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Alberta Round-Trip Canadian Vacation

WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2010


Canada’s Rocky Mountain National Parks, in the province of Alberta, are comprised of Banff and Jasper and are linked by the magnificent Icefields Parkway. These two destinations offer ample opportunity for sightseeing, hiking, camping and backcountry backpacking (with appropriate permits).

There are amazing side trips to:

Sulphur spring-fed hot pools, (Miette in Jasper and Banff’s Upper Hot Springs)

Canyon walking Johnson Canyon in Banff and Maligne Canyon in Jasper)

Spectacular waterfalls (Athabasca and Sunwapta in Jasper and Bow Falls in Banff)*

Viewing glaciers on the Icefields Parkway (Crowfoot & Athabasca)**

Fabulous views of lakes (Lake Louise, Peyto Lake, Maligne Lake)

Gondola rides up mountains

Museums and interpretive centres

Wildlife viewing (big horn sheep, black bears, deer, wapiti (elk)

Numerous day treks and overnight packing

* Seen from the Parkway but well worth the trek to the base from Bow Lake

** The latter is part of famous Columbia Icefield

If you’re flying you can turn this trip into an Alberta round-trip, by arriving/departing from either Calgary or Edmonton International Airports and renting a vehicle, cycling, taking the bus or, in the case of Edmonton, taking VIA Rail.

If you choose this route, you can see both major cities, of Alberta, both with excellent summer activities and festivals. Traveling between may also provide a chance to see the excellent folk music festivals, not to exclude the jazz, country and blues festivals in Alberta.

This route may also provide the chance to take activities associated with Alberta: Rodeos and Powwows!

Traveling the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, between the two cities, has many side-trips, if you plan your trip, as does the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway, between Edmonton and Jasper. Just west of Hinton, you can head north, into the wilds, to Willmore Wilderness Area & Grande Cache. The Trans-Canada Number One Highway, between Banff and Calgary, also provides the opportunity to visit Canmore and Kananaskis Country.

If you’re a skilled trip planner, you also use the central Alberta’s David Thompson Highway, between Saskatchewan Crossing on The Icefields Parkway and the QEII, north of Red Deer.

One important thing to remember! If you travel during the peak summer months (July and August) accommodations for hotels, cabins and campgrounds can be in short supply, particularly in the National Parks. You can book hotels by clicking here, or going to our main Ya’Gotta Travel page. For camping reservations, in the National Parks, or Alberta, go to our Ya’Gotta Camping in Western Canada page. Camping information for other western Canada provinces and northern territories, can also be found on that page.

To read the original article go to: yagotta.ca/articles/rockeymountainvacation.htm

Source: www.prlog.org

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