Hey everybody.
Im making a trip through the province of Alberta this summer. I've never been there, and am coming to you all for advice. What would people suggest to do in Calgary and Edmonton, maybe some cool quick stops along the way. We are definentley checking out the Calgary Zoo, but what else is there in Calgary family appropriate. West Edmonton Mall is on the for sure. We are going to the WaterPark and the GalaxyLand, is there anything else to do there? Any information would be valuable, thanks everyone.

   

Well, there is the Heritage Park in Calgary as well as the Glenbow Museum.. And you dont have to go into Calgary as Banff and Jasper is just a short while away with the Majestic Rockey Mountains where Hot springs await you.

http://www.discoveredmonton.com/

http://www.discovercalgary.com/

   

i have to agree with lily when in edmonton
check out the mall

   

there is nothing to do in Alberta. I went there for a wedding a few years ago. Whenever I suggested doing something it turned into either a trip to the junior officers mess or a stroll around the West Edmonton Mall. The only exceptions were a tour of the S.A.R area of the air base and a long boring drive to some place called Jasper, where we did see some big game, but I wasn't allowed to shoot it.

I had hoped to see some things that we don't see here in Ontario, like oil rigs and prarie dogs, but it didn't happen. I did see some strange birds called magpies, but again, I didn't get to shoot any.

All in all, I wouldn't advise anyone going to Alberta. I have an uncle who was forced to live in Winnipeg for a number of years and he has nothing nice to say about it either. My best advice is, stay off the praries.

   

If you are there in July, you definitely want to check out the Stampede. Other then that...the Zoo, Heritage Park and Fort Calgary are all fun places to go. The Calgary Tower is also pretty cool.
As others have said...the Tyrell Museum in Drumheller is a must see!

Edmonton...I've never been there but my friends say the mall is really awesome. Other then that, I don't know what there is to do there...

   

If you have an extra day, take the 92 highway between Banff and Jasper on your way between Calgary and Edmonton. Simply a stunning drive. But take your time - it's a really dangerous drive, and DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS under any circumstances. They may look all cute and tame, but they will kill you without a warning. I'm not kidding. I've known too many Park Rangers there, and have heard far too many horror stories. (like the mom who poured honey on her kids hand so the bear would be close for a picture . . ."Mmmm nice plump meat popsicle covered in honey . . .")

Don't bother with the zoo here in Edmonton. It's pathetic. You might like the Muttard Conservatory, and the Royal Museum. The art gallery is decent, and weekends you can usually go to a CASCAR, drag or midget race at the speed park. And the Ukranian heritage villiage rocks.

July 17 is the Grand Prix race. Yeeeehhhaaaaa!

   

I don't know what all your interests are, but here are a few ideas:
Lloydminster -- Heavy Oil Interpretive Center. Also, the Barr Colony Museum features the complete Berthold Imhoff collection. All of it is really amazing work.
Vegreville -- The Pysanka. Not really much to do there, just stop and see the giant Easter Egg.
Edmonton -- West Edmonton Mall, Whyte Avenue, Valley Zoo (but may be moot point if you're going to vist the Calgary Zoo). Leduc #1 (first rig to strike oil in Alberta) is located on the Calgary Trail heading South.
Wetaskiwin - Edmonton International Raceway (oddly located in Wetaskiwin) has been added to the NASCAR weekly series. It's a good 1/4 mile track, some good racing there. Also, go see the Car Museum (for some reason, the name escapes me right now) and the Canadian Air and Space Museum (one admission fee will get you into both).
Drumheller/Medicine Hat Area -- Tour the bad lands, see the hoodoos, go see the reptile museum, and the Tyrell Museum. Also, find the rockslide place... it's name eludes me right now... aaargh!
Calgary -- The last time I checked, Stampede Wrestling was still putting on weekly cards. This may not be happening any more -- you should do some checking around. The Calgary Tower is worth checking out.
Banff -- Need I say more?

   

There's beauty in the praries,you just have to look for it.

   

Great things to do in Calgary:
-Glenbow Museum
-Museum of the Regiments
-Calgary Tower (expensive and only good looking out toward the SE since most buildings in the downtown block views to the north, west)
-Heritage Park
-If you like shopping, Chinook Center and Eau Claire are great desinations.
-Calaway Park west of Calgary, not the best Amusement Park in Canada, but probably fun for the kids.
-Calgary Zoo - the best
-If the parents want a night out, go to
Stage West.
-Stampede of course, if you come during it's duration.

Other things to do in Southern Alberta that are within a day's trip from Calgary:
-Drumheller is a priority, the badlands are the neatest places on earth to visit.
-Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump.
-One of the best places I never, ever get tried of going to see is Frank Slide. There is also a near by town there that gives tours of the old, abandoned mines that stretch miles into the mountains that is really neat too.
-And of course Banff (Take the gondola to the top of the mountain)

Have Fun.

   

Well....if you are female...attractive....and in Calgary....you can do me!

LMFAO!

   

Yeah you would think so eh..........but no!

ps...I got smacked by the "S.O." when they saw that comment!

   

I would love to add...but you have to set it up a bit better. Going with family are you? How many kids, how old? What do you like? Hiking? Scenery? Tourist type things like museums? Bed'n Breakfasts? City slicker activities? Outdoorsy stuff?

m

   

Ahh...alberta..home...!!! Anyways, from memory the places i'd want to see when I go again are NOT WEM....

I recommend head smashed in buffalo jump, jasper (banff can stuff itself-tooooo touristy for me) the museum of the regiments (say hi from me)

One more thing you might wanna do is go up to fort mac...just for the drive and the oil sands

If you're into mtn biking..I've heard there are some good trails in alberta

Ahhh...Alberta...I miss the rockies and the wheatfields...


there are no mountains in Western Australia...


c

   

One of the greatest things about Edmonton is the festivals all throughout the summer. Honestly, there is a major festival pretty much every single weekend, often extending into the week as well.

My fav's although not an exhaustive list by any means:

- The Fringe Festival
- The Works
- The Jazz Festival
- the Street performers' Festival
- The River City Shakespeare Festival
- The Heritage Festival (food and cultural demostrations from all over the world)

I know the Shakespeare festival probably sounds boring to people, but it's actually great. They get pretty creative in their interpretations of Shakesperean works, and it's all done in Hawrelak park (the most beautiful setting in Edmonton).

Here's a link that gives you a breakdown:
http://www.discoveredmonton.com/Edmonto ... index.html

- CamCKA