"Where Sheepish Bison Lay Elk Island National Park, just over 20 miles east of the provincial capital of Edmonton, is one of the few fully fenced national parks in Canada, and home to large populations of elk, moose, deer, coyote, beaver, pelicans, cormorants, herons, as well as plains and wood bison. But make no mistake; this is no zoo. Elk Island is big, and the animals have an incredible amount of space to roam. The fences only exist to keep the purebred populations of bison from mating with frisky local cattle. Someone has to help the Longhorns keep to themselves. Traditional plains and prairie plateau species have been reintroduced to the park through the years, and today Elk Island boasts more than 600 elk, 500 deer, 300 moose, and nearly 500 bison, which makes big animal sightings a common occurrence even for visitors with a short amount of time to spend in the park. Elk Island features numerous recreational locations, including lakes, grassland, boreal forest, and more, providing plenty of opportunities for hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, camping, and even golfing. Many of the animals in the park are used to the presence of humans, and don’t mind posing for photographs - while others are shy, and like to keep to themselves. No matter how friendly these big, beautiful beasts may seem, keep in mind that they're wild, and always will be. Stay back, and zoom in. [Flash traveled to Alberta courtesy of Travel Alberta.]"

"Browse the Farmers' Market The philosophy of the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market—"We Make it! We Bake it! We Grow it! We Sell it!"—has made this a popular stop on Saturdays in Edmonton for nearly 30 years. With approximately 300 vendors spread through 185 stalls, shoppers are sure to stock up on locally produced foods and handmade products."

"Feast Your Eyes at the Art Gallery of Alberta Sprawled over three floors, the recently renovated Art Gallery of Alberta—the oldest cultural institution in the province—maintains a collection that exceeds 6,000 objects. Welcoming and diverse, the AGA houses works from a variety of eras using a plethora of media and attracts top-tier touring exhibits."

"National Park Pilsner Opened in 2005, the Jasper Brewing Company was the first brewpub within a Canadian national park. It is now a local’s staple hangout. Seven different beers—like the Rockhopper IPA and Honey Bear Ale—are brewed on location, so make sure to order a brewery tour along with a fresh pint. The food menu is pub fare with a special flare to help bring out the flavors of the beer. The brewpub, open daily from 11:30am to 1:00am, is child-friendly, too, as the venue is divided into two, with both a restaurant and pub. Beer from $5.50. Contact 1-780-852-4111."

"Enter the Matrix and the Onyx Suite The Matrix Hotel, located just off Jasper Avenue, is smack-dab in the middle of downtown Edmonton, and there is no better place to stay than its Onyx Suite. The design of the hotel—stylish and modern—suits any style of traveler and most rooms have wide balconies that overlook the city. But only the Onyx Suite has a sprawling walk-out terrace with built-in barbecue, fireplace, and seating for hosting an impromptu rooftop cocktail hour. It’s all within easy walking distance of the Edmonton City Centre mall and countless other shops, plus it’s close to the city’s best nightlife when the occasion calls for a night on the town. Rooms from $195. Contact 1-780-429-2861."

"It takes patience and good fortune to create a unique image in a place considered Canada’s second-most-photographed landscape. The Through the Lens Cruise on Maligne Lake gives amateur and professional shutterbugs such an opportunity. While in the boat, the onboard instructor talks technique and composition with aspiring photographers and challenges seasoned veterans to try new perspectives. Once the group arrives at Spirit Island, everyone spends an hour framing the perfect shot. The cruise experience hasn’t changed much since Jasper National Park pioneers Curly Philips and Fred Brewster set up shop at Maligne Lake in the 1920s."

"Take a Walk on a Glacier A fun stop if you're driving the Icefields Parkway through the Canadian Rockies. You join a group and climb aboard these huge custom-made vehicles (the wheels alone are probably six feet tall) that take you up onto a glacier. You get great views and you can scoop up glacier water to drink. It's not strenuous—you just get out and walk around on the snow and ice for a while—but it is cold and windy. It gives you an appreciation of the landscape-shaping power of glaciers. And of ginormous truck-transporter-vehicle things."

"Soaking at the Deer Lodge Whether it’s after a long summer hike or a winter day on the ski slopes, there is no better place to relax than the Deer Lodge rooftop hot tub. It has a clear view of the Victoria Glacier across Lake Louise. The hotel is gorgeous in a rustic way. It's built of hand-hewn logs, and the rooms are decorated in a way best described as old-world grandeur. There are no TVs, but it isn’t totally disconnected. There is Wi-Fi. The Deer Lodge restaurant, named the Mount Fairview Dining Room, brings past Canadian Rockies staples to a modern menu. Don’t miss the opportunity to try the Rocky Mountain Charcuterie Platter, which has air-dried buffalo, pepper duck breast, wild game pate, and elk salami."

"Canada's Best Kept Ski Secret Most people travel to Canada in the winter to ski the famous big resorts like Whistler and Lake Louise. But 20 minutes from downtown Banff is a little "hill"—as the Canadians like to call their mountains—called Sunshine Village. The resort, located on the continental divide of the Canadian Rockies, spans more than 3,300 acres and has three mountains to explore. I visited in mid-March (locals say March conditions are often best) and we had perfect powder. The resort stays open through late May for those looking to extend their ski season. The ski-in, ski-out Sunshine Mountain Lodge is a perfect base for those who want to get first chair in the morning. Rooms have great views of the surrounding mountains and loft-style rooms with Murphy beds are perfect for couples or families. I liked the lodge's unique offerings such as hot tub bingo night and new yoga and ski retreats. The mountain has terrain for all levels. Serious skiers and riders will want to go off-piste and experience Delirium Dive. A check-in gate ensures skiers and riders are equipped with a beacon and safety gear before they tackle the Dive. On Lookout Mountain, you're likely to find powder stashes on some of the steep tree runs such as Little Angel, and Horot's Revenge. And don't miss the frozen waterfall on the way down the Waterfall run off the Wawa chair."

"Banff from Above This is another fun adventure that's not strenuous in Banff. Take a gondola up Mt. Sulphur. That building in the photo is where the gondola comes in. Then you can walk along a boardwalk up to the summit, from where you have panoramic views of the peaks and a view down at the town of Banff and the Bow River. There's an old weather station at the summit that's been preserved as it was back in the day. We also saw a hoary marmot. After you take the gondola back down, you can go for a soak in the pool fed by hot springs just down the road. I dare you to rent one of the old-timey bathing suits. Oh, and I recommend you bring your own towel. The ones you pay for at the pool are tiny."

"A Trio of Trendsetters Under One Roof While it isn’t uncommon for a hotel, a restaurant and a bar to live under the same roof, it's rather unprecedented that all three are both award winning and local favourites. Contemporary décor and chic styling define Hotel Arts, a designer boutique-style property just steps from the centre of the city. Each suite has a stunning view, whether it’s our across the city skyline or simply high above the outdoor swimming pool and bar. Yellowtail restaurant – known for Calgary’s Best Brunch Buffet - stunning décor matches the contemporary twist dished out on chef Duncan Ly’s bistro-inspired menu. And finally, Raw Bar, pulls in the trifecta, as it’s known for its delicious Vietmodern cuisine, tasty desserts by the resident pastry chef, and creative cocktails that flow until the early hours."

"Calgary Itinerary Stephen Avenue, located downtown, features some delicious restaurants, bars, and unique shopping experiences for the cowboy/cowgirl in all of us. Even I, hesitantly, admitted to being attracted to at least one pair of cowboy boots with matching hat. Here are some top sites and restaurants to visit while in the flatlands of Alberta . -Take in the views from the Calgary Tower fitted with a glass bottom to replicate a Canadian version of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. -Stephen Avenue walk, stopping at Divino Wine Bar and the unique shops for a memorable souvenir. -Eat at Rouge Restaurant, named one of the best restaurants in the world by S. Pellegrino and located at the heritage home of famed Albertan A.E. Cross who was one of the founders of the Calgary Stampede. -Visit the Calgary Stampede that lasts 10 days during the first two weeks of July. Big names in music and rodeo events prove to be one of Canada 's largest and most popular events."

"For Tales of Mines and Men Alberta has the interactive museum down to a science. The Atlas Coal Mine, in once rough and tumble Drumheller, the center of both dinosaur discovery and mineral wealth, is an important National Historic Site as one of the few remaining coal mines in a region formerly home to more than 160 black nugget outfits. Atlas, built in 1936 and open until 1984, is now a museum open to the public, but retains the authentic air of a bustling coal mine, with dedicated guides, like program director Jay (pictured here), who enrich the experience with personal tales of family and friends who worked in the mines once upon a time. Strap on a helmet, fire up a torch (visitors are given modern helmet-mounted lights, but Jay will spark a traditional chemical fire if you ask him to), and climb into the 210-foot conveyor tunnel for a hands-on tour you're not likely to forget. Atlas offers numerous tours and interactive programs; details can be found on their website. [Flash traveled to Alberta courtesy of Travel Alberta.]"

"For the Rhythm of Cowboy Poetry The Bar U Ranch had a hand (and a hoof, and a horseshoe) in shaping life in Western Canada , and today is preserved as a national historic site packed with interactive exhibits, immersive educational programs, and more. If you're lucky, your visit may coincide with the famed Bar U Chuckwagon Cook-Off (annual, first weekend in June), and you and your posse will get a chance to taste a bit of the Wild West. And don't forget to actually enter the historic buildings (they're not just for show), many of which are manned by period players fully dedicated to bringing the Bar U Experience to life. What looks, feels, and smells like a leather shop is actually the domain of the Bar U's poet cowboy, and if you're lucky, and if you're polite, he might just recite one of his original elegies for you and your crew. [Flash traveled to Alberta courtesy of Travel Alberta.]"

"For Icons and Imagination Banff and Jasper are top of mind when it comes to Alberta 's Great Outdoors. Travelers flock to Moraine Lake by the busload for postcard-perfect snaps and zip through the province's northern parks on the trail of grizzlies, elk, and moose. Waterton Lakes manages to fly just far enough under the radar that it never feels crowded or bustling, even on a wild Canada Day long weekend, which makes it a wonderful alternative for the "been there, done that" crowd. For an iconic view of Waterton Village and Upper Waterton Lake, test your mettle against the Bear's Hump, a mile-long trek that begins at the Waterton Visitor Resource Center. The trail opens to a grand rocky plateau atop what was once called Bear Mountain by the Blackfoot people. Begin your trek early in the morning or late in the afternoon to have the mountain to yourself, but be warned that the wind atop the Hump can be ferocious. Knock your hat off and dump you off the mountain ferocious. Still, the views of Waterton Valley and Mount Cleveland are worth the challenge. [Flash traveled to Alberta courtesy of Travel Alberta.]"