Luxury Travel: From massive glacier fields, dinosaur digs, genuine dude ranches to pure Rocky Mountain streams fed by pristine alpine lakes and mighty trout-filled rivers, Alberta is your gateway to the Canadian Rocky Mountains experience.
Located in Western Canada, Alberta is located much closer than most people think, located a short distance above Montana, just a short flight from many major US cities.
With temperate summers averaging about 70 degrees, Alberta is a great way to enjoy the outdoors in a luxurious atmosphere, whether you prefer indulging in spa treatments in the untouched wilderness of Banff National Park, or want to experience the thrill of a heli-hiking adventure near Jasper. Golfers will appreciate Alberta's array of over 300 courses, including seven of Canada's signature golf courses. Alberta is the place to retreat, push yourself to experience pure solitude or a take on a challenging outdoor adventure.
On your trip to Alberta, visit the world's largest Tyrannosaurus Rex as well as Dinosaur Provincial Park, one of the richest grounds of dinosaur fossils in the world. Alberta is home to a wide array of natural wonders. Majestic mountains and lakes provide a beautiful backdrop for this outdoor playground, the land is home to the world's largest herd of free-roaming bison as well as a multitude of pristine natural parks. Go kayaking, river rafting, sailing or scuba diving. Take a tour by horseback, plane or train. During the winter months, go skiing at Nakiska: home of the 1988 Alpine Olympics.
Alberta is also home of two of Canada's major cities: Edmonton and Calgary. With a population nearing 4 million people, Alberta offers all the hustle and bustle of a metropolis, with the relaxation of the great outdoors right nearby. Take in picturesque music festivals in the Rocky Mountains, a Grand Prix auto race in Edmonton and, the world's top show-jumping competition at Spruce Meadows. During July, Calgary hosts the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth - the Calgary Stampede. Alberta is also home to the world's largest outdoor music festival, The Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose.
If you prefer to stay indoors and shop, Alberta is the home of the world's largest shopping and entertainment complex: West Edmonton Mall. Featuring stores that are international favorites, as well as uniquely Canadian, the West Edmonton Mall offers 800 stores, restaurants, attractions and services as well as its own Chinatown and Bourbon Street. The mall even houses a full-blown amusement park and a full-size water park, offering almost 50 different rides and slides for a variety of ages.
Dining in Alberta is also an adventure, from luxury restaurants to food festivals, like the Taste of Calgary festival in August or the International Festival of Wine and Food held at a luxury hotel every October. Fine dining is certainly not scarce; The Blue Pearl offers local, organic dishes like Honey and Harrisa Spice Glazed Quail or Fila Wrapped Braised Lamb. Four Diamond restaurant The Edith Cavel should not be missed, and Calgary's Mercato offers fine Italian. Other notable dining properties include Café de Ville, Century Grill, The Belvedere and Brava Bistro.
Of all the cities in Canada, Alberta is proud to have the most sunshine, allowing people to enjoy its mountains, rivers, valleys, cities and adventure.
