Visit Attractions & Historic Sites In Alberta, Canada

The Calgary Zoo is the city’s top tourist attraction. Boasting 800 animals and more than 130 species, it offers seven different sections where guests can enjoy close-up views of animals in a park-like setting. Destination Africa, Canadian Wilds, and Land of the Lemurs are visitor favourites. Edmonton Valley Zoo is home to more than 350 animals. See endangered peregrine falcons, bighorn sheep and native animals like the prairie dog. You’ll also view great-horned owls, bald eagles and arctic foxes. John Janzen Nature Centre in Edmonton offers a glimpse of animals in their natural habitat. Walk along interpretive trails and enjoy interactive exhibits and fun activities for kids. Hay-Zama Lakes Wildland Park in High Level is a prime spot for bird watching. Featuring five lakes, the wetlands attract a huge number of migratory birds. The area is also home to endangered wood bison, beavers, otters, black bears, coyotes and wolves.

For visitors itching for a unique adventure, Northern Lights Excursions offer a chance to see the stunning beauty of the aurora borealis at viewings in Fort McMurray. Tours are offered in winter and spring. The Jasper Planetarium features a state-of-the-art domed theater and the largest telescope in the Canadian Rockies. Tour the dark sky preserve and experience stargazing at its best. The Aspen Crossing Railway offers magnificent views of the Alberta prairies. Take a three-hour train ride on Sunday and enjoy musical entertainment and a staged train robbery as part of the experience. Train trips serving high tea are also available.

Many historic sites are just a short drive from Calgary or Edmonton. Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site is a fun place for a picnic and it offers guided walks, wildlife viewing and hiking paths. Architecture buffs enjoy the historic buildings and quaint shops in Old Strathcona. Lougheed House, Fort Edmonton and Fort Calgary also offer glimpses into the region’s historic past. Bar U Ranch was the largest ranch in Canada for 70 years. Take a tour of the national historic site, browse the museum or attend a fun rodeo or festival at the iconic ranch.

Drumheller, affectionately known as the “Town of Dinosaurs,” is a fun place to explore the prehistoric history of the province. Home to dinosaurs 75 million years ago, the area is known for its fossils. Hike along trails winding past hoodoos and unique rock formations, or take the driving tour leading to some of the area’s most popular sites. Most of the significant finds are on display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Red Rock Coulee near Medicine Hat also offers incredible views of red rock formations. Jurassic Forest, located off Township Road 564 in Gibbons, is a 40-acre park themed around dinosaurs. Situated just minutes from Edmonton, it features over a dozen large animated dinosaurs hiding in an old growth forest. Motion detectors hidden along the trails alert the dinosaurs when visitors approach. Enjoy scavenger hunts, a paleontological site, play area and interactive displays.

At Wild Cave Tours in Canmore, visitors can take a guided tour and see a cave in its natural state with no handrails, walkways or lights. Head-Smashed-In Bufflalo Jump is one of the most unique sites in Alberta. Located off Highway 785 near MacLeod, the World Heritage Site marks the spot where indigenous people herded buffalo to a cliff. The visitor center features artifacts, exhibits on buffalo hunt ceremonies and information on the ecology of the region. Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray is home to Athabasca Oil Sands, the world’s largest single oil deposit. The visitor center features exhibits on the history, science and technology used to extract oil in the area.

Amusement park fans will find plenty to enjoy in Alberta. World Waterpark at the West Edmonton Mall is the world’s second largest indoor water park and offers more than 17 unique waterslides. Galaxyland, also at the West Edmonton Mall, is the world’s largest indoor amusement park and features space-themed rides for all ages. The nearby Ice Palace offers recreational ice-skating under a glittering glass dome. Calway Park, 20 minutes from Calgary, is Western Canada’s largest outdoor amusement park. Thrill to spectacular views from 32 rides, play arcade games, and enjoy live entertainment.

Looking for a fun destination away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm in Bon Accord is 40 minutes from Edmonton. Browse the 35-acre working farm, pick your own fruits and vegetables, or walk through three huge corn mazes. The Little Tykes Fun Zone offers a petting zoo, tiny tractor rides and a bale pyramid. Calgary Corn Maze & Fun Farm features over 13 acres of corn mazes, a petting zoo, mini-golf, jumping pillows, a tractor train, slides, pig races and more. It’s a fun place to celebrate Halloween and the Fall Harvest.

After a busy day of sightseeing treat yourself to dinner at the top of the Calgary Tower. Savor a delicious meal at Sky 360, the revolving restaurant, and enjoy breathtaking views of the city from the 360-degree observation deck.