Alberta Travel Guide

Alberta, Canada

One of the most economically important Canadian provinces, Alberta will surprise you with its breathtaking sceneries, abundant wildlife and multiculturalism.

Alberta – Geography

Located between the western Rocky Mountains, eastern Canadian prairie and the northern sub arctic taiga, Alberta has a dry continental climate with sub arctic influences in the north and semi arid ones in the southern regions. A particularity of Alberta’s climate is the warm and dry Chinook winds, which sometimes determine a significant increase in temperatures during winter time. Temperatures also vary according to elevation making the highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains to be snow capped all year long and the southern parts to suffer from severe draughts.

The highest point of the province is in Mount Columbia (3747m), also a main tourist resource, attracting numerous tourists with its unique landscape created by ancient glaciers that used to cover all those lands.

There are also numerous rivers like the Peace River and Athabasca River, lakes like Lake Claire and the famous Bad Lands with the stones’ gorgeous blend of colors.

Alberta – Flora and Fauna

Alberta is a province with numerous tourist attractions, most of them connected to nature and local culture. Here you can meet the different animal and plant species corresponding to various climatic zones and topography by visiting one of the many protected areas in the province.

The province houses one of the largest national parks in the country, the Wood Buffalo National Park, famous for its herds of bison, boreal plain and more.

Other protected areas that can be visited here are the Dinosaur Provincial Park, Banff National Park, Elk Island National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park.

Alberta – Population

The local population is a mix of nationalities from all over the world. From Anglo Saxons, Ukrainians and other Europeans to Chinese, Indians, Arabs, and Africans, are all living in good understanding and respect. About 81% of the local population lives in the main cities and only the remaining 19% live in rural areas.

The province has about 3.200.000 inhabitants and has the capital city in Edmonton, even if the largest and most important economic city is Calgary. Edmonton’s first inhabitants were fur traders and farmers, now the town has one of the most accelerated growths in the country and is considered to have one of the best economic potential for the future.

Alberta – Tips for Tourists

For a trip to Alberta you must know that usually a visa and a valid passport are required to enter the country. You will also be requested to have return tickets, documents for your next destination if necessary and enough money to support yourself during the stay.

Also the travelers are advised to check with a local embassy or consulate office in order to receive the most accurate information.

Alberta – Transport

Alberta has hundreds of thousands of highways, roads and railroads due to large distances between cities and important economic, industrial or cultural sites. The fastest and easiest to get here is by air, using one of the two international airports in Alberta, the Calgary International Airport and Edmonton International Airport located in the two major cities of the province.

Alberta - Resorts

You can find here all kinds of accommodation ready to satisfy even the most demanding guests, from luxurious hotels, mountain cabins, inns, eco accommodations and more. For a relaxing holiday in the mountains you can choose Brewster’s Shadow Lake Lodge, offering simple accommodation in great log cabins with a breathtaking view over the Banff National Park and nearby skiing trail. Another possibility for a mountain getaway would be the Smoky Lake Inn, offering great accommodation, home cooked meals and many activities in the unique mountain crisp air.

A great option is also Alberta Beach Hotel, which, in spite of its name, is not located on the shores of an ocean or sea but on the shores of the Lac Ste. Ann. The hotel offers very good accommodation in a historic hotel by the water, with high quality service and many included facilities.

With such a rich natural and cultural heritage Alberta will surely impress any traveler that decides to visit it.