Alberta Travel Guide

Alberta, Canada — Attractions

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Glenbow Museum

Located in the heart of Calgary opposite the tower, the Glenbow Museum is Canada's largest museum, with more than 93,000 square feet (8,640 sq meters) of exhibition space spread over three floors. It houses more than a million objects that fill up its 20 galleries and showcase the colorful history of Canada's West. Explore the exhibits to discover the people, stories and events that shaped the region from its First Nations to the arrival of the European settlers. There is a family-friendly Discovery Room, which is an open studio full of educational activities and crafts that bring the museum to life. A special feature is the Blackfoot Gallery, which tells the story of the Nitsitapi people through interactive displays, artifacts, a film and circular narrative path. There are also some 28,000 artworks dating from the 19th century to the present on display in the museum. Glenbow's library is a treasure trove of reference materials on western Canada and the Glenbow Archives are a major research center for historians, writers, students and the media.

Region/City Name: Calgary
Address: 130 9th Avenue, S.E
Zip Code: T2G 0P3
Phone Number: (403) 268 4100
Email Address: info@glenbow.org
Website: www.glenbow.org
Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, 12pm to 5pm on Sundays. Library and archives open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm. Museum Shop open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5:30pm, 12pm to 5:30pm on Sundays.
Admission: C$14 (adults), C$9 (youth). Other concessions available

Calgary Zoo

Canada's second largest zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals from all over the world, as well as a variety of fish and insects in natural habitat enclosures. It also features a prehistoric park with 19 life-size animatronic dinosaurs on display. The botanic gardens include a 20,000 square foot (1,858 sq meter) conservatory and butterfly garden and a special Rocky Mountain exhibit featuring many indigenous Alberta animals, including the endangered Whooping Crane. The zoo is situated close to the downtown area, on St George's Island.

Region/City Name: Calgary
Address: 1300 Zoo Road NE
Phone Number: (403) 232 9300
Website: www.calgaryzoo.com
Hours: Open daily 9am to 5pm
Admission: C$18 (adult), C$10 (child); other concessions available

Fort Calgary

This historical site chronicles Calgary's history between 1875 and the 1940s and allows visitors to step back in time and explore the early days of the city through interactive exhibits, costumed interpreters, hands on activities, guided tours and an entertaining audio-visual presentation. Fort Calgary is situated on the site of an original North West Mounted Police Fort and is designed to preserve the history of the founding, development and growth of the city. The 40-acre riverside park includes the reconstructed 1875 fort, 1888 barracks, the interpretive center and Deane House Historic Site and Restaurant.

Region/City Name: Calgary
Address: 750 - 9th Avenue SE
Phone Number: (403) 290 1875
Email Address: info@fortcalgary.com
Website: www.fortcalgary.com
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Admission: C$11 (adults), C$7 (youth). Other concessions available

Columbia Icefields

This massive field of ancient ice, made up of eight major glaciers, is situated near the town of Jasper in the middle of Jasper National Park. The icefield covers 125 square miles (325 sq km) and in places is estimated to be 1,270ft (385m) deep. The icefield feeds four of North America's major river systems, the Columbia, Fraser, Mackenzie and Saskatchewan and its meltwaters flow into three different oceans, the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic. Tours of the glacier are offered on snowcoaches between April and October each year. Ice-walk tours are also offered by the Jasper Adventure Center.

Region/City Name: Canadian Rocky Mountains

Jasper

Affectionately known as the 'little town in the big park', Jasper lies in the middle of Canada's largest mountain park, the Jasper National Park, and makes a delightful base from which to explore the lakes and mountains. The town of just over 4,000 people is 233 miles (373km) from Edmonton and lies among pristine wilderness, surrounded by a necklace of green lakes and majestic waterfalls. There are one or two attractions in the town itself, including the Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society Museum, which features displays of early Canadian explorers; the 165 foot (55m) deep Maligne River Canyon; the longest and highest reversible tramway in Canada that transports passengers up Whistlers Mountain; and the Den Wildlife Museum that houses more than 100 animal specimens displayed in their natural habitat. Driving to Jasper is relatively simple, however harsh winter weather can sometimes make the roads impassible so check the weather reports before you go. In the surrounding areas there are many natural wonders to explore, and using Jasper as a base gives you the opportunity to try dogsledding, snowmobiling, cat-skiing, cross-country skiing, and ice climbing in the winter. Summer activities include white-water rafting, hiking, horseback riding, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, and wildlife spotting.

Region/City Name: Canadian Rocky Mountains

West Edmonton Mall

The West Edmonton Mall is the largest in North America. With over 800 shops and other attractions, it hosts more than 28 million visitors every year. The mall boasts an ice skating rink, the world's largest indoor waterpark, the Galaxyland amusement park, a sea lion habitat, a petting zoo, an IMAX theater, an indoor skate park, and Ed's Recreation Center, which encompasses a bowling alley, pool hall, music stage, arcade, and restaurant. It has several themed areas made to resemble Bourbon Street in New Orleans, China, and a European streetscape.

Address: 1755 170 Street Northwest
Phone Number: (780) 444-5200
Website: www.wem.ca
Hours: Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 11am-5pm