BEYOND CALGARY
ATTRACTIONS AZURIDGE ESTATE HOTEL Located in the Rocky Mountains is the luxurious Azuridge Hotel with stunning views , hot tub , games room , and spa . A BBQ & Beer venue is available to non-guests in the summer . 178057 - 272 St W , Priddis . 403-931-0100 . www . azuridgehotel . com
BANFF GONDOLA Enjoy an eight minute ride up Sulphur Mountain in an enclosed gondola to an observation deck with a 360 degree view of Banff and the Canadian Rockies . The renovated upper terminal has a 4D theatre , interpretive centre , and cafe . $ 42 , adult $ 21 child ( ages 6 - 15 ); children 5 and under are free . Mountain Ave , Banff . 1-800-760-6934 . www . brewster . ca
BAR U RANCH South of Calgary off Hwy 22 , this national historic site commemorates the local ranching industry with tours , demonstrations and special events . Activities and attractions include a hiking trail , historic buildings , an interactive display in the Saddlehorse Barn and a blacksmith shop . Tours run daily . May 15 - Sep 30 open daily . 1-888-773-8888 . www . pc . gc . ca / en / lhn-nhs / ab / baru
CANMORE NORDIC CENTRE PROVINCIAL PARK This venue is a hub for mountain biking , hiking , trail running , roller skiing , and disc golf . Get access to over 100 km of trails , rent or purchase equipment , or sign up for a lesson or guided tour . 1988 Olympic Way , Canmore . 403-678-2400 . www . canmorenordiccentre . ca
CATHEDRAL MOUNTAIN LODGE An upscale lodge with luxury log cabins on the edge of Kicking Horse River . Cabins include fireplaces and soaking tubs . This is a true retreat with no televisions or telephones . Room service is available . 1 Yoho Valley Rd , Field , BC , 250-343-6442 . www . cathedralmountainlodge . com
CAVE AND BASIN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE The place where three railway workers discovered thermal springs that led to the creation of Banff National Park , Canada ’ s first , in 1885 . Interpretive media exhibits on the protected waters ’ heritage ; accessible tunnel to cave and thermal springs ; emerald coloured basin ; giant fourscreen HD video on Canada ’ s national parks , historic sites and marine conservation areas . Story Hall images , artifacts and photo booth in historic 1914 bathing pavilion . Galletly Building discovery room , café and theatre . Interpretive boardwalk and trails ( free ) to the cave vent hole , hillside springs , unique plants , and pools with fish and the Banff Springs snail ( found only here ). Discovery Tour by Parks Canada staff included with admission , Wed-Sun 11 am-5 pm . 311 Cave Ave , Banff . 403-762-1566 . www . pc . gc . ca / caveandbasin
EAU CLAIRE DISTILLERY Alberta ’ s first craft distillery is home to award-winning spiritings including gin and vodka . Tours and tastings are available through September 30 : Mon - Thur , 11 am - 6 pm and Fri - Sun , 10 am - 8 pm . $ 12 per adult ; $ 6.50 for tasting only . 113 Sunset Blvd NW , Turner Valley . 403-933-5404 . www . eauclairedistillery . ca
FORT WHOOP UP NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Established by American fur traders in 1869 , Fort Whoop- Up was a notoriously wild whiskey trading post . Visitors can relive its Old West dramas , explore artifacts from the local plains tribes and do a little trading in the Fort ’ s store . Open year round . Indian Battle Park , Lethbridge , 403-329-0444 . www . fortwhoopup . com
FRANK SLIDE INTERPRETIVE CENTRE In 1903 , 82 million tons of limestone crashed down Turtle Mountain , obliterating part of the coal-mining town of Frank in less than 100 seconds . The Centre ’ s interpretive displays focus on the disaster as well as community life and settlement during the early coal-mining days . Open daily , year-round . Closed on holidays . Admission : $ 10 adult , $ 8 seniors , $ 5 youth ( 7 - 17 ), kids six and under free , $ 22 family .
HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP A UNESCO World Heritage Site , this is one of the oldest , largest and bestpreserved buffalo jumps in the world . Sept 5 - May 14 : 10 am - 5 pm daily . Regular admission : $ 15 adults , $ 13 seniors , $ 10 youth ( 7 - 17 ), children under six free , $ 40 family ( 2 adults and up to 6 youth ) group rates available . On Hwy 785 , off Hwy 2 north of Fort Macleod , 403-553-2731 . www . history . alberta . ca / headsmashedin
LEIGHTON CENTRE The former home of painter AC Leighton , the centre is located on 80 acres of gorgeous ranchlands property with views of the Rockies , and hosts art exhibitions year-round . Open Tues to Sat 10am - 4pm . Admission is $ 2 , members , free . South on Macleod Tr or Deerfoot Tr to Highway 22X , watch for signs . For info , 403-931-3633 . www . leightoncentre . org
PARK DISTILLERY RESTAURANT & BAR Banff ’ s only restaurant bar and distillery features 100 percent local handmade spirits with campfire cuisine . 219 Banff Ave , Banff , 403-762-5114 . www . parkdistillery . com
RAW DISTILLERY Small batch craft spirits with distinct tastes , using Alberta grains and glacier water from the Rocky Mountains . 1460 Railway Ave , Canmore , 403-710-3285 . www . rawspirits . ca
REMINGTON CARRIAGE MUSEUM The centre displays over 270 carriages , a restoration workshop , theatre , cafeteria , gift shop , tack room and stables . 623 Main St , Cardston , 403-653-5139 . www . remingtoncarriagemuseum . com
REYNOLDS-ALBERTA MUSEUM This museum , located 30 minutes southeast of the Edmonton International Airport , hosts an outstanding collection of vintage vehicles , aircraft , tractors , and industrial machines that pay tribute to mechanical genius . 6426 - 40 Ave , Wetaskiwin , 780-312-2065 . www . reynoldsalbertamuseum . com
ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM This museum is focused on the science of palaeontology . It features 13 exhibits with over 40 full-sized dinosaur skeletons , numerous other fossils , and engaging dioramas of prehistoric ecosystems . $ 18 adult , $ 14 senior , $ 10 youth , children 6 and under are free , $ 46 family . Open daily 9 am - 9 pm . 1500 North Dinosaur Tr , Drumheller , 403-823-7707 . www . tyrrellmuseum . com
THE BANFF CENTRE This world-renowned arts centre hosts events and concerts throughout the year . 107 Tunnel Mountain Dr , Banff , 1-800-413-8368 . www . banffcentre . ca
TREKCETERA MUSEUM Canada ’ s only Star Trek museum is home to authentic , original costumes , props and set pieces used on various Star Trek series and movies . It also features memorabilia from many other movies and TV shows , including Harry Potter and Superman . Open 7 days per week . 802 Hwy 9 S , Drumheller , 403-820-4085 . www . trekcetera . com
WILD LIFE DISTILLERY Craft distillery specializing in premium small batch vodka and gin . Open Wed to Sat , 12 pm to 8 pm . Daily tours at 3 pm . 160 , 105 Bow Meadows Cres , Canmore , 403-678-2800 . www . wildlifedistillery . ca
TOWNS & NATIONAL PARKS BANFF NATIONAL PARK This world famous park in the Canadian Rockies offers an abundance of things to do and see in the great outdoors . Go for a scenic hike or bike ride , camp overnight , or discover the shops and restaurants in the town of Banff . www . banff . ca
BRAGG CREEK Antique dealers , boutiques and restaurants in a mountainous , pine-forest setting make Bragg Creek a favourite weekend drive for city dwellers . Take Hwy 8 west of the city to Hwy 22 South . 8 Price St , Bragg Creek , 416-960-2223 . www . visitbraggcreek . com
CANMORE Nestled between Calgary and Banff National Park , the quaint mountain town of Canmore is full of shops , restaurants , attractions , and accommodations . Visitor Centre : 907A - 7 Ave , Canmore , 1-855-678-1295 . www . tourismcanmore . com
DINOSAUR PROVINCIAL PARK The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the largest badlands in Canada as well as the richest fossil site in the world for late Cretaceous fossils . Guided tours and self-guided tours are available . 48 km ( 30 mi ) northeast from the city of Brooks , AB , 403-378-4342 . www . dinosaurpark . ca
DRUMHELLER Located 138 km ( 83 mi ) from Calgary , this town is in the heart of the Canadian Badlands , a geographically fascinating area of arid canyons , mesas and buttes . The Badlands are also the source of many of North America ’ s greatest dinosaur fossil finds , and Drumheller is home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum , one of the world ’ s finest paleontological resources . Also home to the world ’ s biggest dinosaur and the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site . Drumheller has a population of more than 8,200 and offers full services and amenities . An hour and a half from Calgary , take Hwy 1 east , turn north onto Hwy 9 , 1-866-823-8100 . www . traveldrumheller . com
KANANASKIS COUNTRY This area features numerous parks with trails for hiking and biking , camp sites , tours , water activities , fishing , and golfing . 403-678-0760 . www . kananaskis-country . ca
LAKE LOUISE Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful places on Earth , visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year . The vividly-coloured lake is surrounded by Rocky Mountain peaks with Chateau Lake Louise nestled on its banks , while the Village is a small hamlet at a lower elevation . The emerald colour of the water comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the glaciers that overlook the lake . Activities include hiking , biking , horseback riding , kayaking , canoeing , dog sledding , fishing , and ice skating . Banff National Park , Lake Louise . 416-626-5899 . www . banfflakelouise . com
OKOTOKS Just a 15 minute drive from south Calgary is this quaint town with lots of boutique shopping and dining destinations . Family-friendly festivals and events take place throughout the summer . 403-938-3204 . www . okotoks . ca
RANCHLANDS The Ranchlands are the region south and west of Calgary encompassing the towns of High River , Nanton , Turner Valley , Black Diamond and Longview . It gets its name from the large ranches established here around the turn of the century , including the North West Cattle Company , now the Bar U , established outside Longview in 1882 . The area can be reached by travelling west and south through Kananaskis Country on Hwy 40 ( open after mid-June ) then east on Hwy 541 , or south from Calgary on Hwy 2 or 22 .
SHEEP RIVER PROVINCIAL PARK Enjoy camping , hiking , geocaching , fishing , biking , and equestrian activities in the summer , as well as cross country skiing and ice skating in the winter . www . albertaparks . ca / sheep-river
VULCAN Visit the town of Vulcan , the Star Trek Capital
TIP
Spend time with real cowboys who staff Rocking R Guest Ranch , a luxury Bed and Breakfast a short one-hour drive from Calgary . Book a day trip of horse riding through the mountains and relax by the campfire at night . rockingrguestranch . com
70 where . ca JULY / AUGUST 2017