Alberta: Land of Dinosaur Fossils, Stunning Landscapes, and Amazing Food

Alberta is a Canadian province packed with incredible things to see and do. Most people know it for the Canadian Rockies, a stunning mountain range covered in snow. But Alberta also has ancient dinosaur fossils, exciting rodeos, vibrant cities, and rich Indigenous culture — making it one of Canada's most exciting places to visit.

The Canadian Rockies are Alberta's most famous attraction, and it's easy to see why. Three national parks sit inside these mountains: Jasper, Banff, and Waterton Lakes. Together, they are home to sparkling glaciers, deep valleys, turquoise lakes, and wildlife like elk, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, and grizzly bears.

Jasper National Park covers about 4,200 square miles, and 97 percent of it is wilderness. Visitors can ski and ice climb in winter, then paddle on crystal-clear lakes in summer. Jasper is also one of the world's largest Dark Sky Preserves, which means there is very little light pollution, making it a great spot to watch the Northern Lights starting in October.

Banff National Park was Canada's very first national park. It is filled with conifer forests and beautiful glacial lakes, including the world-famous Lake Louise. The lake's stunning turquoise color comes from tiny rock particles carried by melting glaciers. Visitors love kayaking and boating in summer, and hiking the trails around the lake in spring and fall.

Waterton Lakes National Park stretches across the border into the U.S. state of Montana. It may be less famous than Banff or Jasper, but it is just as beautiful. Highlights include the bright blue Crypt Lake, the red sandstone Red Rock Canyon, and colorful wildflowers that bloom from late spring into June.

Alberta's capital city, Edmonton, is home to about 1.2 million people. It has a lively arts scene and hosts more than 50 festivals every year, earning it the nickname 'Canada's Festival City.' Events include a craft beer festival in March, Edmonton Pride in June, and a Caribbean arts celebration called Cariwest each August.

Edmonton is also known for its giant river valley park. The North Saskatchewan River Valley is 22 times larger than New York's Central Park and has over 150 kilometers of trails for walking and cycling. For those who prefer shopping, the West Edmonton Mall is one of the biggest entertainment complexes in all of North America.

Calgary, Alberta's largest city, has a famous western spirit. Every July, it hosts the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day rodeo event that draws huge crowds from around the world. Visitors enjoy bronc riding, chuckwagon races, livestock shows, and live entertainment. But Calgary is also a modern city, with tall skyscrapers that reflect in the Bow River flowing through downtown.

Alberta's Indigenous peoples have lived in the region for thousands of years. The Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park uses music, art, and storytelling to share the history and traditions of First Nations and Métis peoples. The Royal Alberta Museum holds over 18,000 objects from Indigenous communities, some dating back to the mid-1800s.

Just 90 minutes east of Calgary lies one of Alberta's most unusual landscapes — the Canadian Badlands. This region is full of prairies, canyons, and strange rock formations called hoodoos, which are shaped by wind and water over hundreds of years. Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located here, is one of the richest places in the world for dinosaur fossils, with over 50 species discovered from the Cretaceous period. Visitors can go fossil hunting on the park's trails or explore about 800 fossils at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller.