15 Photos That Prove Alberta is Heaven on Earth
Alberta, Canada Travel Tips
Alberta has been on our travel bucket list for many years and in early September we finally had the opportunity to visit this part of Canada. Sandwiched in between British Columbia and Saskatchewan, Alberta is home to Banff and Jasper — two of Canada’s prettiest national parks.
I visited Jasper in the winter earlier this year, but I had to come back to see the infamous Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff and experience some warm-weather hiking in Jasper. September turned out to be the perfect time to visit. We avoided the summer crowds and we were lucky enough to see the fall colors changing!
Where to Stay in Banff National Park:
If you want to be near all the best attractions in Banff, we recommend staying three nights at Paradise Lodge & Bungalows in Lake Louise and at least two nights at either Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa or Fox Hotel & Suites right in downtown Banff.
Where to Stay in Jasper National Park:
Depending on your budget and travel style, we highly recommend the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and Pine Bungalows. Both hotels are within a short distance from the town of Jasper.
Not to Miss:
Calgary is the closest airport to Banff National Park. From here, you can rent a car and drive 1 hour and 30 minutes to downtown Banff. Highlights in this area include: Banff Gondola, Banff Hot Springs, Lake Minnewanka, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake.
From Lake Louise area, the drive to Jasper takes about 4 hours, but plan for plenty stops along the way! Highlights near Jasper include Maligne Canyon, Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, and Maligne Lake (Spirit Island).
After exploring Jasper, you can either drive back to Calgary (about 6 hours) or fly out of Edmonton airport, which is an easy 4 hour drive from the town of Jasper. We stayed in the brand new Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel, which is actually attached to the airport by a covered walkway. It’s the best place to stay if you have an early flight out of Edmonton!
Read More:
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Alberta, Canada: The 12 Most Beautiful Places to Visit
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As a proud Alberta, I agree these are stunning scenes. But don’t confine yourselves to the mountains. We have gorgeous, endless prairies, parkland, deserts, badlands, rivers and lakes, and northern sites, including Wood Buffalo National Park, which is amazing in the winter if you travel on the ice roads. Both Edmonton and Calgary have their urban charms, as do rural areas and small towns. Plus, no provincial sales tax!
Beautiful! I’ve been wanting to visit Alberta and Canada in general for a while now but these photos really do make it look like a slice of heaven.
Truly amazing. Love those pictures!!
Christy and Scott, that looks like a place that angels would live. I think if I could move somewhere such as there in 10 or 20 years, there is not much more I could ask out of life.
May I ask, what was the temperate and humidity like on average during your stay there? At some points you appear to be wearing very light clothing and at others heavy jackets, yet I assume this was all within a short period of time.
Thank you so much, Adam
The temperature ranged from about 30 F to 75 F while we were there. It’s the rockies, so it’s all over the place! 🙂
Beautiful pics and great nature! Yes, very true. Its definitely the heaven on earth.
Wow – definitely heaven on earth. These photos are stunning! I visited Canada for the first time this summer and loved it, but only went to BC. Would love to go back and explore as much of the country as possible. And Alberta is now definitely on my list. Thanks!
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