the glacier's view. The experience includes a guided evening tour on the Columbia Icefield Skywalk and a morning tour on the Athabasca Glacier with a hot beverage. Open late-May to mid-September (www.banffjaspercollection.com/hotels/ glacier-view-lodge) CITY LIGHTS Alberta's two major cities offer quite different insights into the province, though they share a love of green space, sprawling river pathways and tidy, bustling downtowns. The provincial capital of Edmonton is a government city with a grand legislature building, a thriving arts community and numerous galleries, craft stores and art shops. Most can be found along trendy Whyte Avenue or in the downtown arts district, the location of the modern Art Gallery of Alberta, the Winspear Centre and the Citadel Theatre. Also in this locale is the stunning Royal Alberta Museum, the largest AB 45 HORSEBACK RIDING ON LAKE AGNES TRAIL, BANFF NATIONAL PARK • SHUTTERSTOCK/TATSUO NAKAMURA