The Adventure

Despite having lived in Alberta for several years and having family there, it had been several years since my family had ventured west to visit. This was finally remedied this Christmas when, seeing that flight prices were not as ridiculously high as they usually are during the holiday season, we booked a trip for the last week of December. Our flights were for Christmas Day, but because we left first thing in the morning and because of the time difference between there and Ontario, we had a full day of holiday ahead of us when we arrived. We stayed with family just southwest of Calgary, spending the first day relatively relaxed before embarking on some adventures over the next few days. But even staying at home was nice, as the proximity to the mountains made for some beautiful views just out the back window. On the first day, we hung out, sledded (and had a brief medical emergency), then settled down in the evening to play board games. The following day was also pretty chill, just hanging around and trying to stay warm from the freezing temperatures outdoors.

It was on the third day, December 27th, that we embarked on our first real adventure. Our destination was Drumheller, a couple of hours away, and its famous Royal Tyrell Museum, known for its dinosaurs. We spent much of the early afternoon at the museum, with just a quick stop on the way to look at a canyon. However, the fog and freezing temperatures made it difficult to spend more than a couple of minutes at the canyon. The inside of the museum, out of the cold, became very appealing. We worked our way through the whole museum, which takes you through the prehistoric ages roughly chronologically, and the animal life, focused on dinosaurs, during those periods. Some sections focus on bug or mammal life, for example, such as mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers, but the dinosaur fossils draw the most attention. The sheer scale of some of them is tremendous.

The Drumheller area is also known for some of its unique landscapes, which was a priority of mine to see while in the area. When we were done at the museum, we drove to a point that was supposed to be good for seeing these land formations called hoodoos. They are a bit hard to describe, but are essentially tall pillars of stone formed naturally through processes like erosion. It is quite a unique sight, especially compared to what Canada is usually known for. Though covered in snow this time of year, the area is pretty much the closest thing that Canada has to a desert. The hoodoos would attract more visitors during the summer, when the outside is not an unsafe temperature. Nonetheless, I braved the cold for a while to walk around the hoodoos and take them in. After this, we returned home to the warmth of the indoors.

Our fourth day brought us to Banff, right in the mountains. Even the drive there was impressive, as we drew nearer and nearer to the snowy peaks and witnessed their grandeur rising up on either side of the road. We passed through small towns on the way and realized how unreal it must be to wake up every day with a mountain on your doorstep. For us from eastern Canada, this was a very exciting day trip. When we got to Banff, we spent a bit of time exploring the town, walking its streets and poking into stores. Though a small town, it was quite impressive and beautiful with the mountains as its backdrop. We grabbed lunch and headed to the famous Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, where we split into a group of those who wanted to hike in the area and those who preferred the warmth inside the castle-like hotel. I went with the hiking group, where we took snowy paths through the woods to scenic views of the mountains and river. It was still a bit chilly, but thankfully not as bitterly cold as the past days had been. Thankfully, after the hike, I did get a bit of time to walk around the interior of the expansive hotel. The whole hotel is beautiful, taking you back in time with intricate details and decor. Finally, we left the mountains, taking them in as much as we could out of the van window on the return journey.

On our last full day in Alberta, we left our extended family and ventured into the big city of Calgary. This was very different from the wilderness of the mountains the day prior, but still a very cool trip. Contrasting the small town of Banff and its surroundings, Calgary is a centre of urban life, full of tall buildings, large sculptures, some history, and a fast-paced population. I went out on my own to explore the city, while the rest of my family caught up with old friends. With tips from my father and Google Maps, I walked around the whole city for several hours, taking in sights like the Peace Bridge, Chinatown, the Calgary Tower, a skyline view, and Stephen Avenue. My family eventually joined me, and we explored a bit more before heading off for dinner with some more extended family. We stayed at a hotel overnight and left the next morning from the Calgary Airport, concluding our Christmas vacation in Alberta.

Highlight

For myself, the highlight of the trip was definitely Banff. I am quite fond of mountains, so being anywhere near them is very exciting. Being right there in the mountains is, of course, even better. As a fan of hiking as well, I was thrilled that the weather was at least a bit better so that we could walk around a bit and take in the views. The short walk we did was definitely my favourite moment, but even being at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel or in the town of Banff was so fun, being so close to the mountains. I enjoyed every day we spent in Alberta, but spending time in its nature was the best part.

Concluding Thoughts

From the city of Calgary to the Rocky Mountains, the journey contained so many diverse experiences. It even feels weird to lump them all into one blog. The province of Alberta is maybe one of the most geographically diverse in Canada, and each day of this trip felt like a different adventure. I would definitely recommend coming to Alberta, because there are so many different things to do. If you prefer the big city, definitely visit Calgary and take in its massive landmarks, modern art and architecture. If you prefer the wilderness, go hiking in the Rocky Mountains. Even if you are drawn to the desert, Alberta has Drumheller! My only recommendation would be to wait until the summer to visit. But if you must visit during the winter, the malls, restaurants and cafes in Calgary are a cozy place to stay. Or walk through the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller and take in millions of years of natural history, safe from the cold. Whatever you do, I would recommend a trip to any of the places I was fortunate enough to see this past Christmas.