What is a typical itinerary for summer travel to Alberta?To help decide where to visit in Alberta, it's important to think about what clients want to experience. Activities such as golfing, fishing, kayaking and hiking are possible across the entire province. However, Alberta's most popular summer itinerary includes a tour of the Canadian Rockies. Clients can start in either the gateway city of Edmonton or Calgary and make their way through Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and Kananskis, making the trip an open-jaw journey by flying into and out of our two different urban hubs. Clients can get a good taste of Alberta on a three- to five-day journey, but it's best to allow more time to really experience all that Alberta has to offer.
What is one of the highlights of visiting in the summer?
Summers in Alberta are warm and inviting, and the days are sunny and long. Albertans love the outdoors, and there are endless festivals, events and natural wonders that allow clients to experience the great beauty of the area. The chances of spotting bighorn sheep, mule deer and elk in our Rocky Mountain parks are almost a given. Whether you're whitewater rafting, riding a bike, walking on a glacier or enjoying a heli-yoga experience, a vacation in Alberta will refresh your spirit.
Can you recommend anything out of the ordinary to do while there?
Experiencing Alberta's western ways is one of the most authentic adventures you can have in the province. Tepee sleepovers are popular, especially for families and cultural explorers. Clients can stay at a working ranch, ride horses in the backcountry or round-up cattle while learning the cowboy way of life -- they can even try a bull-riding lesson.
Can you recommend any festivals?
Alberta's summers pulse with energy. Edmonton is Canada's "Festival City" and has a lengthy roster of summer music, arts and cultural celebrations. If clients want to experience "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," they can make a stop in Calgary this July for 10 days of the Calgary Stampede. Here they'll find cowboys from all over the world showing off their skills and vying for a top spot as well as major concerts and a nightly grandstand show complete with fireworks.
What sets Alberta apart from the other provinces of Canada?
Alberta's variety of natural areas and ecosystems support hundreds of species of wildlife. Coupled with the intriguing history of Aboriginal cultures and prehistoric dinosaur remains, it's easy to see why the United Nations crowned Alberta with five of Canada's 15 designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Some of Alberta's bragging points include Banff National Park, Canada's first national park; Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic highways in the world; the Fringe Festival in Edmonton, one of North America's largest theater festivals; Dinosaur Provincial Park, one of the richest dinosaur fossil discoveries in the world; and The Masters at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, one of the richest show jumping contests in the world.
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Travel Alberta www.travelalberta.com
