OT-Going to Alberta in the summer...have many questions!

[SandraC]

Hi All ~ We are going to Alberta this summer. It's specifically for Emily, my daughter. She's been in and out of Sick Kids so much lately, it's time for her trip!

She wants to see:

*West Edmonton Mall [briefly]
*Calgary to visit an old school chum
*Banff
*Crowsnest Pass for the Frank Slide
*Drumheller

Questions:

1. Should we avoid the Calgary Stampede?
2. Can we go horseback riding in Banff?
3. Other than the Frank Slide, what's there to do in Crowsnest Pass area?
4. How many days do you suggest we stay in Drumheller?
5. Can we hike around the hoodoos?
6. Are there "dug" programs for kids in Drumheller?
7. Suggest any nice hotels?

Thanks all! Blessings, Sandra

 

[ChisJo]

Hi Sandra - I'm from the Edmonton side, so someone from down south will have to help you with more specifics.

I'm assuming you're going to be landing in Calgary, and maybe coming up to Edmonton for the day at West Ed...there's lots to do there, so take your time. It's not just a shopping place. Also, if you have time, you should try Whyte Avenue in Edmonton - in the summer, it's gorgeous! And lots of festivals there are well (and a great farmers market!).

As for the Calgary Stampede - it's really whether or not you like that sort of thing. It's like a carnival and rodeo in one. The parade is great, and the shows that go along with the stampede are good too. It's crowded, but the carnival part of it is fun. I would check out there website to see what to expect at the Stampede this year.

Yes - you can go horse back riding in Banff...there are tons of tour companies that provide that service. I've never had to look for one as we have horses, but you shouldn't have any problems.

Don't know too much about Crowsnest pass area - will need someone else to help you out there.

I say one good full day in Drumheller will be enough (if staying in Calgary, just drive over there for the day - I think if memory serves me right, it's about 1hour 15 minutes away). Yes there are kids dig sites there - it's close the the Drumheller museum. And yes you can hike around the hoodoo areas - if its warm outside, make sure you have good sunscreen and lots of water. It's like a desert there and it can get really hot.

A couple of good web sites for you:

Travel Alberta: http://www1.travelalberta.com/en-ab/

Banff: http://www.banffalberta.ca/

Drumheller: http://www.dinosaurvalley.com/

Whyte Avenue Edmonton: http://www.oldstrathcona.ca/

West Edmonton Mall: http://www.westedmall.com/home/default.asp

Calgary Stampede: http://calgarystampede.com/

 

[blizzard]

3. Other than the Frank Slide, what's there to do in Crowsnest Pass area?

I'll take a (little) stab at this one, since we spend some time down there. Within about an hour of Crowsnest Pass (and could be woven into the trip there or back) are:

Waterton Lakes National Park,
Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, and
Fort McLeod

Also on the way down is the Okotoks Erratic (Big Rock of brew pub fame).

I'm sure there's more. Check Travel Alberta (edit to add: duh, just noticed this link was posted above)

Personally, if I were you, I would avoid Stampede. Unless you are centering the visit around it, it will be more of a hassle than fun to enjoy. (expensive hotels, traffic, etc.)

 

[ChisJo]

Personally, if I were you, I would avoid Stampede. Unless you are centering the visit around it, it will be more of a hassle than fun to enjoy. (expensive hotels, traffic, etc.)

I agree with this....it is incredibly crowded....just didn't want to steer you away from it if you were interested in trying it.

 

[mkmommy]

I used to work at the Stampede, and the Calgary Stampede is so much fun, if you have never seen Chuck wagon races it is something to see and all the pancake breakfasts downtown are great. It is like the CNE is a sense fair wise but not in a way that the whole city is part of it, not just the actual Stampede grounds. You could never go to Calgary during the Stampede and not know it is going on. I can't wait till my girls are older and I can take them.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

I would suggest two full days for Drumheller: Royal Tyrrell Museum, Hoodoo's ( Yes you hike up them), World's Largest Dinosaur with splash park and water fountain, Reptile World, Atlas Coal Mine Historic Site & Rosedale Suspension Bridge. You will need a whole day at West Edmonton Mall : Shopping, waterpark, galaxyland,
disney store...lol. If you wanted to see something in Calgary, I agree the Stampede is great, but will be crowed. The Calgary Zoo is great!!

 

[Ham Ham]

If I were going to Calgary I would definitely hit the Stampede. It is something I've always wanted to do.

As for the crowds it can't be any worse than Toronto during rush hour.
Staying at a well located hotel will negate any use of a car.

We visited Edmonton a few years ago it was very nice.
We stayed at The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald in downtown Edmonton. Not to much to see downtown. It just like any other, with a lot less traffic.
We really enjoyed Old Strathcona, The West Edmonton Mall & the Odyssium kind of a Science Centre and Aviation museum.

If you enjoy Mexican Cuisine try Julio's Barrio, there's one in Old Strathcona

I wanted to take the girls to Fort Edmonton but it wasn't open when we were visiting in March.

One of the things I really enjoy about smaller urban centres is the lack of traffic, crowds and ease of moving around.

People are really friendly and when we were out there in 2004 you could use intereac at Tim Hortons.

 

[bbangel]

I second the Calgary Zoo and Fort Edmonton Park (Edmonton has a zoo but it isn't as good as Calgary's)
I also think two days around Drumheller is good. Don't miss the suspension bridge!
I would avoid the Stampede more for the crowds and expense than anything. Edmonton has a lot of summer festivals (Calgary probably does too) so I would check the city schedules for the time of year you are going to be there. Over the August long weekend I love to go to Edmonton's Heritage Days (yummy food and culture exhibits)

 

[drag n' fly]

I would avoid the Stampede unless you want to go see the chucks etc! It is 10 days of pure craziness and drunkeness. Even living in Calgary I have to pace myself! The Calgary Tower, Glenbow Museum and the Zoo are good bets.
Alberta Prairie Railway excursions are fun. They have robbers that stop the train and take all your change and a hostage then you get to go to Big Valley (yes home of the famous jamboree) and enjoy an old fashioned country roast beef dinner. A fantastic day!
West Ed will take 2 very full days. One day to shop and one day extra if you want to do fantasyland or the waterpark. Travel Alberta will give you everything you need to know.
My Dad lives 10 minutes from the Waterton Gate. You can take a nice boat ride across the lake into the US border and back. It is not commercialized like Banff. Their is Elk and Deer laying all over peoples lawns etc! When in Banff you must do the Gondola and the Hot Springs. Have a nice dinner at Banff Springs Hotel.
It will be very HOT in Drumheller. I would say 2-3 days at most including the museum and hoodoos etc!
Things not to miss. If your feeling like a hike one of the best is to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. If you need to rent any outdoor equipment the U of C has an outdoor centre that rents equipment for dirt cheap. Lake Louise and of course the hotel. You can rent a canoe and go across the lake and Moraine Lake. The hike to the top will be very familiar once you get there. Every hotel within 50 square miles west of Calgary looks like VWL. Just more expensive. High end is Fairmont Hotels, The Post Hotel, Emerald Lake Lodge and the Rimrock. We always stay at Douglas Fir Resort in Banff. In fact we are going back next weekend for family fun weekend. Waterslides, Huge indoor playground and wood burning fireplaces for making smores! Well priced too! The one bedroom + loft sleeps 8 comfortably. They even have a breakfast package.
Of course Calgary's best kept secret Kananaskis country. Grizzlies and pure raw beauty. You can stay at Sundance Lodges where you can sleep either in a trappers tent or a teepee if you want to rough it a bit. Enough blabbing for now! hth

 

[SandraC]

THANK YOU EVERYONE! This info is so valuable! Keep it coming! Blessings, Sandra

 

[kaia739]

Everyone has posted really useful suggestions, but I figured I'd add my 2 cents. =) Hopefully I'm not too redundant!

1) If you can manage it schedule and money wise, I'd REALLY recommend the Stampede. I've gone every single year of my life, and its a really great experience for kids and adults alike. There's a great carnival atmosphere, loads of agriculture, animal and cultural exhibits, a great parade, shopping areas (all the 'as seen on tv' stuff ), concerts, and of course, the main stampede events. Despite the crowds and increased prices, the city takes on such a laid back, western hospitality feeling. One example: free breakfasts somewhere in the city every day of the event! Definitely look into it and see if it's to your taste. =)

3) In the Crowsnest area I've only been to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, and I think its really neat, especially if you're interested in Native American history.

4) I've personally only ever been up for 1 day at a time, and I've found it to be enough time to see the Royal Tyrrell Museum (a MUST for dinosaur enthusiasts!), do a mini hike around the hoodoos, visit the world's largest dinosaur, and go to reptile world. However, because these weren't 'new' to me, I probably went through them a bit faster than a tourist might. Hence, two days might be a safe route, especially since it gets hot and you might want a break mid-day.

5) Hike AROUND the hoodoos, yes. Hike ON the hoodoos, no (they're really fragile and it's prohibited)! The main hiking areas (as far as I know) are Horseshoe Canyon and Hoodoo Trail.

Hopefully this is helpful! Good luck with planning!
-K

 

[PBX1]

We did a 5 day horseback Lodge ride with Warner Guiding and Outfitting ( http://www.horseback.com/) out of Banff. The ride is through Banff National Park and was an amazing ride. I believe they have shorter rides if you have time constraints.

 

[ABCanada]

There are many local rodeos during the summer in Alberta. You may want to try one to get the rodeo feel. They are not the Calgary Stampede but Calgary is insane during the Stampede.
In Edmonton consider staying at the hotel in Fort Edmonton Park, http://www.hotelselkirk.com/pages/HotelSelkirk/default.aspx, depending on the day of the week you can sometimes get a good rate.
If you are going to Banff I would also go out to Chateau Lake Louise, there are a variety of trails from there including one up to the tea house which is fun. In my opinion, one of the best hikes in the Banff area is up to Grasse Lakes. It is a short walk up to a beautiful little lake. If you go a bit beyond the lakes there are hieroglyphics.
The Tyrell has a number of kids programs check their website tyrellmuseum.com.

 

[FantasticFour]

Hi
I'm in Southern Alberta, so I'll mostly comment on this area (although I was born and raised in the Edmonton area).
A lot depends on when you travel here. I, personally, don't do the Stampede. But it is a very personal preference-- I don't like crowds. What is cool about Stampede in Calgary is how very much the city gets into it. You get swept up in the excitement. You can, however, see many rodeos throughout the province if you prefer something smaller. Depending on the age of your child, Tyrell in Drumheller can be truly amazing. We often let our kids do the daycamp there (they take the kids for the afternoon and 'make' a fossil, dig for bones etc.) My kids absolutely love it beyond words. We always stay at the Ramada (although it is expensive) because of the waterslides and it is always reliable. We stayed there one summer a few days after my own DD had surgery at Alberta's Childrens Hospital (I soooo understand why you are doing this trip) and they were extremely accomodating in terms of early checkin/out and a staff member even did a grocery run for me. It gets incredibly hot there and the waterpark mentioned is delightful.

What I adore about Edmonton are the festivals. Every single year we do the Taste of Edmonton (my nine year old would chose this over almost any other activity), Heritage Days are outstanding. THe Fort is fun, but a ton of walking (depends on your daughter's health). The zoo is worth a miss and you should absolutely do the one in Calgary-- world class. For Edmonton, base your hotel location on whether or not you have a car rental. If you stay on the south or west side of town, you really have little to do. West edmonton mall is really quite fun (the water park is expensive but quality).

OK-- the south. The Frank Slide is fascinating-- for adults-- but may not hold a kid's attention. There are, however, mine tours in the area which are cool. We often do the Thunder in the Valley festival (fireworks with a mountain backdrop and festivals throughout the days). It is, I think, in early Aug. I would absolutely do Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump. Educational and a beautiful site. Fort McLeod is right nearby and my kids like the fort alot-- even though I think it is pretty cheesy. They do a 'musical ride' in the summer, but if you have seen the real thing, you need to be realistic.

What I think is fun is Cardston's Remington museum. It has hundreds of chuckwagons and my kids think it is cool. They also do (cheap) carriage rides on the property. The best thing about it is the World Miniature Horse Chuckwagon races that they host each year. If you are around at that time, it is wayyyyyyy fun.

You must, of course, do Banff. I think that the Gondola and the Columbia Ice Fields (Glacier) are worth the expense.

Hope this helps.

 

[SandraC]

Thanks everyone!

We have been working on our itinerary....so far we are considering this:

Fly to Calgary, pick up rental car, drive to Banff

3 nights in Banff; horseback riding, lunch at Banff Springs Resort, hot springs
then drive to Edmonton

2 nights in Edmonton; basically just doing the mall then drive to Drumheller

2-3 nights in Drumheller

Then we are considering driving to the Frank Slide and staying over night....dd REALLY wants to see this.

We will end up in Calgary for a couple of days before returning home.

How does that sound? We know it's a lot of driving, but we are very excited to see all the sights of Southern Alberta!

Blessings, Sandra

 

[FantasticFour]

You will be covering alot of territory, but it is quite doable. If you are going as far as the Frank Slide in Crowsnest, I might suggest that you drive on a tad and stay overnight in Fernie. You might also want to spend a little time in Waterton National Park. It isn't far and Waterton a tiny little town, Banff-like without the crowds and commercialization-- they have worked hard to keep it down in size and it is quite charming.