2013-summer-magazine

1-800-ALBERTA 

+53° 32' 38" N -113° 29' 23" W travelalberta.com 

UMMER 

GET THE MOST 

FROM YOUR 

ALBERTA 

GETAWAY 

RidE, shop, pLAy: wE hAvE 

pAckAgEs FoR EvERy inTEREsT 

SWEET 

SUMMER 

BUZZ 

Find ouT why honEyBEEs 

LovE ALBERTA 

1-800-ALBERTA 

1

ALBERTA 

SUMMERS 

YOu’ll makE a grEaT hOST 

Summer is just around the corner. 

Plans are starting to shape up. Friends 

and family are coming to visit and you’re 

wondering what on earth to do when they 

get here. Well you’re in luck. Here are a 

whole bunch of ideas for a great summer 

spent with all those you love the most. 

You’ll make a great host! 

Did you know that Alberta produces about 

40 per cent of Canada’s honey? Check out 

the 6.7 metre bee statue in Falher, Honey 

Capital of Canada, and stay for the honey 

festival. See a few brave souls don waggling 

“beards” of live honey bees. Travelling from 

the south? Make a stop at a meadery to 

enjoy a tasting after you view the queen 

bee near Okotoks. 

Ready for some serious shopping? 

Get ready for a full day of fashion at 

West Edmonton Mall or take a road trip 

through the cool little towns on the 

Cowboy Trail for some unique finds. 

The history buffs in your bunch will enjoy 

exploring the Crowsnest Pass and visit the 

sites that hold the tales of the early coal 

mining days. Drop some jaws when you 

show your visitors the famed Frank Slide. 

Visit the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic 

Site in Drumheller and help celebrate its 

100th birthday with a climb up the last 

wooden tipple in Canada. 

Looking for a different point of view? See 

Alberta from the air – on a hot air balloon 

ride, from the open cockpit of a vintage 

airplane or try a heli tour. Then see Alberta 

from below – on an underwater scuba dive 

at Lake Minnewanka. 

For something extra special, visit the newly 

refurbished Cave and Basin National Historic 

Site in Banff and learn how the national park 

system all began, back in 1883. Take a look 

at some of the challenging golf courses in 

central and northern Alberta – duffers will be 

delighted that they can play until almost 

midnight up north. 

Wherever your Alberta travels take you, 

there’s a small town rodeo calling your 

name. Give your guests a taste of what real 

rodeo is all about – up close and personal. 

And then you can show off Alberta’s 

booming craft beer industry with a frosty 

lager made from local ingredients. 

Ahh, summer time. 

Have an adventurous summer! 

The Travel Alberta Team 

CONTENTS 

From Grain to Glass 

Local Quality that Quenches 4 

summer escape pacKaGes 8 

From the mall to main street 

Alberta’s Shops are Tops 22 

hittinG the Greens 

Endless Days of Golf in Central and Northern Alberta 24 

surF, scuba, slide 

Aquatic Adventures in Alberta 28 

cave and basin 

Banff’s Original Jewel Amidst the Peaks 30 

2013 summer events 33 

Edmonton & Area 36 

Calgary & Area 37 

Canadian Rockies 38 

Northern Alberta 39 

Central Alberta 40 

Southern Alberta 41 

liKe a bee to honey 

Celebrate Sweet Alberta 46 

diGGinG deep 

Into Alberta’s History 50 

small town rodeo 

Means Big League Entertainment 54 

bird’s eye view 

Alberta by Air 58 

FPO 

2 travelalberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA 3

FROM GRAiN 

TO GLASS 

Photos courtesy of Brian Van Tighem White Leaf Photography 

lOCal QualiTY 

ThaT QuENChES 

By Mike Fisher 

Matt Sawyer stands in 4,200 acres of 

Alberta cropland, the sun on his face and 

the malt barley that he grows waving like 

a field of gold. Meanwhile, I’m sipping 

WRaspberry Ale some 90 km southwest in 

Calgary’s Wild Rose Brewery & Taproom 

(wildrosebrewery.com), the tart taste 

suffusing my smile as I raise an arm to 

call over a friend. 

The journey of an Alberta beer from grain to 

glass has always been invisible to me, but 

I’ve learned it moves in not-so-mysterious 

ways – from the farmer to the malter to the 

brewmaster to the waitress, who is just now 

bringing me another ale to pair with the 

taproom’s raspberry cobbler. 

Then and Now 

In between the drafts my father would order 

at his favourite beer hall, he never had to ask 

what to pair with the flat ale on tap. Pickled 

eggs or beef jerky pretty much summed it 

up. But times have changed, and so have 

the brews and taprooms. The craft beer 

scene in Alberta is booming. 

Here at Wild Rose, parts of old kegs 

decorate the bar and the chairs are 

handmade. The barstools even have tractor 

seats on them, giving new life to the phrase 

“from farm to table.” With the reliance on 

fresh, local ingredients, it’s a term foodies 

love to hear. And increasingly, the people 

who love good eats are seeking prime beers 

and beerhouses for their discerning palates. 

A Natural Partnership 

“Everything starts with a good foundation 

in order to produce a quality product,” 

says Sawyer, of Sawyer Farms Ltd. in Acme. 

“You begin with quality workmanship and 

some help from Mother Nature.” 

Nature gives Alberta the beginnings of the 

right stuff for making great ale – premium 

barley (and for certain ales, wheat), and 

perfect hard water. Next, there are great malt 

houses such as Rahr Malting (rahr.com) in 

Alix, and finally, experienced brewmasters. 

Supply and Demand for Quality 

My quest for quality begins, right here: 

quenching my thirst. 

As the consumer, I’m the final but 

necessary cog in the wheel that helps drive 

this train. And as my tastes become more 

sophisticated, with home brew enthusiasts 

and others like me demanding more varied, 

flavourful and fresh beers, the craft beer 

market in Alberta continues to expand. 

Russell Shuttleworth, Rahr Malting’s 

Grower Relations Coordinator, says 

“We work hard to get all our grain sourced 

directly from the grower, allowing us 

uniformity and higher quality. And craft 

brewing is all about quality.” 

Local Success Stories 

Led by Ed McNally, Calgary’s Big Rock 

Brewery (bigrockbeer.com) got craft 

beer going in Alberta in 1985, a success 

story that grew from one man’s passion 

for enjoying beer. Now, there are 

premium breweries and tap houses 

all around Alberta. 

Bear Hill Brewing Company 

(bearhillbrewingco.ca) is another 

Alberta craft brew success story, 

beginning with the Jasper Brewing 

Company in 2005, The Banff Ave. Brewing 

Co. in 2010, and the Wood Buffalo 

Operation (one of the largest brewpub/ 

eateries in Canada), recently launched by 

Fort McMurray local, Steven Sachse. 

Alberta’s spirit of entrepreneurialism helps 

pave the way for new brews and brewpubs 

in the province, according to Sachse, one 

of a new breed of beer businessmen 

who combine extensive food and beverage 

backgrounds with get-it-done energy. 

“Our customers include the savvy people 

who realize Fort Mac is a great place to live,” 

he says. “There is local pride in our beers. 

Every single one is designed for the water 

of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo.” 

Local residents even had a hand in 

naming the Wood Buffalo brews. When the 

company asked for input, they got it, and 

now you can enjoy Gold Digger Golden Ale, 

Lift Kit Lager and Overtime IPA, among 

others, in downtown Fort McMurray. 

Not Your Father’s Beer 

According to Sachse, the beer industry is 

changing and for the better. “Once upon a 

time, we were told to love our dad’s brands, 

but craft brewing is a whole new way of 

looking at beer. It’s fresh beer versus a 

package brand. It’s a new attitude.” 

4 travelalberta.com 1-800-ALBERTA 5 

I’ll drink to that. 

Check out page 6 for Brewery Tours 

and Beer Clubs.

6 travelalberta.com 

BEER: CLUBS, TOURS AND 

EVENTS AROUND ALBERTA 

Photos courtesy of Edmonton Beer Geeks Anonymous 

JOin a brew club 

Cowtown Yeast Wranglers in Calgary. 

yeastwranglers.ca 

Edmonton Homebrewers’ Guild. ehg.ca 

Edmonton Beer Geeks Anonymous. 

edmontonbeergeeksanonymous.ca 

The Werthogs of Lethbridge. 

werthogs.com 

brewery TOurs 

Enjoy brewery tours throughout the province 

(some places require advance booking, 

check ahead of time): 

calgary 

Check out where brew culture started in 

Alberta at Big Rock Brewery. 

bigrockbeer.com 

Drop in tours, seasonal beers, and a 

taproom to hang in after your tour at 

Wild Rose. wildrosebrewery.com 

Take in over 40 years of expertise during 

a one hour tour with Village Brewery. 

villagebrewery.com 

Enjoy up to 6 of Minhas Micro Brewery’s 

fine beverages on their tour. 

minhasbrewery.com 

edmOnTOn 

Alley Kat brewery offers a walkthrough 

tour and tastings of their current brews. 

alleykatbeer.com 

Downtown Edmonton produces some of the 

best brew at Yellowhead Brewery. 

yellowheadbrewery.com 

JasPer 

Established in 2012, Jasper Brewing 

Company aims to create the best 

beer possible. 

jasperbrewingco.ca 

canmOre 

Check out the Beer and Soda 

brewed by the Grizzly Paw Brewery. 

thegrizzlypaw.com 

banFF 

Learn about the roots and traditions of 

brewing with Banff Ave. Brewing Co. 

banffavebrewingco.ca 

FOrT mcmurray 

Celebrate Wood Buffalo Brewing Co.’s 

inaugural year; they just opened in January. 

woodbuffalobrewingco.ca 

Beer Events 

edmonton craft beer Festival 

June 14-15 

edmontoncraftbeerfest.com 

taste of edmonton 

includes a Taste of Beer 

July 18-27 | eventsedmonton.ca 

taste of calgary 

August 15-18 | tasteofcalgary.com 

shabam beer tasting Festival, 

edmonton 

as a part of the Kidney Foundation 

September 27 | kidney.ca 

rocky mountain Food and wine 

Calgary: October 18-19 

Edmonton: October 25-26 

rockymountainwine.com 

Stay 

| with bellstar 

in canmore 

Solara Resort & Spa Fire Mountain Lodge Canmore Crossing Blackstone Mountain Lodge The Lodges at Canmore 

Like us – visit www.facebook.com/BellstarResorts 

Stay at a Bellstar Resort in Canmore, AB and experience the serenity 

of the mountains from the luxury of a condo-style suite. 

Bellstar’s Canmore Resorts offer the ultimate in amenities and comfort. 

Visit our website for more information and to check out our incredible specials and packages. 

www.bellstar.ca visit www.bellstar.ca/stay or call 1-877-737-6782 to book!

SUMMER ESCApE 

pACKAGES 

#explorealberta 

MysTic spRings 

chALETs & hoT pooLs 

siLvER cREEk LodgE 

140 kananaskis way, canmore 

1-866-446-9784 or 403-609-0344 

stay@mysticsprings.ca 

www.mysticsprings.ca 

1818 Mountain Avenue, canmore 

1-877-598-4242 or 403-678-4242 

reservations@silvercreekcanmore.ca 

www.silvercreekcanmore.ca 

NOODLES OF FAMiLY FUN 

iN THE SUN 

travelalberta.com 

Enjoy a one night stay in Mystic Spring’s two bedroom two bathroom mountain chalets featuring 

Canmore’s largest outdoor heated pool. Enjoy pool noodles for the kids, and breakfast for four at the 

Georgetown Inn Pub. Spend your summer nights swimming with Mystic Springs in Canmore! 

sTarTing aT 

$ 299 

Package includes 

• One night stay in a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom chalet 

• Breakfast for two adults & two children 

• Pool noodles for kids 

Plus taxes, based on quad occupancy, subject to availability, reservations required, $36 total value on breakfast voucher 

(2 adult breakfasts + 2 children’s breakfasts). 

DiNE & DASH AT SiLVER CREEK LODGE 

AND THE GEORGETOWN pUB 

Enjoy dinner at one of Canmore’s liveliest pubs, the Georgetown Inn, located just minutes away from Silver 

Creek Lodge where you’ll enjoy the luxury of our one bedroom condo suite. After your three course meal 

you can relax in Silver Creek Lodge’s outdoor hot pools and spend your summer night in comfort. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 275 


• One night stay in a one bedroom condo suite 

• Three course dinner for two at the Georgetown Pub 

Plus taxes, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, reservations required, $40 value for three course meal per person 

(meal choices are for one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert). 


AndERson vAcATions 

cALAwAy Rv pARk 

hERiTAgE inn hoTEL 

coAsT pLAzA hoTEL 

& conFEREncE cEnTRE 

1-866-814-7378 or 403-245-6200 

www.canadatravelsolution.com 

245033 Range Road 33, calgary 

403-249-7372 

campground@calawaypark.com 

www.calawaypark.com 

919 waterton Ave, pincher creek 

1-888-888-4374 or 403-627-5000 

www.heritageinn.net 

1316-33 street nE, calgary 

1-800-661-1464 or 403-248-8888 

res@calgaryplaza.com 

www.calgaryplaza.com 

ROCKiES, EDMONTON AND 

THE BADLANDS Calgary | Banff | Lake Louise | Jasper | Edmonton 

sTarTing aT 

$ 895 

Plus taxes, pricing is based on double occupancy, per person, car rental available at an additional cost. 

RV HAViNG FUN YET? 42% SAViNGS 

Spend a night under the stars at Calaway Park’s RV Park and Campground. Wake up each morning to a 

beautiful view of the Canadian Rockies then enjoy the day at Western Canada’s Largest Outdoor Family 

Amusement Park. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 109 


• Seven nights accommodation 

• Entrance to the Calgary Zoo & Heritage Park 

• Sulphur Mountain Gondola Pass in Banff 

• Upper Hot Springs Swim Pass in Banff 

• Lake Louise Gondola with Breakfast 

• Ice Explorer Ride 

• Jasper Tramway Elevation Pass with Breakfast 

• Float Trip down the Athabasca River in Jasper 

• Edmonton Attractions Pass 

• Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion 

• Royal Tyrrell Museum Entrance in Drumheller 


• One night stay at the RV Park and Campground 

• Four one-day passes to Calaway Park 

Valid may 17-sep 2, 2013. Plus taxes, subject to availability. Not valid during Calgary Stampede (July 5 – 14). Cannot be combined 

with any other offer, coupon, family or group rate. 

SUMMER FREE RiDE 

Whether you are looking for a relaxing escape or an action packed getaway, a weekend trip to Waterton 

Lakes National Park is always amazing. Start your day with a hot breakfast at Seasons Café & Eatery and 

then head to the park. Hike the trails and enjoy ice cream in the town-site before the day is through. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 150 


• One night stay in a Standard or Elite Room with Hot Breakfast for 4 

• Free entry to Waterton Lakes National Park 

• Free ice cream for 4 at the Big Scoop Ice Cream Parlour 

Valid until sep 30, 2013. Plus taxes, plus applicable fees, prices based on two adults and two children 12 and under. Park 

entry includes up to 7 people in a single vehicle. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer valid at Heritage Inn Hotel & 

Convention Centre in Pincher Creek. 

SUMMER GETAWAY 

Escape with your family and enjoy a day at the Calgary Zoo. End your day with a fun dip in our indoor 

pool and relax with an in-room family movie and basket of snacks. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 189 


• One night accommodation in a comfort room 

• Breakfast & Calgary Zoo passes for two adults and two children 

• In-room family movie and basket of snacks 

Valid mar 1-sep 30, 2013. Plus taxes, subject to availability, some restrictions may apply. Second night from $99. 

Package based on two adults and two children.

oh cAnAdA Eh? 

dinnER show 

counTRy inn & suiTEs 

cALgARy AiRpoRT 

kAnAnAskis RAnch 

goLF couRsE 

AspEn viLLAgE 

125 kananaskis way, canmore 

1-800-773-0004 or 403-609-0004 

tickets@atthecorner.ca 

www.ohcanadaehcanmore.com 

2481 39 Avenue nE, calgary 

403-250-1800 or 1-800-456-4000 

cx_clgr@countryinns.com 

www.countryinns.com/calgaryab 

45 minutes west of calgary, 

Exit 114 north 

403-673-2700 or 1-877-673-2700 

golf@kananaskisranchgolf.com 

www.kananaskisranchgolf.com 

111 windflower Avenue, 

waterton park 

403-859-2255 

reservations@theaspenvillageinn.com 

www.aspenvillageinn.com 

pLAY AND EH? 

See more mountains in a moment than most see in a lifetime. Delight in a ride on the Banff Gondola, 

and then celebrate Canada with a two hour live musical show and delicious four course dinner. 

It’s the perfect Canadian experience! 

$ 99 

Valid apr 25-Oct 10, 2013. Per person, plus taxes. Subject to availability. Price is for adult admission. Reservation required for 

dinner show. Senior rates available. 

TELUS SpARK FAMiLY pACKAGE 

Together with TELUS Spark, The New Science Center, we invite your family to experience science like 

you never have before. Whether you would like to Reach for the Stars or Fuel your Curiosity, there is 

something for everyone! From the Creative Kids Museum to HD Digital Dome Theatre, expect to surprise 

yourself. You might just discover that you’re more inquisitive, innovative and experimental than you 

thought you were. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 179 


• One night accommodation at Country Inn & Suites Calgary 

• Family day pass to TELUS Spark Science Center 

(2 adult and 2 child/youth) 

• Complimentary Be Our Guest Breakfast 

Valid until dec 31, 2013. Plus taxes, based on double occupancy, 3 day advance booking required. Suite upgrades available 

for a minimal fee. Price varies on seasonality. Cannot be combined with any other offer, coupon, family or group rate. 

MOUNTAiN GROUp GOLF pACKAGES 

Kananaskis Ranch 18 hole Golf Course is at the base of Yamnuska Mountain, and offers a relaxed 

affordable golfing experience in the Rockies. Host your group’s day in the mountains with packages that 

include 9 or 18 holes, barbecue dinners, meeting rooms and adventure activities such as river rafting. 

Kananaskis Ranch Golf is only 45 minutes from Calgary and can accommodate groups for a full shotgun 

tournament or a half day of mountain fun. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 49 

Package can include 

• Barbecue dinners or food and beverage options 

• Adventure activities, rafting, riding, voyageur canoe 

• Choice of 9 or 18 holes 

• Shared power carts, rental clubs available 

• Course suitable for Novice, Beginners and Expert golfers 

• Casual golf, relaxed dress code, ‘golf in your jeans’ 

Valid 2013 golf season. For Group Golf Package options visit website. 16 golfer minimum for group packages. Shotgun 

tournament rates available on request. 

ESCApE TO pARADiSE 

Experience the beauty of Waterton Lakes National Park with this wonderful mid-week deal at Aspen 

Village. Waterton is Alberta’s hidden gem, the Crown of the Continent in your own backyard. Epic world 

class hiking, unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities and great dining, Waterton is a pristine National 

Park offering something for everyone. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 169 


• Banff Gondola Ticket 

• Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show (two hour show and four course dinner) 

• Return transportation to and from Banff for the show 


• One night accommodation in a Windflower room for two 

• Breakfast at Pearls Café for two 

• Dinner at Vimy’s Lounge and Grill for two 

Plus taxes, based on double occupancy, subject to availability. Available Sunday through Thursday, reservations required, 

breakfast value of $12 per person, dinner value of $25 per person. 

SLiDE iNTO FAMiLY FUN! 

Welcome to Southern Alberta’s only four-star hotel. Featuring twin giant waterslides, full service casino, 

luxury day spa, restaurants, lounges and so much more! We have something for the entire family. Come 

relax and enjoy some family fun. 


• One night accommodation 

• Complimentary use of our Giant Indoor Waterslide Park 

(two multi-storey waterslides, hot tub, lane pool, kiddies pool & sauna) 

Valid until dec 30, 2013. Plus taxes, subject to availability. Not valid with any other promotion. Blackout dates may apply. 


MounTAin pARk LodgEs 

pocAhonTAs cABins 

MEdicinE hAT LodgE 

REsoRT, cAsino & spA 

pRAiRiE BREEzE inn 

sERvicE pLus inns 

& suiTEs 

1-888-852-7737 

www.mpljasper.com 

1051 Ross glen drive sE, 

Medicine hat 

1-800-661-8095 or 403-529-2222 

res@medhatlodge.com 

www.medhatlodge.com 

wetaskiwin 

780-352-7220 

info@prairiebreeze.ca 

www.prairiebreeze.ca 

3503 114 Ave sE, calgary 

403-256-5352 

reservations@spis.ca 

www.serviceplusinns.com 

SOAK & SUN 

Experience the hospitality, attractions and dining of Jasper and the Canadian Rockies in a single visit. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 159 

Valid Jun 1-sep 30, 2013. Plus taxes, per night, based on double occupancy in a Settlers Cabin, other room types and rates 

available, limited availability, cannot be combined with other offers, additional costs for extra persons. 

$ 99 



• Two tickets to Miette Hot Springs 

• Full breakfast for two 

TRAiNS, pLANES AND AUTOMOBiLES 

Experience the adventure of an old-fashioned holiday. Enjoy a gourmet, intimate dinner in an upscale, 

western-style restaurant, delight in a vintage train ride, antique airplane flight and antique car while taking 

a step back to explore the fascinating world of vintage transportation. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 320 


• One night accommodation at Prairie Breeze Inn 

• European Continental breakfast 

• 2 tickets to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum including vintage car ride 

• 2 tickets to the Alberta Central Railway Museum including vintage train ride 

• Flight in an open cockpit biplane 

• Dinner for two at Huckleberry’s Cafe 

Valid may 17-sep 2, 2013. Plus taxes, per couple, subject to availability. 

piCK YOUR ADVENTURE! 

Surprise your family this summer with an out of this world adventure. Travel through the jungles of the Amazon in 

search of monkeys and lemurs with passes to the Calgary Zoo, test your courage aboard the topsy, turvy, vortex 

rollercoaster at Calgary’s only theme park, Calaway Park, ignite your sense of imagination and curiosity at Telus 

Spark Science centre, travel back in time in a traditional horse drawn carriage at the historic Heritage Park or, 

brand new this summer, immerse yourself in a world of superheros and villains with a night at the movies. After a 

fun filled day relax with a bottle of wine, pop and popcorn for the kids. Book your family vacation with the Service 

Plus Inn and enjoy an unforgettable summer adventure! 

sTarTing aT 

$ 189 


• One night accommodation in a standard room 

• 4 tickets to your choice of summer adventure, the Calgary Zoo, Calaway 

Park, Telus Spark Science Centre, Heritage Park or a night at the movies 

• Kids packs, pop, popcorn and a bottle of wine 

Valid until sep 15, 2013. Plus taxes, subject to availability, cost is per night. Ask us about upgrading to a suite.

More 

Breathing Room. 

Lose the crowds. Find your own space. 

Decide how you’ll spend your Jasper Time at jasper.travel 


MounTAin pARk LodgEs 

pyRAMid LAkE REsoRT 

gEoRgETown inn 

BAnFF AdvEnTuREs 

wATERTon LAkEs 

LodgE REsoRT 

6 km from town on scenic 

pyramid Lake Road, Jasper 

1-888-852-7737 

www.mpljasper.com 

1101 Bow valley Trail, canmore 

1-866-695-5955 or 403-678-3439 

info@georgetowninn.ca 

www.georgetowninn.ca 

211 Bear st, Banff 

1-800-644-8888 

info@raftbanff.com 

www.raftbanff.com 

101 clematis Avenue, 

waterton park 

1-888-985-6343 or 403-859-2150 

reservations@watertonlakeslodge.com 

www.watertonlakeslodge.com 

REFRESH iN THE ROCKiES 

Nestled on a terraced hillside overlooking Pyramid Lake and surrounded by the splendor of the 

Canadian Rockies, Pyramid Lake Resort provides a great setting for a getaway. Choose from a 

wide variety of accommodation including lofts and guest rooms with kitchenettes. The resort also 

features fitness facilities, a 10 person outdoor hot tub, boat rentals, bike rentals, a picnic area and 

dining in the Pines Restaurant. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 189 

Valid may 1-Oct 31, 2013. Per night, plus taxes, based on availability, based on single or double occupancy. 

DATE NiGHT AT THE pUB 

Enjoy the romance of a couple’s night out in Canmore at the Georgetown Inn. Spend your summer night 

with your loved one in our Victoria room – our most popular guest room featuring a two person jetted tub, 

electric or gas fireplace, king bed and bathrobes. Chocolate covered strawberries and wine await you 

after your fireside dinner in the Georgetown Pub. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 287 


• One night stay in a Victoria Room 

• Pub voucher for $50 

• Breakfast for two 

• Tea Tray & cookies at check-in 

• Chocolate covered strawberries 

• Bottle of your choice of sparkling, red or white wine in room 

Plus taxes, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, reservations required, $50 value for Pub dinner voucher, 

$24 value for breakfast voucher. 

RiDE, RAFT & RELAx 

Discover the thrills of whitewater rafting down the Kicking Horse River. Later that night, 

experience a leisurely horseback ride to a western BBQ dinner and enjoy a relaxing soak 

at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 215 


• Kicking Horse Classic Whitewater Raft Trip 

• BBQ lunch 

• River gear and guides 

• Evening horseback ride 

• Western BBQ steak dinner 

• Pass to the Banff Upper Hot Springs 

Valid may 18-sep 14, 2013. Per person. All participants must be at least 12 years of age and weigh more than 90lbs. 

MiD-WEEK WATERTON STAY & pLAY 

Come and experience the beauty of Waterton Lakes National Park, the world’s first International Peace 

Park. Included with your stay is a shuttle ride to spectacular Cameron Lake, spend the day sightseeing, 

rent a canoe or get some fishing in. The adventurous can hike the Carthew- Alderson Trail 19 km back to 

town and the base of Cameron Falls. This hike is one of the 3 iconic hikes that make up the Triple Crown 

of Waterton. An amazing midweek adventure! 

sTarTing aT 

$ 199 


• One night accommodation with complimentary room upgrade 

when available 

• Choice of the following: 

- One hour boat rental 

- One hour bike rental for two 

- Breakfast for two 

- In-room welcome gift 


• One night stay in a deluxe room 

• Breakfast for two at Vimy’s Lounge & Grill 

• Dinner for two at Vimy’s Lounge & Grill 

• Shuttle ride for two to Cameron Lake 

Plus taxes, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, reservations required, Mid-week defined as check-in date on a 

Sunday to Thursday, $50 total value on dinner voucher, $25 dollar total value on breakfast.

DRUMHELLER 

days and days of discovery 

www.traveldrumheller.com 

1-866-814-7378 or 403-245-6200 

www.canadatravelsolution.com 

MOUNTAiN MOMENT RAiL JOURNEY 

TO JASpER 

4 Days/3 Nights – Customized Package with VIA Rail 

sTarTing aT 

$ 619 

Plus taxes, based on double occupancy, per person. 


sundAncE LodgEs & 

BoundARy RAnch 

AndERson vAcATions 

hydRA RivER guidEs 

cALAwAy pARk & 

shERATon cAvALiER 

403-591-7122 

info@sundancelodges.com 

www.sundancelodges.com 

www.boundaryranch.com 

211 Bear street, Banff 

403-762-4554 or 1-800-644-8888 

info@raftbanff.com 

www.raftbanff.com 

2620 – 32 Avenue nE, calgary 

403-291-0107 

www.sheratoncavaliercalgary.com 

www.calawaypark.com 

OLD WEST FUN iN KANANASKiS 

Imagine an Old West adventure in the mountains of Kananaskis Country! Enjoy an amazing two 

hour horseback ride courtesy of Boundary Ranch – spectacular scenery and maybe some wildlife! 

Back at Sundance Lodges relax in your beautiful two person tipi: wooden floor, beds, 

heater and lantern with firepit and picnic table right outside – comfortable camping at its best! 

sTarTing aT 

$ 89. 50 


• One night mid week in a 2 person tipi at Sundance Lodges 

• One 2 hour horseback ride for 2 people at Boundary Ranch 

Valid mid week only may 20-sep 19, 2013. Per person, plus taxes, subject to availability, based on double occupancy, 

for individuals & families only, other options available. 

HORSE pLAY 


• Return VIA Rail Economy Class Seats from Edmonton to Jasper 

• 3 Nights of accommodation in Jasper 

• Choose two of the following options: 

- Jasper Tramway Elevation Pass with Breakfast 

- Afternoon Float Trip on the Athabasca River 

- 1 Hour Driver-Guided Luxury Motorcycle side car tour 

- Mount Edith Cavell Hike 

- Whitewater Rafting Excursion 

The Kicking Horse River boasts big rapids, stunning scenery and a guaranteed good time! Join us on 

a rafting adventure which includes BBQ lunch, river gear and expert guides. Then take a ride on the 

Banff Gondola. Marvel at the spectacular sights from the viewpoint at approximately 2200ft! Top off your 

experience with a soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Tours can be taken on separate days. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 150 


• Kicking Horse Classic raft trip 

• River gear, guides & BBQ lunch 

• Banff Gondola & Banff Hot Springs Passes 

Valid may 14-sep 18, 2013. Per person. All participants must be at least 12 yrs of age and a minimum of 90lbs. 

RiDE N SLiDE pACKAGE 

This is the ultimate family getaway! Enjoy a day of fun and excitement at Calaway Park, Western 

Canada’s Largest Outdoor Family Amusement Park. After, spend the night at the newly renovated 

Sheraton Cavalier, home of the Oasis Waterpark. It is fun for the whole family at a great rate! 

sTarTing aT 

$ 229 


• One night accommodation at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel Calgary 

• Four one-day passes to Calaway Park 

• $25 food & beverage credit at the hotel & discounts at Calaway Park 

Valid may 18-Oct 14, 2013. Plus taxes, subject to availability, based on double occupancy in a standard room. Cannot be 

combined with any other offer, coupon, family or group rate.

TouRisM cAMRosE 

FAnTAsyLAnd hoTEL 

norsemen inn 1-877-477-9171 

super 8 1-877-672-7303 

camrose Ramada 1-888-672-5208 

Best western plus 1-888-784-8441 

www.tourismcamrose.com 

17700 – 87 Avenue, Edmonton 

1-800-REsERvE (737-3783) 

THE BEST STAY & pLAY GOLF 

pACKAGES ARE iN CAMROSE 

Just one phone call and we’ll do the rest for you! Contact the hotel of your choice: Norsemen Inn, 

Super 8, Camrose Ramada, Best Western Plus, and let them book your preferred tee time at the 

beautiful Best Western Plus, and your one night accommodation. All you have to do is show up and 

enjoy yourselves. 

Iconic features for the golf course are the nature-lovers Mirror Lake, which comes into play on several 

holes, and the graceful Trumpeter Swans and Polish Mutes that consider the lake and reeds their home. 

$ 79. 99 



• 18 holes of golf 

• Gift bag 

Valid 2013 golf season. Per person, based on double occupancy. 

SHOp iT LiKE iT’S HOT 

Enjoy all that Fantasyland Hotel and West Edmonton Mall have to offer. 

sTarTing aT 

$ 500 


• Two nights of accommodation 

• Continental breakfast for four 

• Family attraction pass for four 

• $50 WEM Card* 

• WEM Super Savings Coupon Book 

Plus taxes, some restrictions & blackout dates may apply. Subject to availability. Additional passes & breakfasts can be 

purchased at the front desk for additional rates. 

*Prepaid MasterCard Card. The WEM Card prepaid MasterCard is issued by Peoples Trust pursuant to license from MasterCard International Incorporated. 

MasterCard and the MasterCard Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. The WEM Card is accepted everywhere 

MasterCard is accepted worldwide. 


follow us

Edmonton is... 

Festivals 

Edmonton plays host to more than 30 

annual festivals that draw and delight 

visitors from around the globe! 

Book your Edmonton hotel package today! 

edmontondestinationhotels.com 

1-877-213-8368 


Ultimate 

$ 59 95 (Adult) $ 45 (Ages 3-17) 

Good for one entry to each of the 16 

participating attractions in and around 

Edmonton for the entire calendar year. 

See More, Save More! 

With one convenient pass, you’ll gain 

admission to 16 of Edmonton’s must-see 

attractions that offer a fun variety of history, 

culture, nature, science, art and events. 

U-Pick 

$ 29 95 (Adult) $ 22 50 (Ages 3-17) 

Offers the passholder entry to their choice of 

any four participating attractions in and around 

Edmonton over a 7-day period. 

SAVE 

60% 

Up 

To 

on 16 Must-See 

Attractions! 

To get your pass and a full list of participating attractions visit: 

20 travelalberta.com EdmontonAttractions.com 

The FRIENDLINESS … 

The FESTIVALS… 

The SHOPPING... 

The MUSIC… 

...will take your 

breath away! 

Visit CAMROSE and 

remember to 

breathe ! 

A NATIONAL TREASURE 

LEDUC #1 ENERGY DISCOVERY CENTRE 

+ facts and fun + award winning films 

+ hands on learning lab + drill bit virtual ride 

+ 200 exhibits + drilling rigs in action 

+ winds, thermal & wave energy explained 

+ stories from the patch. 

Rates: Adult $10, Senior $8, 

Youth $6, Family $25 

Guided Tours 

2 kms south 

of Devon, AB 

on Hwy 60 

hours seasonal, check website 

www.tourismcamrose.com 

To 

know 

Alberta 

is to know 

the oil industry 

Leduc #1 makes it fun! 

leducnumber1.com 

780.987.4323

FROM THE MALL 

TO MAiN STREET 

alBErTa’S ShOpS arE TOpS 

CalliNg all 

ShOpahOliCS! 

By Heather Egger 

Your first reason to plan an Alberta 

shopcation this summer: no provincial sales 

tax means more money for shoes. Here’s 

another: North America’s largest indoor mall 

has new stores you just have to see (with 

lots to keep everyone else busy while you 

hunt for treasure). And there are plenty of 

reasons to take some day trips this summer 

to explore our cool little towns. You’ll find 

interesting shops along historic main streets, 

unusual museums and great local eats. 

See What’s New 

at West Edmonton Mall 

Reserve a whole day to see the new shops 

at West Edmonton Mall (wem.ca) – they’re 

the talk of the town. Head towards Europa 


Boulevard to find the new Simons, a huge 

Quebec-based department store (their first 

outside La Belle Province), with designer 

clothes for men and women and stylish 

home décor. You’ll leave with your new 

favourite cardigan, a funky mushroom 

tablecloth and a colourful owl mat for the 

girl’s bathroom. Nice work. Visit Pottery 

Barn and pop into Williams Sonoma for that 

blackberry coloured Dutch oven you’ve 

been coveting (and oh heck, you’ll probably 

need some new potholders to go with it). 

Good thing that dad and the kids are busy 

at the big mall’s amusement park, skating 

rink, mini-golf course, IMAX theatre and 

gigantic waterpark – you have oodles of time. 

But round up everyone to go and see the 

special Princess Diana exhibit, an awardwinning 

celebration of the life and work of 

the beloved Princess of Wales. Better hurry, 

it’s only here until June 9th. 

Love Our Little Towns: Try a 

Shopping Day Trip from Calgary 

Okay, you’ve hit all the hippest retailers 

at the mall, so now it’s time for a cool little 

road trip to five towns south of Calgary 

(coollittletowns.com). The whole gang 

will love this adventure because of the 

chocolate malts and candy shops. 

In the heritage buildings of Olde Towne 

Okotoks, you’ll find a huge variety of 

goodies: handmade quilts, antiques, 

Western art and baby gifts to name a few. 

And as a reward for hauling your bags for 

you, treat the kids (and dad) to delicacies 

from the old fashioned candy shop. 

Travel down the scenic Cowboy Trail through 

Turner Valley to the nearby Millarville 

Farmer’s Market, one of the province’s 

oldest (summer Saturdays from 9 to 2). 

Then wander through the antique shops 

along Black Diamond’s historic Main Street, 

rub the world’s largest black diamond for 

luck and grab a chocolate malt and peanut 

butter burger at Marv’s 50s style diner. 

Nanton’s historic downtown is jam-packed 

with antique stores – you might be awhile 

here. Buy some time by sending dad and 

your mini-engineers to the Ultimate Trains 

The Alberta Legislature 

O P E N F O R Y O U T O D I S C O V E R ! 

Enjoy your summer at the Alberta Legislature with 

• Canada Day 

celebrations 

• Beautiful grounds 

and wading pools 

VISITOR SERVICES 

10820 - 98 Avenue 

Edmonton, AB 

visitorinfo@assembly.ab.ca 

780.427.7362 

store where they can play on toy tracks, 

check out the huge stock of little 

locomotives and take a couple spins 

on the ride-on train. 

Then drive your horse-loving Heartland 

fans to High River, where the show is filmed. 

Shop for official memorabilia at the museum 

• FREE guided 

building tours 362 

days/year 

www.assembly.ab.ca 

At TELUS World of Science — Edmonton 

housed in a restored railway station, then 

have a bite at the Whistlestop Café in an 

old dining car out back. 

For more ideas, visit travelalberta.com 

ExplorE MorE 

Learning SCIENCE 

& having FUN 

through a variety 

of experiences for 

every age. 

For details and tickets visit 

telusworldofscienceedmonton.com 

• IMAX ® Theatre 

• Environment Gallery 

• Science Demonstrations 

• Science on a Sphere 

• Full-dome Shows

HiTTiNG THE 

GREENS 

ENdlESS daYS Of gOlf iN 

CENTral aNd NOrThErN alBErTa 

By Mike Fisher 

I steady myself on the tee of Hole #12 at 

Wolf Creek Golf Course (wolfcreekgolf.com) 

in Ponoka, listed in Score Golf’s 2012 

ranking as one of the top 20 Canadian 

courses. Landing on the green that’s tucked 

into a bank of trees on the right will give 

me the bragging rights I’m seeking in 

this foursome. 

“Play it down the left side and you have a 

full length of green to work with, but down 

the right is a bit tighter with more risk,” 

advises Ryan Vold, director of golf at the 

36-hole course, characterized by its rolling 

fairways and undulating greens. 

Summertime golfing in central and 

northern Alberta gives me some 18 hours 

of daylight to enjoy a wide range of 

courses, scenic vistas and a refreshingly 

unhurried atmosphere. 

gOlf 18 

hOurS a daY 

ThiS SummEr 

Central Alberta 

In central Alberta, I’ve got a lot of choices. 

The region’s strengths for golfers include 

its variety (there are more than 20 private 

and public/semi-private courses) and its 

accessibility from pretty much anywhere 

in the province. 

For more central Alberta golfing challenges, 

check out these options: 

Ponoka Community Golf Club 

with tree-lined fairways. 

ponokagolf.com 

Pheasantback Golf Club 

with water on almost every hole. 

pheasantbackgolf.ca 

Olds Central Highlands with its fast greens. 

oldsgolf.com 

Alberta Springs Golf Resort just west of 

Red Deer, where APGA members have 

been tested for their pro cards. 

albertaspringsgolf.ca 

Pine Hills Golf Club 

with its sweeping views. 

pinehillsgolf.ca 

Montgomery Glen Golf & Country Club 

located in Wetaskiwin, featuring level fairways 

but challenges with water and trees. 

countryclubtour.com 

Visit golfcentralalberta.com for 

more information. 

Northern Alberta 

There are more than 20 golf courses in 

northern Alberta amidst a mix of boreal 

forest, lakes and rivers. The result is a golf 

experience that makes the most of our 

scenic wilderness. 

One hour north of Edmonton and I’m 

playing the Athabasca Golf and Country 

Club’s (athagolf.com) Hole #3. I have 

heavy trees on both sides and a creek 

cutting in front of the green. The vista 

beyond is a breathtaking series of rolling 

hills. The club golf pro Kyle Stewart suggests 

I use a six iron to get some extra yardage. 

Want a challenge? This course is it. 

“We’re considered the most difficult 

course in Alberta,” says Stewart. 

Northern Alberta golf courses provide 

challenges for all skill levels. 

At the Fort McMurray Golf Club 

(fortmcmurraygolfclub.com), watch for 

the dogleg right on Hole #1, although a 

skilled tee shot will get you in striking 

distance to the green guarded by bunkers. 

Golf right at the edge of the city in Grande 

Prairie when visiting 18-hole Bear Creek 

Golf Club (bearcreekgolfclub.ca). 

Visit golfnorthernalberta.com for more 

information on these and other northern 

Alberta golf courses. 

For information on courses all around 

Alberta, go to playgolfalberta.com 


exploresouthwestalberta.ca 

Otter Rafting 

ADVENTURES 

Call 

Today! 

/attractions 

Have a great day of fun on 

the Upper Red Deer River, 

only $114 full day rafting. 

Conveniently located in Sundre, Alberta. 

Rafting on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. 

WWW.OTTERRAFTING.COM OTTER@OTTERRAFTING.COM 

1-800-661-7379 1-403-638-5177 

CUSTOMIZE YOUR 

109 

$ 

STAY & PLAY GOLF PACKAGES 

A custom golf experience any way you slice it. 

n Alberta Springs Golf Resort 

n Innisfail Golf Club 

n Pine Hills Golf Club 

n Ponoka Community GC 

n River Bend Golf Course 

n Wolf Creek Golf Resort 

n Black Knight Inn 1.800.661.8793 

n Quality Inn North Hill 1.800.662.7152 

n RAMADA Inn & Suites 1.866.927.8483 

n Red Deer Lodge 1.800.661.1657 

n Sheraton Red Deer 1.800.662.7197 


STARTING AT 

Per Person, Plus Taxes. Double Occupancy. 

| Amazing Golf Experiences | Central Accommodations | 

Visit GolfCentralAlberta.com to book your hotel & tee-time. 

Six Premium Golf Courses Five Friendly Hotels 

2013_HPA_GCentAlberta.indd 1 13-02-06 4:43 PM 

You’LL Want to Stand to Catch the Action 

June 5-9 | Rocky Pro Rode0 

June 27-August 29 | Marketplace 

on Main - Every Thursday Evening 

July 1 | Canada Day Celebration 

July 5-7 | Rocky Pow Wow 

jULY 19-21 | cENTEIAL cELEBRATION 

July 24 | Rocky Air show 

Aug 14-18 | Bale of the Rockies 

World Professional Chuckwagon Assn. Races 

August 25 | Lions Demolition Derby 

TOWN OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE 

www.rockymtnhouse.com 

No Seats 

Required! 

CLEARWATER COUNTY 

www.clearwatercounty.ca 

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE 

1-800-565-3793 www.whereadventurebegins.com

SURF, SCUBA, SLiDE 

aQuaTiC advENTurES iN alBErTa 

By Theresa Storm 

Jet Boat Races 

My hands cover my ears, trying to dampen the 

roar of jet boats revving to race from Riverboat 

Park. Here at Whitecourt’s annual August jet 

boat races (and World races every four years), 

the excitement on the packed shoreline is 

palpable. Suddenly, they’re away! Our necks 

crane to get the best view of the professional 

international racers. It’s fast, wet and wild! 

Alberta is sprinkled with thousands of lakes, 

rivers and streams. Watch exhilarating 

events or jump in and get wet this summer. 

Take a crack at my list of favourites from 

around the province. 

Dragon Boats 

I had a blast in Lethbridge at the 

province’s biggest dragon boat festival 

(lethbridgedragonfest.ca). To the 

pounding encouragement of the drum, 

70 crews paddle hard as they compete in 

this 2,000-year-old Chinese sport, while you 

jump, clap and egg them on. Join in the 

party-like atmosphere of weekend dragon 

boat festivals in Edmonton, Leduc, Banff, 

Calgary, and Lake Newell. 


Paddleboarding 

Toasty warm in wetsuit and booties, I bob in 

Ghost Lake, near Calgary, clinging to my 

stand-up paddleboard. “It’s an easy sport 

to learn,” assures our instructor from 

Undercurrents (undercurrents.ca). 

I shinny my body, belly down, onto the 

board, which is like a big, stable surfboard. 

I kneel and then, grasping a single long 

paddle, slowly stand. After a few wobbles, 

I spread my feet and find my balance. 

Digging in with the paddle, away I go! 

Undercurrents runs stand-up paddleboarding 

lessons Sundays at Ghost Lake. Participants 

get a Paddle Canada certification. 

866-262-GEAR (4327) 

River Surfing 

Surf’s up! “It’s the most unique thing you 

can do in Alberta,” enthuses instructor Jeff 

Brooks of Rocky Mountain River Surfing 

(rockymountainriversurfing.com). 

I’m standing in the Kananaskis River just 

upstream from the Green Tongue, a small, 

safe beginner wave. “Ready?” he asks. 

Nodding, I jump in on my stomach and 

get to my knees. Many determined 

attempts later, jubilantly I stand – for a 

few glorious seconds! 

Scuba Diving 

I descend into the glacial waters of Banff 

National Park’s Lake Minnewanka. Because 

this is a high altitude, cold water dive, I’m 

accompanied by a certified dive instructor. 

The highlight we soon see stretching below 

us is the best preserved submerged historic 

village in Canada. Minnewanka Landing, 

established in 1888, was intentionally 

flooded by a dam in 1941. Today it is 

ours to explore. 

Wild Sliding 

What aquatic adventure in Alberta would 

be complete without a trip to Wild Rapids 

(wildrapids.ab.ca), Sylvan Lake’s famous 

water park? With slides that have names like 

Tube Blaster, Sneaky Snake, Side Winder, 

Hell’s Gate and Cinnamon Twist, what 

waterbaby can resist? 

For more summer water adventures, 

visit travelalberta.com


15 minutes 

South of Calgary 

Reward yourself 

with exquisite dining, 

boutique shopping 

and a contemporary 

arts and culture scene 

in Okotoks. 

www.okotokstourism.ca 

CAVE AND 

BASiN 

BaNff’S OrigiNal JEwEl 

amidST ThE pEakS 

By Lynn Martel 

“Shhh,” implores the guide, leading our 

intimate group by the light of a lantern that 

casts ghostly shadows on the cavern walls. 

“This is where it all began.” 

Gazing into a pool of steaming water deep 

inside Sulphur Mountain in Banff National 

Park, I imagine I am one of the three railway 

labourers who discovered this very cavern 

back in 1883. What a surprise it must 

have been! 

Learning how their discovery initiated a 

chain of events that blossomed into one of 

Canada’s greatest treasures – the National 

Park System that began with Banff National 

Park’s creation in 1885 – sends tingles up 

my spine. 

CavE aNd BaSiN 

NaTiONal 

hiSTOriC SiTE 

rEOpENS 

iN maY 

Old and Improved 

After two years and an extensive rehabilitation, 

Banff’s Cave and Basin National Historic Site 

is set to reopen to the public in May. 

Strolling along new barrier-free accessible 

walkways, we tour indoor and outdoor 

exhibits, from giant HD screens to the 1914 

Bathing Pavilion. Soaking in the ambience, 

I sense the soothing powers of the public 

bathing pool that operated here until 1992. 

People came from around the world to “take 

the waters” of the mineral-laden hot springs. 

Peering up into the cave’s vent hole, I feel 

transported watching plumes of sulphurous 

steam billowing into the air, as they have 

for centuries. 

As I stare upward, the only word I can think 

of to describe the architecture of the 1935 

Alcove is “exquisite.” In the Story Hall, I’m 

stunned to see the original vaulted ceilings 

newly revealed. As always, I’m impressed by 

the timeless value of the site where images 

and artifacts enliven the story of Canada’s 

national parks, historic sites and marine 

conservation areas from sea to sea to sea. 

His scene of their annual summer pilgrimage 

First Nations 

to be blessed by and communicate with the 

Connections Renewed 

spirits brings the room to life. 

I am totally captivated by two giant 

paintings. Complementing the original mural Outside on the boardwalk, zillions of stars 

of the three labourers shinnying down a tree twinkle in the unfettered night sky. I’m 

into the cavern is a splendid new work by already anticipating a daytime saunter 

celebrated Morley artist Roland Rollinmud. around the site’s marshlands to enjoy the 

The painting illustrates the Stoney Nakoda’s wildflowers and do some birdwatching. 

long and deep relationship with this place. 

Jasper Inn Ad 2_Layout 1 12-02-08 10:07 AM Page 1 

Maligne Lake Cruise 

to Spirit Island 

‘Best Cruise in Canada’ 

Reader’s Digest 

“Snooze and Cruise ” Family Package 

This package includes 2 nights of accommodation for 2 Adults and 2 Children* in a 

2 Bedroom Family Suite and the Spectacular Maligne Lake Boat Cruise to Spirit Island. 

A GREAT VALUE! 

$ 

639 

*(up to 14 years of age) 

Book the “ Snooze and Cruise ” Package 

For our grand finale, we drive to the nearby 

Fairmont Banff Springs, another Rocky 

Mountain gem, which is celebrating its 

125th anniversary. Over a scrumptious 

dinner we toast the hotel, the Cave and 

Basin, the Canadian Pacific Railway and 

Canada’s national park system. 

To find out more, contact Parks Canada 

at pc.gc.ca 

1.800.661.1933 

www.bestwesternjasperinn.com 

www.malignelake.com

WELCOME TO 

2013 

SUMMER 

EVENTS 

Get 

the most out of the 

longer days and warmer 

nights this summer. 

tyrrellmuseum.com 


CANADIAN 

ROCKIES 

NORTHERN 

ALBERTA 

EDMONTON 

& AREA 

CENTRAL 

ALBERTA 

CALGARY 

& AREA 

ALBERTA iS HOME TO AN AMAZiNG VARiETY OF EVENTS – 

LARGE AND SMALL, URBAN AND RURAL. 

SOUTHERN 

ALBERTA 

This listing contains numerous events that are sure to show you a good time. You will also find many others to 

choose from at travelalberta.com. This summer get out there and have an event-full summer. 


Rain Maker Rodeo 

St. Albert | May 24-26 

rainmaker.ab.ca 

International Children’s Festival 

St. Albert | May 28-June 1 

childfest.com | 780-459-1542 

The Works Art & Design Festival 

Edmonton | June 20-July 2 

theworks.ab.ca | 780-426-2122 

ZooFest 

EDMONTON 

Edmonton & ArEA 

Edmonton | June 22 

buildingourzoo.com | 780-496-6924 

Freewill Shakespeare Festival 

Edmonton | June 25-July 21 

freewillshakespeare.com | 780-425-8086 

Edmonton International 

Street Performers Festival 

Edmonton | July 5-14 

edmontonstreetfest.com 

780-425-5162 

Sourdough Raft Race 

Edmonton | July 14 

sourdoughraftrace.com | 780-406-0235 

Taste of Edmonton 


eventsedmonton.ca | 780-423-2822 

K-Days 


k-days.com | 780-471-7210 

Blueberry Bluegrass & 

Country Music Festival 

Stony Plain | August 2-4 

blueberrybluegrass.com 

1-888-915-4973 

Servus Heritage Festival 

Edmonton | August 3-5 

heritage-festival.com | 780-488-3378 

Edmonton Folk Music Festival 


edmontonfolkfest.org | 780-429-1999 

Cariwest 


cariwestfestival.com | 780-421-7800 


Fringe Theatre Festival 


fringetheatreadventures.ca 

780-409-1910 

Dragonboat Festival 


edmontondragonboatfestival.com 

780-493-8158 

Blues Festival 


bluesinternationalltd.com 

1-855-985-5000 

Symphony Under the Sky 

Edmonton | August 30-September 2 

edmontonsymphony.com 

780-428-1414 

Kaleido Family Arts Festival 

Edmonton | September 13-15 

artsontheave.org | 780-471-1580 


Film Festival 

Edmonton | September 26-October 5 

edmontonfilmfest.com | 780-423-0844 

Calgary & area 

Calgary International 

Childrens Festival 

Calgary | May 22-25 

calgarykidsfest.ca | 403-294-7414 

4th street Lilac Festival 

Calgary | May 26 

4streetcalgary.com | 403-229-0902 

Funnyfest 

Calgary | May 30-June 9 

funnyfest.com | 403-228-7888 

Spirit of Okotoks 

Annual Children’s 

Festival & Weekend Parade 

Okotoks | June 15 

okotoks.ca | 403-938-8950 

Sled Island Festival 

Calgary | June 19-22 

sledisland.com | 403-229-2901 

Calgary Stampede 

Calgary | July 5-14 

calgarystampede.com | 403-261-0101 

Music in the Plaza 

Calgary | July 10-August 28 

heritagepark.ca | 403-268-8500 

Airdrie Regional Air Show 

Airdrie | July 13-14 

airdrieairshow.com 

Calgary Folk Music Festival 

Calgary | July 25-28 

calgaryfolkfest.com | 403-233-0904 


Blues Festival 

Calgary | July 29 -August 4 

calgarybluesfest.com | 403-668-7144 

Heritage Days Stampede 

Strathmore | August 2-5 

strathmorerodeo.com | 403-934-5811 

Calgary Fringe Festival 

Calgary | August 2-10 

calgaryfringe.ca | 403-451-9726 

Calgary Dragon Boat Festival 


chinatowncalgary.com/dragonboat 

Taste of Calgary 


tasteofcalgary.com | 403-293-2888 

GlobalFest 


globalfest.ca | 403-569-9679 

Chinook Honey 

Harvest Festival 

Okotoks | August 24 

chinookhoney.com | 403-995-0830 

The Tour of Alberta 

Alberta’s Pro-Cycling Festival 

Edmonton to Calgary 

September 3 – 18 | tourofalberta.ca 

Spruce Meadows Masters 

Calgary | September 4-8 

sprucemeadows.com | 403-974-4200 

Airdrie Family Fall Fair 

Airdrie | September 13-15 

airdrieevents.ca 


Film Festival 

Calgary | September 19-29 

calgaryfilm.com | 403-283-1490 


CALGARY

2 

JasPer 

banff Jazz Festival 

Banff | May 22-June 8 

banffcentre.ca 

lake 

lOuise 

Field 

banFF 

Canadian RoCkies 

banff national Park bike Fest 

Banff | June 13-16 

banfflakelouise.com | 403-762-8421 

banff summer arts Festival 

Banff | June 27-August 25 

banffcentre.ca | 403-762-6100 

wild mountain music Festival 

Hinton | July 19-21 

wildmountainmusicfest.ca 

mary reimer memorial rodeo 

Hinton | July 26-28 

rvrahinton.com 

Trans rockies bike challenge 

Canmore | July 27 – August 2 

transrockies.com | 403-668-7537 

canadian death race 

Grande Cache | August 2-4 

canadiandeathrace.com 

canmore Folk music Festival 

Canmore | August 3-5 

canmorefolkfestival.com 

403-678-2524 

Jasper Heritage rodeo 

Jasper | August 14-17 

jasperheritagerodeo.com 

Jasper motorcycle run 

Jasper | August 24 

jaspermotorcyclerun.com 

780-931-6100 

lake louise Fall Festival 

Lake Louise | August 31-October 6 

banfflaklelouise.com 

canmore Highland games 

Canmore | September 1 

canmorehighlandgames.ca 

403-678-9454 

artsPeak canmore arts Festival 

Canmore | September 27-29 

mountainartsfoundation.com 

culture days 

Banff | September 27-29 

banfflakelouise.com 

dark sky Festival 

Jasper | October 25-27 

jasperdarkskyfest.com 

NortherN AlbertA 

grande Prairie stompede 

Grande Prairie | May 29-June 2 

gpstompede.com | 780-532-4646 

north country Fair 

Lesser Slave Lake | June 21-23 

lslncca.ca 

The magnificent 

river rats Festival 

Athabasca | June 29-July 1 

riverratsfestival.com | 780-675-9297 

Peace Fest 

Peace River | July 12-13 

peacefest.com | 780-624-5353 

world Professional 

chuckwagon racing 

Bonnyville | July 18-21 

halfmileofhell.com | 780-812-0773 

lakeland country Fair & 

Professional roughstock rodeo 

Lac La Biche | July 19-21 

laclabicheagsociety.com 

boyle rodeo 

Boyle | July 20-21 

kalynacountry.com 

2013 55+ summer games 

Westlock & Barrhead | July 25-28 

bw55plussummergames.com 

780-349-6165 

alberta Open sand 

sculpture championship 

Lesser Slave Lake | July 29 

lesserslavelake.ca 

elks Pro rodeo 

High Prairie | July 30-31 

rodeocanada.com | 780-523-3724 

lac la biche annual 

Pow wow & Fish derby 

Lac La Biche | August 2-4 

laclabichepowwow.com 

north Peace stampede 

Grimshaw | August 2-4 

mightypeace.com 

1-800-215-4535 

Transalta interPlay 

Wood Buffalo | August 2-11 

eventswoodbuffalo.com | 780-791-1600 

whitecourt annual 

riverboat races 

Whitecourt | August 10-11 

whitecourt.ca 

kikino silver birch 

rodeo & celebration days 

Kikino | August 15-18 

kikinoresort.com | 1-888-330-8833 

Plamondon mud bogs 

Plamondon | August 16-19 

plamondonalberta.ca | 780-798-3478 

boomtown days 

Vilna | August 17-18 

vilna.ca | 780-636-3620 

5th annual iron Horse ultra 

St. Paul | October 5 

www.ironhorseultra.com 

25th annual great white 

north Pumpkin Fair 

Smoky Lake | October 5 

smokylake.ca 

FOrT mcmurray 

Peace riVer 


HigH leVel 

slaVe lake 

aTHabasca 

sT Paul

Ocky 

mOunTain 

HOuse 

drayTOn 

Valley 

red deer 

Olds 

camrOse 

Central alberta 

central alberta 

children’s Festival 

Red Deer | May 31-June 1 

centralalbertachildrensfestival.ca 

403-343-6400 

stettler art walk 

Stettler | June 8 

stettler.net 

innisfail Professional rodeo 

Innisfail | June 13-16 

innisfailauctionmarket.com 

403-227-3166 

Ponoka stampede 

Ponoka | June 25-July 1 

ponokastampede.com | 403-783-0100 

bluebird Festival 

Lacombe | July 13 

ellisbirdfarm.ca | 403-885-4477 

westerner days Fair & exposition 

Red Deer | July 17-21 

westernerdays.ca | 403-347-4767 

100 years, rocky mountain House 

Rocky Mountain House | July 19-21 

rockymtnhouse.com 

centreFest street 

Performers Festival 

Red Deer | July 26-28 

centrefest.ca | 403-340-8696 

100th annual bruce stampede 

Bruce | July 26-28 

brucestampede.ca 

big Valley Jamboree 

Camrose | August 1-4 

bigvalleyjamboree.com 

1-888-404-1234 

summertime country drive 

Central Alberta | August 10-11 

countrydrive.ca 

lloydminster cPca Finals 

Lloydminster | August 14-18 

lloydchuckwagons.com | 306-825-5571 

battle of the rockies 

Rocky Mountain House 

August 14-18 

battleoftherockies.org 

central music Festival 

Red Deer | August 16-18 

centralmusicfest.com 

Viking days 

Dickson | August 17-18 

danishcanadians.com 

stettler steel wheel stampede 

Stettler | August 31-September 2 

stettlerboardoftrade.com 

403-742-3181 

mountain View arts Festival 

Didsbury | September 13-15 

mountainviewartsfestival.ca 

canadian supreme Horse show 

Red Deer | September 29-October 5 

canadiansupreme.com | 403-313-8673 

Southern AlbertA 

dinofest 

Drumheller | June 7-9 

drumhellerdinofest.com 

spock days 

Vulcan | June 7-9 

vulcantourism.com | 403-485-2994 

lethbridge Jazz Festival 

Lethbridge | June 13-15 

lethbridgejazz.com 

waterton wildflower Festival 

Waterton | June 15-23 

watertonwildflowers.com 

1-800-215-2395 

medicine Hat Jazz Fest 

Medicine Hat | June 24-30 

medicinehatjazzfest.com 

403-502-8777 

Fort museum musical 

ride and groom-a-Horse 

Fort MacLeod | July 1-August 31 

nwmpmuseum.com | 1-866-273-6841 

sinister 7 

Crowsnest Pass | July 6-7 

sinister7.com | 403-563-5766 

The canadian 

badlands Passion Play 

Drumheller | July 10-21 

canadianpassionplay.com 

1-888-823-2001 

south country Fair 

Fort MacLeod | July 19-21 

scfair.ab.ca 

alberta international airshow 

Lethbridge | July 20-21 

albertaairshow.ca | 403-380-4245 

medicine Hat 

exhibition & stampede 

Medicine Hat | July 24-27 

mhstampede.com | 1-888-647-6336 

blue grass Festival, 

The barn dance music Festival 

Hillspring | July 26-28 

gcbd.ca 

crowsnest Pass 

doors Open Heritage Festival 

Crowsnest Pass | August 1-4 

crowsnestheritage.ca 

world mini 

chuckwagon championships 

Cardston | August 16-17 

history.alberta.ca | 403-653-5139 

shady grove 

bluegrass Festival 

Nanton | August 16-18 

foothillsbluegrass.com 

whoop up days 

Lethbridge | August 20-24 

whoopupdays.com 

Taber cornfest 

Taber | August 23-24 

taber.ca 

Hot air balloon championship 

High River | September 25-29 

highriver.ca | 403-880-4842 

waterton wildlife weekend 

Waterton | September 27-29 

watertonwildlife.com | 403-859-2663 


leTHbridge 

crOwsnesT 

Pass 

Oyen 

drumHeller 

brOOks 

medicine HaT 

Taber 

walsH 

milk riVer


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LiKE A BEE TO 

HONEY CElEBraTE 

SwEET alBErTa 

By Heather Egger 

The snack of “honey spoons” started at our 

house during flu season. My toddler was 

too little for cough syrup, so I gave him a 

teaspoon of honey to calm his cough. 

Now, given a choice between honey and 

marshmallows, honey spoon always wins. 

And I’m certainly ok with that. 

Honey is easily digested, packed with 

vitamins and minerals and it’s locally farmed. 

In fact, Alberta produces about 40 per cent 

of Canada’s honey. Bees love our long 

summer days and clover, canola and alfalfa 

crops. And farmers love them back – 

honeybees are important pollinators and 

critical to the agricultural industry. 

So this summer, celebrate Alberta honey 

with us. Visit a honey farm, whoop it up at 

a honey party or just grab a jar and spoon. 

How sweet it is! 

Tour the Chinook Honey Apiary 

Before you approach the hustle and bustle 

of Chinook Honey’s (chinookhoney.com) 

observation hive, you’ll hear the buzz. 

Looking close through the mesh, you spy 

the big queen laying her eggs (up to 2,000 

of them a day!), dancing workers delivering 

their goodies and a brand-new baby bee 

emerging from the wax comb. You could 

watch them all day but you’ve got a 

beekeeping demo next, a honey wine 

tasting in a few minutes and a lot of fresh 

honey to buy at the store. 

The Chinook Honey farm is in Okotoks, just 

20 minutes south of Calgary. Here, a tour 

guide will lead you around the observation 

hives, show you how beekeepers keep their 

colonies happy and share some cool 

honeybee facts, like this one: did you 

CALLING ALL 

HONEY LOVERS 

GAIL’S HONEY CAKE 

A passionately regional chef, Chef Gail Hall 

(seasonedsolutions.ca) is all about 

cooking with fresh local ingredients. 

Her yummy honey cake will bring back 

memories of mom. 

iNGREDiENTS 

• 3 large eggs 

• ½ cup vegetable oil 

• 1 cup sugar 

• 1½ cups liquid Alberta honey 

• 1 tsp vanilla 

• juice of 1 lemon 

• 1 cup strong tea 

• 1 tbsp cocoa 

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour 

• 3 tsp baking powder 

• 1 tsp baking soda 

• pinch of salt 

• 1 cup raisins, plumped 

DiRECTiONS 

Beat eggs, oil, sugar and honey well 

together. Add vanilla and lemon juice. 

Mix tea and cocoa together in separate 

container. Sift dry ingredients together. 

Add dry ingredients alternately with tea/ 

cocoa mixture to egg mixture. Fold in 

raisins. Line and grease a 9” x 13” cake 

pan. Bake at 300º for 1½ hours. Serve with 

sweetened whipped cream or lemon 

yoghurt spiked with icing sugar. 

Try not to eat it all at once! 

know that a queen bee can decide whether 

to lay female worker or male drone eggs? 

Bees are awesome. The farm also houses 

a meadery, where you can tour the honey 

wine fermentation room and have a 

taste or two. 

Paint the Town 

Yellow and Black in Falher 

Each year for the past two decades, 

honeybee fans have donned bobbing 

antennae headbands and yellow-and-black 

stripy tees for the Falher Honey Festival 

(falherhoneyfestival.ca). Falher is two 

hours south of Peace River and smack 

in the heart of Alberta’s world famous 

clover honey region, which at its peak 

produced 10 million pounds of honey a year. 

Being the Honey Capital of Canada totally 

explains the 6.7 metre bee statue. 

In between eating a free pancake breakfast, 

watching live bands, playing in the big slow 

pitch tourney and shopping at the Alberta 

honey market, pause to behold the Honey 

Festival’s bee beard demo, where a few 

brave souls don waggling beards of live 

bees! Amazing. You’ll also find lots of fun 

things for the kiddies – magic, balloons, 

bouncy castles and a bike parade – so by 

the time the fireworks are over for the night, 

you’ll be carrying a blessedly sleeping 

toddler back to the car. 


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Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park 

$20 Park Golf Cart Tours (subject to weather and availability) 

Hwy 1A between Cochrane and Calgary at Glenbow Rd 

Visitor services 403 930 9000 | Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation: grpf.ca 

From youth programs to photography classes, there’s something for every 

nature and history lover at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. 

Program registration online or by phone. Admission to the Park is free. 

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Endless wonder. 

Free with every visit. 

Connect with nature and be inspired by nearly 1,500 of the world’s most fascinating creatures – 

including tigers, grizzlies, hippos, gorillas, lions and over 40 penguins. Plus, every visit to the zoo 

helps support our animal conservation programs in more than 20 countries. 

Plan your trip to Calgary’s most visited attraction at calgaryzoo.com 


DiGGiNG DEEp 

iNTO alBErTa’S hiSTOrY 

By Kathy Fitzgerald 

Before Alberta was “big oil,” it was “big 

coal.” A century ago, industrialists and 

labourers by the thousands rushed west to 

find their fortunes in Alberta’s rich coal 

deposits. wanting to know more, our 

family decided to dig deeper into history 

over a couple of weekends this spring. 

nothing like a road trip into the past to 

fire up the imagination. 

atlas coal mine 

we started our history trip in the canadian 

Badlands at the Atlas coal Mine national 

historic site (atlascoalmine.ab.ca) 

near drumheller. The 100-year-old site 

preserves the last of the area mines. we 

were mesmerized by tales of “the man in 

the small dark place.” coal mining was not 

for the faint of heart. 

Threats of explosions, cave-ins, and deadly 

gases meant that small acts of courage 

were required just to go to work each day. 

We hiked halfway up the valley and entered 

the mine. Peering into the pitch black, we 

tried to imagine the reality of a miner’s 

workspace: if the coal seam was 1.5 metres 

high, he crouched; if less than that, he had 

to work on his belly. 

Climbing to the top of the last wooden 

tipple in Canada, my teenaged sons were 

astonished to learn the coal was sorted and 

cleaned by boys as young as 15. It was easy 

to imagine the wind gusting through the 

walls, filling the air with swirls of black dust 

as the workers scrambled to pick out rocks 

from the endless stream of coal. 

We loved the above ground tour, with all of 

us loaded into coal cars pulled by an antique 

battery-operated locomotive. After we left 

the site, we visited the nearby East Coulee 

School Museum which gave us a glimpse 

into the lives of the miners’ families. 

continued on next page 

Enjoy the wonders of 

Jasper National Park. 

With cozy guest cabins, 

fully equipped kitchens, lush 

mountain views and pet 

friendly, Tekarra Lodge offers 

an unforgettable experience. 

1.8 00.709.182 7 

www.tekarralodge.com 

Highway 93 A South, Jasper, Alberta 


What is a tipple? 

The tall building located outside a coal 

mine is called a tipple. This is where coal 

was brought for cleaning and sorting. 

Long conveyor belts pulled the coal to the 

top of the building as workers pulled out 

rocks and other impurities. Large shaking 

trays with holes of varying sizes would 

then sort the coal according to size. 

It was noisy, dusty, and on a windy day 

the building might sway back 

and forth. The last wooden tipple in 

Canada is at the Atlas Coal Mine! 

What is a 

colliery? 

Colliery is an old-fashioned word for coal 

processing facility. It was where coal was 

cleaned and graded. Some collieries heated 

coal in coke ovens, creating the coke 

needed for the steel industry. 

Coke is a sponge like, hard, dry carbon 

substance created by exposing coal chunks 

to extreme heat in the absence of air. 

Touring the Crowsnest Pass 

The following weekend, we headed to 

the southwest corner of the province 

to take the Heritage Tour through the 

Crowsnest Pass (crowsnestheritage.ca). 

There’s so much to see and so many 

ways to take it all in. You can hike or cycle 

along 25 different trails connecting history 

to nature in beautiful alpine settings. 

The mining communities that thrived 

here are close together and connected 

by a walking trail. We decided once 

we had visited the main sites we 

would return to explore Bellevue, Hillcrest, 

Blairmore and Coleman on foot. But first 

things first. 

Bellevue Underground Mine 

Walking into the mine, what struck us first 

was the temperature – mountain coal mines 

are cold! We donned helmets, headlamps 

and warm ponchos as our guide took us 

1,000 feet into the mine. We looked into 

the small nooks and crannies the miners 

crawled in to do their work and got to 

see displays of the hand tools and small 

lamps they actually used. 

Leitch Collieries 

While it looks like an ancient ruin, Leitch 

Collieries was only built in 1907. Back then 

it was an ambitious business venture that 

used cutting-edge technology for 

processing coal. We were surprised to learn 

the owner’s lavish family home and the 

colliery buildings were constructed by a 

Scottish stonemason using sandstone from 

a local quarry. The facility and its row of 101 

coke ovens were only used for eight years 

due to bad timing and economic events. 

According to our guide, the mansion burnt 

to the ground under suspicious 

circumstances. All that remains of it today is 

a two-story sandstone shell and what’s left 

of the central fireplace. 

Frank Slide Interpretive Centre 

The boys were keen to see the Frank Slide 

(history.alberta.ca/frankslide), the site 

of Canada’s deadliest rockslide. At the 

interpretive centre – a wonderful building with 

all kinds of interactive displays – we learned 

what happened in the early hours on 

April 29th, 1903. The residents of this small 

town were fast asleep when 82 million 

tonnes of rock came loose from Turtle 

Mountain and hurtled down the mountainside 

at 120 km/h. In less than two minutes, 90 

people had lost their lives. There were many 

local heroes that night, rushing to the aid 

of their friends and neighbours. 

As our family stood on the viewing platform 

outside, staring out at the expanse of fallen 

rock and the scarred face of the mountain, 

I could not speak. It was a sobering 

reminder of the absolute power of nature, 

and one that will not soon leave me. 

For more historic road trip ideas, 

visit travelalberta.com 

A T T R A C T I O N S 

Valuable coupons at 

calgaryattractions.com 

Your guide to exploring 

exciting tourist attractions 

in Calgary, Alberta, Canada 

AERO SPACE MUSEUM 

CALAWAY PARK 

CALGARY STAMPEDE 

CALGARY TOWER 

CALGARY ZOO 

CANADA’S SPORT HALL OF FAME 

FORT CALGARY 

GLENBOW MUSEUM 

HERITAGE PARK HISTORICAL VILLAGE 

NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE 

TELUS SPARK 

THE MILITARY MUSEUMS 

WINSPORT’S CANADA OLYMPIC PARK 


SMALL TOWN 

RODEO 

mEaNS Big 

lEaguE ENTErTaiNmENT 

By Joanne Elves 

Eight seconds is the magic number in rodeo. 

If you can follow the rules and stay on that 

horse or bull until the classic car horn blows, 

you and the animal are judged. You can do 

just about anything for eight seconds – 

balance on one foot or swim under water – 

that’s easy. But what about holding a skinny 

rope sitting on a big cranky bull called Burnt 

Rubber as he bursts out of a rodeo chute? 

He is going to spin to the left, kick to the 

right and attempt to fling you into orbit. 

And if he does…your flight is not pretty. 

Maybe cheering on the professionals from 

outside the fence is a better idea. 

The Rodeo Road to Glory 

In rural Alberta, rodeo is the main event. 

Sure, you can see a polished rodeo at 

the Calgary Stampede where the finest 

cowboys and cowgirls test their abilities 

against the roughest rodeo stock every 

July. But stamp around Alberta on almost 

any weekend from mid-March through 

September and you’ll find a small town 

rodeo hosting the same athletes on much 

of the same bucking stock – with one 

big difference: you are nose to nose 

with the action with every thump of a 

hoof vibrating through your body! 

From Benalto to Vulcan, close to 100 

junior and pro rodeos are held each year. 

Qualifying for the annual fall championships 

in Edmonton is based on earnings so during 

the peak rodeo season, cowboys tip their 

hats to the spectators in as many as three 

rodeos per weekend. 

continued on page 57 


There’s a new memory every day aT calgary’s living hisT orical experience 

v isiT heriTagepark.c a T o plan your T rip back 

1-800-ALBERTA 55

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR 

VULCAN MIND? 

Spock Days 

June 7 - 9, 2013 

Trekcetera Museum 

Grand Opening - June, 2013 

Vulcan Centennial 

Celebration 

August 2 - 5, 2013 

Visit Vulcan, Alberta 

For more information: (403) 485-2994 

www.vulcantourism.com 

TM & © 2013 CBS Studios Inc. STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

780.662.3640 | 25 minutes east of Edmonton on Hwy. 16 

2013TASMRAD_Layout 1 29/01/2013 10:13 AM Page 1Historic 

Sites and Museums, Alberta Culture 

TM 

ukrainianvillage.ca 

History 

brought toLife 

Come visit this outdoor living history museum telling 

the story of Ukrainian settlement in Alberta (1892-1930) 

History brought to life with authentic food and pioneer 

experiences at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. 

continued from page 54 

ROCK A 

LOCAL RODEO 

THiS SUMMER 

Learn the Ropes 

The Innisfail Professional Rodeo, 

June 13-16, is a perfect place to learn the 

ropes. It’s rustic, it’s intimate and it’s wild. 

The stands are full of past champions, rodeo 

families and contestants who will gladly 

explain the rules of the main events. Like 

most rodeos, the bareback, saddle bronc, 

tie down roping, steer wrestling, barrel 

racing and bull riding events are preceded 

by the cutest event called Mutton Busting. 

That’s where pint-sized future rodeo stars 

get their start clinging to the back of a 

bolting thick-coated sheep. 

Stand along the fence as the cowboys 

challenge a steer to the ground and cheer 

on a cowgirl as her talented steed bolts 

around the barrels. But step back when the 

bucking stock is in the arena – that’s when 

the dirt really starts to fly. 

If the chuckwagon races are your passion, 

head to the Ponoka Stampede in late June. 

Along with the regular rodeo, the rigs rolling 

that figure eight pattern and lunging round the 

track will definitely get your heart pumping. 

If riding a bull is on your bucket list, check 

out Fantasy Adventure Bull Riding 

(fantasyadventurebullriding.com) near 

Airdrie. They offer experiences for every level 

of adrenaline junkie from sitting on a bull in 

the chute to the thrill of nodding your head 

and yelling “outside!” – bullrider-speak for 

“Open the gate!” 

Small Town Saturday Night 

When the dust settles it’s time to kick up 

your heels. Most rodeos include a dance 

on Saturday night where you can meet many 

of the contestants and hear firsthand what 

eight long seconds on the back of a bucking 

animal really feels like. 

Find the rodeo schedule for Alberta on 

The Canadian Pro Rodeo Association’s 

website at rodeocanada.com 


BiRD’S EYE ViEW Biplanes 

alberta by air 

By Travis Grant 

The sun is breaking over the Edmonton 

skyline. it’s 5:50 a.m. and i’m standing in a 

park with neatly trimmed grass. our pilot 

fastens a frame and propane burner to the 

basket of the hot air balloon. The massive 

envelope spread out over the grass is 

slowly taking shape as a powerful fan fills 

it with air. soon, the base is wide open. 

A flame jets from the propane burner, 

heating the air inside the balloon and 

lifting it into the dawning sky. 

Following the signal that we’re ready for 

flight, the three of us climb into the basket, 

one by one. our pilot works the burner, 

sending thrusts of hot air into the balloon. 

we rise up over the field and gaze down in 

awe at Edmonton’s beautiful river valley. 

Threads of mist drift and curl upwards 

from a fog snaking low over the north 

saskatchewan River. 

Edmonton is so lush and green at this 

time of year. it appears even more so 

from the air. yet the grid of the streets 

and geometry of the buildings contrast 

the natural appeal with a civilized 

aesthetic. Buoyed by a gentle breeze, 

we drift across the river and over the 

groat Road Bridge. The balloon softly 

rises in elevation. despite the thrill of 

floating so high over the city, this is a 

tranquil experience. 

now we’re gliding over hawrelak park, 

with the river arching around it like a 

horseshoe. spindles of sunlight cut 

through the mist and shimmer on the 

river’s surface. All too soon, it seems, 

we return with a graceful landing. 

There’s something magical about seeing 

your homeland from the sky. here are 

more of my favourite ways to explore 

from above. 

and Bush Pilots 

Stories from a bygone era of bush pilots 

flying planes into the Canadian North have 

always captivated me. There’s a quality all 

Canadians can relate to: the remote and 

rugged solitude of this vast land. 

I’m reminded of this as I step inside the 

open-air cockpit of a vintage 1939 WACO 

biplane, courtesy of The Reynolds-Alberta 

Museum (history.alberta.ca) – one of only 

three fly-in museums in Canada – which 

offers 10, 20 and 50 minute sightseeing 

flights. 

The engine roars to life and the propeller 

drones as we prepare for take-off on a 

runway at the Wetaskiwin Regional Airport. 

The warm wind presses harder against my 

cheeks as we pick up speed and lift off. 

Behind me, the pilot banks a turn as we set 

course for Pigeon Lake. From this height, 

Alberta appears an endless ocean of land 

and sky. I could stay up here forever. 

Soaring Over Southern Alberta 

There are few things more satisfying than 

the euphoric rush of riding a thermal while 

hang-gliding. The weather is perfect as I 

head west of Calgary to Cochrane, one of 

my favourite spots. On the bluffs above the 

town, the wind socket blows straight out. 

After careful preparation, I lift silently into 

flight. Below me lies a sprawl of ranchlands 

and foothills that seamlessly gives way to 

the vanguard of pine-skirted mountains in 

the distance. Many hours of ground school 

and preparation have made this moment 

possible. “Free as a bird” takes on a whole 

new meaning. 

A great place to learn the fundamentals of 

hang gliding and paragliding is at Muller 

Windsports (mullerwindsports.com), in 

Cochrane, about 20 minutes west of Calgary. 

continued on page 61 


TOP REASONS FOR CHOOSING 

WEST EDMONTON MALL 

1. NINE amazing attractions under one roof 

2. NO provincial sales tax 

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4. TOP shopping and fashion destination in Canada 

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Scan to view 

Visitor’s Guide 

continued from page 59 

Rocky Mountain Heli-high 

My friends and I have a difficult choice 

to make. Mountain View Helicopters 

(mvheli.com) offers aerial tours over 

Calgary, the badlands, and several scenic 

spots in the Rockies. Each tour sounds 

enticing, but today we’re in the mood for 

Kananaskis Country. 

The rotors of the Raven R44 II helicopter 

are already spinning when we arrive. 

Jogging toward the aircraft, we duck 

Hot Air Balloon 

Operators 

rainbow balloons in calgary 

403-259-3154 

calgaryhotairballoonrides.com 

air-ristocrat balloon rides in alix 

403-302-7167 | air-ristocrat.com 

windship aviation in edmonton 

780-438-0111 | 1-888-463-5283 

windshipaviation.com 

sundance balloons 

Edmonton Flight Line: 780-443-6043 

Grande Prairie Flight Line: 780-402-8988 

Calgary Flight Line: 403-503-0633 

instinctively. Buckling in, we give thumbs 

up to the pilot who lifts us effortlessly into 

the sky. We take it all in: the late spring snow 

adorning the peaks of the Three Sisters, the 

silver ribbons of Spray Lakes cradled by rich 

green forest, and the shimmering edge of 

Mount Assiniboine’s glacier. 

No matter how you achieve your bird’s eye 

view, one simple truth remains: Alberta from 

the air will take your breath away. 

For more sky adventures, visit 


Helicopter tours 

HorsesHoe 

cANYoN 

DruMHeller, 

AlbertA 

Our helicopter tours offer you the opportunity 

to see drumheller’s Horseshoe Canyon like 

you’ve never seen it before. We offer fun and 

affordable rides for the whole family with 

same day bookings available. 

Call now for more information or visit us 

online at mvheli.com 

• hiking and picnic area 

• shop for fossils and souvenirs 

• ice cream, drinks 

and snacks 

MouNtAiN view Helicopters 

403-334-4354 info@mvheli.com mvheli.com 

Open mid June until labOur day 

60 travelalberta.com sundanceballoons.com 

1-800-ALBERTA 61

50 % 

OFF 

mONDAy – 

THURSDAy 

SAVE 

42 % 

your Family playcation Destination! 

Valid Monday – Thursday only. 

Includes unlimited rides, shows, 

attractions and parking for 1 day in our 

2013 operating season. 50% Off up 

to 4 people. No cash value. Not valid 

with any other discount, offer, family or 

group rate, or after 2pm rate. Value up 

to $71 + GST. Present this coupon at our 

admission kiosks. Not for sale or trade. 

Coupon valid until September 2, 2013. 

PLU Reg 0029, Jnr 0030, 50+0031 

Valid on any one 2013 operating 

day. Save 42%. 4 tickets for $84 + 

GST. Ease of print at home, beat the 

admission line-ups! Order online at 

www.calawaypark.com. Not valid 

with any other discount, offer, family 

or group rate, or after 2pm rate. 

PURCHASE ONLINE ONLY! 

playcation Discount 

Tickets Online 

SAVE 

42 % 

RV HAVING 

FUN yET? 

Includes 1 night stay at Calaway RV 

Park and Campground and 4 one-day 

passes to Calaway Park for $109 + GST. 

Open Weekends: May 18 – May 20, 

2013. Open Daily: May 25 – September 

2, 2013. Limit 1 per reservation. Valid 

for first night only. Not valid during 

Calgary Stampede (July 4 – 15, 2013). 

No cash value. Subject to availability. 

for reservations or information, 

visit www.calawaypark.com or call 

403-249-7372. Coupon valid until 

September 2, 2013. 

RESERVE ONLINE ONLY! 

✃ 

✃ 

✃ 

FOR RESERVATIONS AND DISCOUNT TICKETS VISIT 

www.CAlAwAypARK.COm 

Scan this 2D barcode 

with your smartphone to 


Check out what’s New 

at Calaway park! 

1-800-ALBERTA 63 

Brooks Aqueduct 

Father Lacombe 

Chapel 

Fort George & 

Buckingham House 

Frank Slide 

Interpretive Centre 

Head-Smashed-In 

Buffalo Jump 

Historic Dunvegan 

Leitch Collieries 

Lougheed House 

Oil Sands 

Discovery Centre 

Remington Carriage 

Museum 

Reynolds-Alberta 

Museum 

Royal Alberta 

Museum 

Royal Tyrrell 

Museum 

Rutherford House 

Stephansson House 

Tyrrell Field 

Station 

Ukrainian Cultural 

Heritage Village 

Victoria Settlement 

Experience 

Alberta’s 

History 

ExperienceAlbertaHistory.com 

Provincial 

Historic 

Sites and 

Museums 

Embark on a Great Alberta 

holiday at any of Alberta’s 

18 provincial historic sites, 

interpretive centres and 

museums. Discover all the great 

yesterdays that made Alberta 

the province it is today. You’ll 

find dinosaurs, fur trade posts, 

vintage cars, carriages, tractors, 

bucketwheel excavators, 

buffalo, tipis and especially - the 

people. The people of Alberta’s 

history make it all come alive 

for you - First Peoples, miners, 

Ukrainian settlers, and Alberta’s 

first Premier to name only a few. 

Experience 

Alberta’s 

History 

Pass 

Purchase an Experience Alberta’s History 

Pass and receive unlimited admission to 

all provincial historic sites and museums in 

Alberta for one full year. Experience Alberta 

Passes are available at all major facilities 

and all AMA office throughout the province. 

Family $75 Adult $30 Senior $25 

Youth $15 Under 7 FREE 

Besides offering a variety of educational 

and learning activities for visitors of all 

ages, many heritage facilities have a wide 

range of special events and interactive 

programs throughout the year. They are 

exciting places to visit while on vacation 

where visitors come to learn and have fun.

64 travelalberta.com

2013-summer-magazine

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