Alberta Travel Guide

Alberta Travel Guide

Discover the beauty of Canada’s sunniest province! Majestic mountains, diverse hikes, glacial lakes, dinosaurs, and more. Alberta (AB) is home to North America’s largest mountain range, the second largest dark sky preserve in the world, iconic Canadian wildlife, and a place where dinosaurs used to roam. No matter the time of year, AB won’t disappoint (I would know because I have visited in almost every season).

Alberta is one of Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories. It is located in Western Canada and is one of three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north, and the U.S. state of Montana to the south. Alberta is one of only two landlocked provinces in Canada; the other is Saskatchewan.

Quick Facts

• Population: Over 4.2 million
• Official Languages: English and French
• Currency: Canadian Dollar
• Transportation: Unless you are in a big city like Edmonton or Calgary, it’ll be easiest to rent a car or campervan. Alberta is a large province. There are trains and buses, but these will require more coordination (and likely more time).
• Weather: Alberta experiences four distinct seasons–winter, spring, summer, and fall. Given its diverse geography, the weather varies depending on where you are in the province.

Alberta is the sunniest province in Canada, with 312 days of sunshine per year. According to Environment Canada, Alberta also has the most comfortable climate in Canada. Calgary, Alberta’s largest city, has more hours of sunshine than any other major Canadian city.

Alberta is a popular tourist destination, known for its natural beauty, abundance of fossils, and important nature reserves. Popular tourist attractions in Alberta include:

• Banff National Park
• Jasper National Park
• Elk Island National Park
• Waterton Lakes National Park
• Drumheller
• The Calgary Stampede

Many of the areas in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains have ski resorts. Some of the best-known resorts include:

• Banff Sunshine
• Lake Louise
• Marmot Basin
• Norquay
• Nakiska