Visitor Attractions in Alberta's South
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Alberta's South, Alberta.
Southern Alberta is an expansive and varied region, bound by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east and by the state of Montana in the United States to the south. Two large cities are situated in the region, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, with other towns such as Pincher Creek, Drumheller and Brooks being popular destinations.
One of Canada’s most unique destinations, the region is full of juxtapose. Its small close-knit communities and cities are home to diverse populations, boundless prairie landscapes meet some of the Rockies' most dramatic peaks, and an ancient prehistory is housed within modern amenities. All of these aspects make Alberta's South an exciting destination where sights and attractions and adventure awaits anyone looking for an extraordinary vacation.
NATURAL BEAUTY
The landscapes of the region are unrivalled both in their beauty and diversity. Alberta's Rockies roll into gentle foothills and smooth out to vast grasslands, which hide away eroded canyons, coulees and ravines in the east. The bright blue skies are generally clear and sunny, especially during the long summer days.
Natural features of the region—including mountains, bodies of water, caves, cliffs and canyons—are found throughout the area and many are preserved in national and provincial parks. Visitors from the west may start their journey in the spectacular Waterton Lakes National Park, joined with Montana’s Glacier National Park to form the first International Peace Park. This protected area is a outdoor enthusiast's paradise with splendid peaks and plenty of opportunity for hiking, boating and horseback riding.
A unique experience, and one that is hidden in the depths, can be found in Crowsnest Pass. The Yorkshire Pot is the deepest and second longest cave system in Canada, making it an exceptional experience for novices and experienced spelunkers.
ANCIENT PREHISTORY
Millions of years ago southern Alberta was a tropical paradise filled with prehistoric creatures—ferocious dinosaurs, early birds and small mammals. All of these animals have left their footprints on the ancient sandstone rock beds, now exposed by eons of erosion. Some of these sandstones structures stand tall, as outcropping pillars of rock called hoodoos. The ancient Blackfoot and Cree people that inhabited this region regarded them as sentinels standing watch over the land and respected them as such. The best place to view these unique formations is at the Hoodoo Site, just south of Drumheller on the Hoodoo Trail (Highway 10).
Today adults and children can visit the ancient grounds to reach back into the deep past—climbing the sandstone formations in stunning Horseshoe Canyon, searching for fossils in Dinosaur Provincial Park, and seeing ancient animals come alive at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
Horseshoe Canyon has been carved into the land by strong winds and winding rivers. Visitors can stand on the brink of this formation for awe inspiring views of the landscape and can even hike down into the canyons for a closer look. At Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 50 km (30 mi) from Brooks, visitors can watch palaeontologists dig up fossil skeletons from the ancient grounds. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a world class museum, famous for its magnificent fossil displays, educational programs, and cutting-edge research. It is open year round and amenities such as free parking, a cafeteria, playground and picnic area make for fun and easy outings for families.
HUMAN HISTORY
Visitors can be transported back in time hundreds and thousands of years at one of the provinces many historic sites and interpretive centres, museums, memorials and monuments. First Nations people settled the Alberta plains for thousands of years and their history can be witnessed through the discovery of archeological sites and a rich tradition of storytelling. The history of aboriginals as well as the first European explorers is told at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump near Fort Mcleod.
After farmers settled the area, entrepreneurs discovered that Alberta was rich with natural resources and coal mining became the province’s primary resource in the mid 1900s. Though many of these old coal mines are closed for commercial use, some are still open to visitors who are curious about the history of the industry. At the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, adventurers can travel through timbered tunnels, ride in the old coal cars and explore the deepest pits. Visitors to the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre can step back in time to a fateful night in 1903, when the town of Frank was rocked by a powerful rock avalanche, which covered and destroyed the town.
CONTEMPORARY ATTRACTIONS
A whimsical view of prairie culture can be found in a number of the region's ‘World’s Biggest’ monuments. The most imposing of these is surely the World's Largest Dinosaur, a 26-m (86-ft) tall Tyrannosaurus Rex in Drumheller. This ferocious creatures stands with its mouth open, a viewing point that visitors can climb up to for a fantastic view of the surrounding river valley. As much as dinosaur enthusiasts flock to Drumheller, science fiction enthusiasts converge on Vulcan, a small town whose claim to fame is the world’s largest replica of the Starship Enterprise from the famous television show, Star Trek.
There are also attractions in southern Alberta like no other place in the world. Perhaps the most unusual one is the Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington. It is a strange and fascinating take on the prairie’s most prolific creatures—gophers, which are also known as Richardson ground squirrels. These animals are stuffed and posed in anthropomorphic scenes of everyday prairie life. Another stirring experience is found in Stirling at the Stirling Haunted Mansion and Dungeon of Doom. This Georgian Mansion is reputed to be haunted and is full of surprises for believers and nonbelievers alike.
Family fun can also be had at one of the many wildlife centres, movie theatres, and amusement and theme parks sprinkled throughout the province’s south. Bird enthusiasts will be especially drawn to the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. This facility's primary objective is to rehabilitate injured birds, keep wetland habitats sustainable, and educate the public about the endemic wildlife of the region.
One of Canada’s most unique destinations, the region is full of juxtapose. Its small close-knit communities and cities are home to diverse populations, boundless prairie landscapes meet some of the Rockies' most dramatic peaks, and an ancient prehistory is housed within modern amenities. All of these aspects make Alberta's South an exciting destination where sights and attractions and adventure awaits anyone looking for an extraordinary vacation.
NATURAL BEAUTY
The landscapes of the region are unrivalled both in their beauty and diversity. Alberta's Rockies roll into gentle foothills and smooth out to vast grasslands, which hide away eroded canyons, coulees and ravines in the east. The bright blue skies are generally clear and sunny, especially during the long summer days.
Natural features of the region—including mountains, bodies of water, caves, cliffs and canyons—are found throughout the area and many are preserved in national and provincial parks. Visitors from the west may start their journey in the spectacular Waterton Lakes National Park, joined with Montana’s Glacier National Park to form the first International Peace Park. This protected area is a outdoor enthusiast's paradise with splendid peaks and plenty of opportunity for hiking, boating and horseback riding.
A unique experience, and one that is hidden in the depths, can be found in Crowsnest Pass. The Yorkshire Pot is the deepest and second longest cave system in Canada, making it an exceptional experience for novices and experienced spelunkers.
ANCIENT PREHISTORY
Millions of years ago southern Alberta was a tropical paradise filled with prehistoric creatures—ferocious dinosaurs, early birds and small mammals. All of these animals have left their footprints on the ancient sandstone rock beds, now exposed by eons of erosion. Some of these sandstones structures stand tall, as outcropping pillars of rock called hoodoos. The ancient Blackfoot and Cree people that inhabited this region regarded them as sentinels standing watch over the land and respected them as such. The best place to view these unique formations is at the Hoodoo Site, just south of Drumheller on the Hoodoo Trail (Highway 10).
Today adults and children can visit the ancient grounds to reach back into the deep past—climbing the sandstone formations in stunning Horseshoe Canyon, searching for fossils in Dinosaur Provincial Park, and seeing ancient animals come alive at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
Horseshoe Canyon has been carved into the land by strong winds and winding rivers. Visitors can stand on the brink of this formation for awe inspiring views of the landscape and can even hike down into the canyons for a closer look. At Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 50 km (30 mi) from Brooks, visitors can watch palaeontologists dig up fossil skeletons from the ancient grounds. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a world class museum, famous for its magnificent fossil displays, educational programs, and cutting-edge research. It is open year round and amenities such as free parking, a cafeteria, playground and picnic area make for fun and easy outings for families.
HUMAN HISTORY
Visitors can be transported back in time hundreds and thousands of years at one of the provinces many historic sites and interpretive centres, museums, memorials and monuments. First Nations people settled the Alberta plains for thousands of years and their history can be witnessed through the discovery of archeological sites and a rich tradition of storytelling. The history of aboriginals as well as the first European explorers is told at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump near Fort Mcleod.
After farmers settled the area, entrepreneurs discovered that Alberta was rich with natural resources and coal mining became the province’s primary resource in the mid 1900s. Though many of these old coal mines are closed for commercial use, some are still open to visitors who are curious about the history of the industry. At the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, adventurers can travel through timbered tunnels, ride in the old coal cars and explore the deepest pits. Visitors to the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre can step back in time to a fateful night in 1903, when the town of Frank was rocked by a powerful rock avalanche, which covered and destroyed the town.
CONTEMPORARY ATTRACTIONS
A whimsical view of prairie culture can be found in a number of the region's ‘World’s Biggest’ monuments. The most imposing of these is surely the World's Largest Dinosaur, a 26-m (86-ft) tall Tyrannosaurus Rex in Drumheller. This ferocious creatures stands with its mouth open, a viewing point that visitors can climb up to for a fantastic view of the surrounding river valley. As much as dinosaur enthusiasts flock to Drumheller, science fiction enthusiasts converge on Vulcan, a small town whose claim to fame is the world’s largest replica of the Starship Enterprise from the famous television show, Star Trek.
There are also attractions in southern Alberta like no other place in the world. Perhaps the most unusual one is the Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington. It is a strange and fascinating take on the prairie’s most prolific creatures—gophers, which are also known as Richardson ground squirrels. These animals are stuffed and posed in anthropomorphic scenes of everyday prairie life. Another stirring experience is found in Stirling at the Stirling Haunted Mansion and Dungeon of Doom. This Georgian Mansion is reputed to be haunted and is full of surprises for believers and nonbelievers alike.
Family fun can also be had at one of the many wildlife centres, movie theatres, and amusement and theme parks sprinkled throughout the province’s south. Bird enthusiasts will be especially drawn to the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. This facility's primary objective is to rehabilitate injured birds, keep wetland habitats sustainable, and educate the public about the endemic wildlife of the region.
Dinosaur Museum
Royal Tyrrell Museum
in Drumheller, AB - Only 90 minutes NE of Calgary in the heart of the Canadian Badlands!
Historic Site
Pet-friendly Rooms
Online Resource
Kids & Pets Stay Free
