Most people imagine Alberta as a land of towering mountains and turquoise lakes and while places like Banff and Jasper are among its greatest attractions, there’s a lot more to discover in this wonderfully diverse province. Here are three under-the-radar Alberta experiences which I think are well worth the detour.
Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park (Áísínai’pi)
Tucked away in Alberta’s southeast corner in the heart of Traditional Blackfoot Territory, you’ll find Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, or Áísínai’pi. The whimsical sandstone hoodoos that silently stand here as sentinels over the Milk River Valley look like they belong on another planet, but it’s not just the geology that will captivate you, it’s the writing on the stones that is the real attraction. The park protects one of the largest collections of Indigenous rock art in North America. As their website eloquently explains: “Special places like Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi are here for a reason. This is where significant things happened to the ancestors of the Blackfoot. This is where the ancient stories took place.” Walking among these ancient petroglyphs, you can’t help but feel a profound connection to the past.
https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/south/writing-on-stone-pp
Boldly go to the quirky town of Vulcan
The small prairie town of Vulcan, located midway between Lethbridge and Calgary, has embraced its coincidental Star Trek name with open arms and a healthy dose of humour. If you’re a Star Trek fan like me, you will be delighted to find a replica of the Starship Enterprise, a Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station with plenty of merch and an annual VulCON festival that celebrates all things sci-fi. But even if you’re not a Trekkie, Vulcan’s community spirit and offbeat attractions make it a delightful pit stop.
Step back in time at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
I might be biased as my Ukrainian grandfather first settled in Peace River, Alberta more than a century ago, but I was totally captivated when I visited the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, a living history museum located near Edmonton.
The museum features costumed interpreters and buildings that have been relocated from other parts of the province and restored here to showcase the lives of early Ukrainian settlers, a community that was instrumental in settling the Prairies. Among my favourite attractions, and one that is hard to miss, is a full-on grain elevator. These towering cathedrals of the Prairies were once a familiar sight, but are now slowly fading from view. What’s especially cool with this one is that you can walk inside to see how these elevators were used to store grain and load it into rail cars.
Unfortunately, the museum’s visitor centre was destroyed by fire in April of this year, but they plan to reopen as soon as possible, so check before you visit.
https://www.ukrainianvillage.ca
