When you wonder how you can explore Alberta’s heritage this summer, during the August/Heritage Day long weekend, or on the new Alberta Day, there are many parts of history to consider! Alberta has a diverse number of cultures, industries, and natural landscapes, as well as a rich yet young history.
Begin your adventures and education with Alberta’s earliest Indigenous cultures, the fur trade, and everything about life in Alberta pre-WW2 through forts, museums, national/provincial historic sites, and preserved areas.
You can also get a sense of Alberta’s rich and varied heritage through a visit to the province’s best and most beautiful natural areas, National Parks, and Provincial Areas. These places not only provide great modern-day views, but also provide a sense of what Alberta was like hundreds or thousands of years ago, or even as far back as when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Heritage Day is August 1st, and the new Alberta Day is September 1st.
Consider these heritage and natural sites for your long weekends this summer!
Museums & Heritage/Cultural Sites to Visit
1. Dinosaurs & Natural History
Alberta’s badlands are a mecca for geo-tourism, as scientists have uncovered thousands upon thousands of bones and fossils from the layered rocks. Alberta’s fascinating natural history includes many dinosaur species, but also a wonderful array of plant and wildlife. But for everything dinosaurs, the Royal Tyrell, Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, and Devil’s Coulee museums offer everything from fossils to bones, to teeth and fangs.
- Walk through one of the world’s largest dinosaur bone collections at Royal Tyrell Museum (year-round; Midland Provincial Park – 1500 N Dinosaur Trail, Drumheller)
- Take an outdoor badland tour with Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur & Heritage Museum (May-September; 300 County Rd, Warner)
- See rich fossil resources of Northern Alberta at Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum (year-round; 9301 112 Ave, Wembley)
2. Indigenous Heritage
Alberta’s history and heritage date back long before European settlers. The Indigenous people of Alberta have created several efforts to preserve this long and rich history through education, preservation, and interactive experiences. You can picture what Frog Lake or Head-Smashed-In once looked like; you can travel the river by canoe to learn about the Metis culture, or take a Blackfoot language class, to name but a few immersive and exciting experiences.
- Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site: Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site honouring and preserving the area’s fascinating 6000-year old Plains Buffalo culture. (May 21-September 5; 18km west of Fort Macleod)
- Book a signature experience from Metis Crossing (year-round; 17339 Victoria Trail, Smoky Lake) like Paddle into the Past, or Walk in our Mocs.
- Blackfoot Crossing & Historical Park: Learn about hundreds of years of Blackfoot history and culture. (year round, Siksika via AB-842)
- Walk the interpretive Trail at the Frog Lake National Historic Site (year-round; Fish Lake Road, Frog Lake) in central-east Alberta.
3. Fur Trade
A few key industries played a big role in the building of Alberta’s economy, but none as early as the fur trade. You can explore the Forts which once housed fur traders, the rivers they travelled on, and everything else which helped the Hudson Bay Fur Trade expand and grow.
- Learn more about Alberta’s earliest industry and relax with comfort heritage camping at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site (May 10-September 30; Site 127 Comp 6 RR4, Rocky Mountain House)
- Stop by Fort George & Buckingham House for a picnic or a river walk(May-September 5; 6015 Twp Rd 565, St. Paul)
- Walk Alberta’s second oldest For at the Fort Assiniboine Museum and uncover 100-year-old artifacts. (June-August ; 1 Woodlands Lane, Whitecourt)
4. Early Alberta life
What was life like here in the late 1800s and early 1900s? Life in Alberta back then may have looked different depending on where you lived. Calgary and Edmonton/Strathcona were slowly becoming big cities, but the smaller town areas were growing from the help of the railway. You can explore this lifestyle in Alberta from all different perspectives, and in a variety of locations.
- Book a guided tour of Victoria Settlement to learn about transitional history, from early fur trade to establishing a mission and settlement that became the town of Pakan. (May 18-September 5; 58161 Range Road 171A, County of Smoky Lake)
- Tour Historic Dunvegan and choose to stay at onsite campsites, or shop the nearby market. (May-September 5; 26 kilometres south of Fairview, on Highway 2)
- Ride the Fort Edmonton Park train through eras and decades in Edmonton (May 21 to September 5, 2022; 7000 143 St NW, Edmonton)
- Explore indoor and outdoor areas, preserved buildings, and travel the park by boat or train at Heritage Park in Calgary (May 21, 2022-Thanksgiving) Heritage Park – 1900 Heritage Dr. SW, Calgary)
- Uncover prairie history at the preserved Stephansson House (May-September 5, 2022; 2230 Twp Rd 371, Red Deer County)
5. Multi-cultural Heritage
You can explore Alberta’s multiculturalism in a few ways, including with many other locations on this list. Multiculturalism is a part of Canada and Alberta, and we can take time to learn about our neighbours’ home countries through several fun and exciting ways like food, music, dance, and a visit to these museums.
- Walk around the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, burn your energy, and fill up on authentic dishes at the Kalyna Kitchen. (May 21-September 5; 25 minutes east of Edmonton along Hwy 16 E, Lamont County)
- Stop by the Danish Canadian National Museum which tell the interesting story of the Danish immigrants to the area, and to Canada in general or in mid-August for their annual Viking Days. (May-September; Range Rd 31, Spruce View)
- Explore Red Deer’s Norwegian Laft Hus Society & Museum celebrating the Norwegian heritage. (year-round; 4402 47 Ave, Red Deer)
6. Coal
Coal mining in Alberta has an interesting history, with many skeletons of the old mines and factories still erect today (while coal mining still goes on, it is not nearly as booming an industry as it once was). A lot of the coal mining history can be found in southern Alberta or the Rockies, with the most interesting site of all in Crowsnest, where the former Turtle Mountain crushed the entire town of Frank during a rockslide.
- Picnic at the Leitch Collieries and see the ruins of one of the largest and most ambitious mines in the province. (May 15 to Labour Day; off Highway 3 in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass)
- Tour the actual Atlas Coal Mine, underground! (May-October; 10 Century Dr., East Coulee)
- See the site of Canada’s deadliest rock slide that destroyed a mining town Frank Slide & Interpretive Centre (May 16, 2022 to October 10, 2022; 1.5 km off Highway #3, Crowsnest Pass)
- Walk in the footsteps of Alberta’s miners with interactive experiences at Bellevue Underground Mine (2531 213 St, Bellevue)
7. Oil & Gas
It is no secret that out of all the industries you could explore to learn about Alberta’s heritage, oil and gas are numbers one and two. You can learn all about the influential people, the epic moments, and economic booms with a few educational centres around the province.
- Explore the site of a huge oil discovery at the Leduc No. 1 Oil Derrick and Canadian Energy Museum ( year-round; 50339 AB-60, Leduc County)
- See Western Canada’s first commercial oilfield and the birthplace of Alberta’s petroleum industry at Turner Valley Gas Plant Provincial Historic Site (May-September 5; Sunset Blvd SE, Turner Valley)
- Learn about the history, science, and technology of the oil sands at Oil Sands Discovery Centre (July 1-September 4; 515 MacKenzie Blvd., Fort McMurray)
8. Vehicles & Machines
What did the roads and rails of Alberta once look like? Probably A LOT different, and these museums can help prove it with their auto-history-exhibits of cars, motorcycles, bikes, farm equipment and tractors, aircraft, and even carriages.
- Browse the Reynolds Museum’s collection of over 500 cars and 130 aircraft (year-round; 6426 – 40 Ave, Wetaskiwin)
- See antique machinery showcasing the history of farming in Alberta at Heritage Acres Museum (May-September 15; 7316 Range Road 293, Pincher Creek)
- Stop by the Remington Carriage Museum, the largest of its kind in the world! (April-December 31; 623 Main Street, Cardston)
9. Grain Elevators & Farming
As almost a symbol of the prairies, Alberta’s grain elevators can be seen abandoned alongside major highways north to south. But a few have been maintained or restored to serve as working museums, as well as monuments to the Alberta farming industry. These locations also serve as beautiful photo backdrops or artistic inspiration. For a sweeter experience, you can visit historic Markerville and the Creamery Museum to learn about the whole other side of Alberta farming.
- Stop for a tour and tasty lunch at the Prairie Elevator Museum & Tea House (July-August; 202 Railway Ave, E Acadia Valley)
- Tour Spruce Grove to view the grain elevator, water tower, and red barn which the Spruce Grove Agriculture Society worked to save and preserve.
- Book a tour with the Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre in Nanton
- Explore 1930’s butter creamery and enjoy tasty icecream at the historic Markerville Creamery Museum (114 Creamery Way, Markerville)
10. Forts
Imagine life by the rivers of Alberta over 150 years ago: there were no tall buildings, skyscrapers, suburbs, or paved paths. All that stood were the forts where most Alberta cities are now, many of which are restored or recreated for us to explore. When you visit these historic Alberta forts, you can immerse yourself in the fur-trade experience, interact with actors, or enjoy the grounds for recreation.
- Book the Fort Whoop-up Life & Labour of a Fur Trader experience (July-September; 200 Indian Battle Road South, Lethbridge)
- Launch a canoe or kayak on the Red Deer River directly from Fort Normandeau, or make a day of also seeing the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. (May-October; 28054 B Township Road 382, Red Deer)
- Learn about the history of Northwest Mounted Police, spend Heritage Day at Fort Calgary and get in for free! (year-round; 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary)
11. Ranching at Bar U Ranch National Historic Site
100 or so years ago, Alberta was the true wild west, and ranches such as the Bar U served as stopping points for travelling cowboys, outlaws, creatives, and even royalty at times. Bar U National Historic Site, once, extended over 160,000 acres. The area has rich ranching history, as well as Canada’s largest collection of preserved ranch buildings. It all comes to life when you visit with actors and interpreters, wagon rides, and the many exhibits throughout. You’ll also find many beautiful photo opportunities via the gardens, the bright red buildings, the bight red Parks Canada chairs, and the surrounding foothills
When: May-October
Where: Township Rd 17B and, Township Rd 17A, Longview
How much: $10.75-$12.50
12. Alberta Legislature
Visit the place where laws that affected/affect the lives of Albertans are made! You and your family can receive free tours of the Alberta Legislature all year long. The scenic area is also great for a walk, a picnic on the hill, cooling off at the fountain, and urban photography. The tour will show you parts of the building which are normally closed off to tourists, as well as the Magic Fountain! If you want to stop by the grounds and stay outside, the area often sees food trucks parked on 100th Ave, and you can spend over an hour exploring the grounds. You can even see a 50-plus-year-old preserved burger! Details
When: Year round
Where: Alberta Legislature Grounds –
How much: free
13. Royal Alberta Museum
If you don’t have time and want to visit only one place, then visit Alberta’s flagship museum. Space rocks, live bugs, enormous dinosaurs, wildlife, and personal accounts from people who have shaped Alberta come together in bold exhibits at Royal Alberta Museum. Explore 82,000 square feet of exhibition space that houses a large and wide-ranging collection of artifacts to foster wonder, inquiry and understanding about Alberta.
When: Year round
Where: 9810 103A Avenue Northwest, Edmonton
How much: $10 to $21
Natural Heritage Sites & Attractions
1. Cave & Basin
Take an incredible, but also accessible and simple, walk through Banff’s most famous mountain cave via several activities offered at Cave & Basin – the birthplace of all national parks across Canada. Built around natural thermal mineral springs in late 1800s, the National Historic Site can be explored in and out with a short trail leading to the basin, as well as trails leading up around the mountain. You can also explore the area by night with their lantern tours, on Saturday nights.
When: May-September for Lantern Tours, site open year-round
Where: 311 Cave Ave., Banff National Park
How much: $7-$8.50
2. Glacial Lakes
You can truly get to explore Alberta’s most magnificent lakes as many of them allow paddle boats or have an onsite boathouse. The glacier-fed lakes are a special sight as they often give off bright and vibrant hues of blue and turquoise. Glaciers feed many Alberta lakes and rivers, so keep in mind that these waters are often frigid, even in the summer.
- Peyto Lake is best for sightseeing and hiking.
- Lake Louise and Moraine Lake offer canoe/kayak rentals, hiking, a lodge, and dining
- Bow Lake is a quick stop off the Icefields Parkway with picnic areas, hiking trails, and permits non-motorized boats.
- Lake Minnewanka is the biggest and deepest lake in Banff, and is home to a cruise, boathouse, and dining.
3. Glaciers
There is a lot to see and do on a trip to Jasper or Banff, and the Athabasca glacier is at the centre of it all in the Columbia Icefields. The icefields feed the Athabasca glacier, but also five others! The Columbia Icefields area off the Parkway has options for dining, adventuring, hiking, and tours, and is a must-see when in the Rockies. You can also view several other glaciers in the area, some of which require short hikes, some of which require a long hike. They are all worth the walking!
- Tour on top of and around the Athabasca Glacier with the Ice Cruisers
- Stop for photos at the Crow Glacier lookout, from the Icefields Parkway
- Complete a challenging day hike for views of the Saskatchewan Glacier (north end of Banff National Park), or the Robertson Glacier (Peter Lougheed Provincial Park)
- Hike to the Peyto Lake viewpoint to see the glacier and lake all at once.
4. Mountain Hot Springs
The Rocky Mountain hot springs in Alberta provide the ultimate way to unwind and relax any time of year, and both are situated within incredible scenery. The Miette Hot Springs in Jasper is a popular place for the hot springs, but also the hiking trails which begin here, the abandoned hot springs area, and the wildlife. The Banff Upper Hot Springs are located high above the town, and give you sweeping views of the valley and mountains. It is an inexpensive and unique experience great for all ages, at only $5-$10 per person. The pools reach around 40 degrees-C with the water rich in natural minerals.
- Banff Upper Hot Springs (year-round; 1 Mountain Ave, Banff)
- Miette Hot Springs (May 6-September 6; end of Miette Road, Jasper)
5. Badlands & Dinosaur Provincial Park
Exploring Alberta’s badlands can be as easy as a stop on a roadtrip, or you can book a stay at Dinosaur Provincial Park, and get deep into dinosaur education. The Provincial Park has a day-use area for those shorter on time, as well as a short Fossil Trail complete with interpretive signage and geological information. This is also where you can find the Visitor Centre with indoor exhibits and dining. The area is on the banks of the Red Deer River and is still an active paleontology research facility. For amazing badland views in the area, follow the loop Badlands Trail up the small hills. Summers are busy here with bus tours, dig workshops, and guided hikes offered by the park. Details
- Places to See Badlands and Hoodoos in Alberta
- 5 Scenic Lookouts to Enjoy Sweeping Views of Alberta’s Badlands
The Red Rock Coulee Natural Area is an excellent daytrip location near Medicine Hat, and offers picnic space with a view. You can explore the natural formations left behind by an old river, as well as the colourful and unique foliage next to the paths: cacti, shrubs, wildflowers, and more. The area has a few picnic tables spread throughout and you can keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like deer, lizards, or even snakes.
When: year-round
Where: via AB-887, near Orion
6. George Pegg Botanic Garden
There are many gardens you can visit in Alberta, but George Pegg Botanic Garden is dedicated to those plants that are native to Alberta. You can enjoy a colourful picnic among the gardens, rent the space for a large event, or attend one of their spring/summer dining events like Tea Parties or farm-to-table offers. The Centre is a short drive north of Wabamun Lake and Edmonton and is easily accessed off Highway 43 near Glenivis.
When: April-September
Where: 2.5 km north of Glenevis, Alberta, off Highway 43
How much: by donation
7. Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
As one of Alberta’s southern-most Provincial Parks, Writing-on-Stone offers incredibly unique landscapes and views via the area’s badlands and hoodoos (the Visitor Centre trail is the easiest way to see the hoodoos). You and your family can explore all the best parts of the park with camping, interpretive trails, guided tours, and summer events.
When: year-round
Where: end of Range Road 130A, via AB-500
How much: day-use area is free
8. Red Rock Canyon in Waterton
The bright and beautiful Red Rock Canyon is within the just-as-scenic Waterton Lakes National Park, and is something you can explore with short or long hikes. You’ll find the small canyon at the end of the aptly named Red Rock Parkway, also home to several other hikes. The canyon has a small creek running through it, and on a bright and sunny day, you’ll see various shades of red which layer the rocks.
When: year-round
Where: Red Rock Parkway, Waterton Lakes
9. Okotoks Erratic
The Okotoks Erratic, or ‘Big Rock,’ is a result of glacial movement from 10 000 to 30 000 years ago! A visit here will have you imagining southern Alberta in a totally different view. A glacial erratic is a rock that was transported by a moving and long-ago-melted glacier. In Okotoks, you can take in one of the larger of these formations at the Big Rock site about 10-minutes outside of town. This is a popular stop for people heading west to the mountains, or out on a family daytrip.
When: year-round
Where: AB-7, Black Diamond
How much: free
10. Athabasca Sand dunes
The famous Athabasca Sand Dunes in northern Alberta are in a remote part of the province; so as incredible to look at as they are, it can be difficult to appreciate this natural oddity. Luckily, McMurray Aviation, based in Fort McMurray, can get you incredible views of the sand dunes by airplane! These sightseeing tours are one of the most unique of their kind in Alberta. Their trips can also tour the urban areas of Fort McMurray or can take you over the Whitemud Falls.
11. Birds of Alberta
Alberta’s many lakes, big or small, are important to hundreds of species of birds- many of which are migratory and only live here for part of the year. Depending on where you go, and your timing, you can spot loons (you’ll definitely hear loons), ducks of all kinds, blue herons, swans, the lovely geese, hawks and eagles, owls, and more.
- Introduce kids to all sorts of bird species on a trip to the Lesser Slave Lake Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation (year-round; Hwy 88 Connector, Slave Lake)
- Join the Beaverhill Birding Centre for a nature walk and bird banding(April-November; Township Rd 510, Tofield)
- Walk around Frank Lake to view hundreds of ducks at a time.
- Visit the biggest birds of Alberta at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre (May-October; 124 16th Ave in Coaldale)
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12. Alberta Rivers
The large and small rivers running through Alberta played a huge part in the development of the province and its history on a whole! These were the original trade, travel, and transportation routes of Alberta, and continue to provide us with recreational fun all year long. In the warmer months, we can take jetboats, kayaks, canoes, and sometimes inflatables on these waters and explore different scenery and wildlife from a variety of shorelines. If you need a little assistance, these tours can safely guide you along most Alberta rivers.
- Float the Pembina with Pembina River Tubing
- Explore the Sturgeon with Rural River Adventures
- Tour the North Saskatchewan River on Edmonton Riverboat
- Float Trip on Bow River With Rocky Mountain Raft Tours
- Book the ultimate river tour and camping trip on the Athabasca with Grand Rapids
- Explore Upper Red Deer with Hunter Valley Adventures and Red Deer River with Red Deer Adventures
13. Boreal Forests
Almost half of Alberta is made up of Boreal Forests. The line of the great forest begins roughly around Grande Prairie (west), Lesser Slave Lake (central), and Cold Lake (east). From these northern areas, the boreal forest only gets lusher and dense, with Wood Buffalo National Park being a huge source of the forest’s protection; so huge that Wood Buffalo is Canada’s largest National Park, and one of the largest in the entire world. Many Provincial Parks, Recreation Areas, and Wildlands, also help protect the forest.
- Show up for a guided free experience through Wood Buffalo National Park and learn about language, nature, and culture.
- Beaver Lake PRA (year-round, Lac La Biche) is at the forest’s southern edge with boating, swimming, fishing, and camping
- Smoke Lake PRA is in a northwestern forest with the trees encompassing the lake which is popular for boating and fishing (May 18-September 30; 15-minutes south of Fox Creek)
- Lakeland Provincial Park (year-round; east of Lac La Biche) is one of the large protected boreal areas in northern Alberta where the best way to see the forest is via the Lakeland Canoe circuit or the ATV trails
- Hilliard’s Bay, (fMay-September; on the northwest corner of Less Slave Lake, is a quiet camping and picnic area surrounded by boreal forest, and all the recreation offered by the large lake.