Trip to Fort Mcmurray, Edmonton, Calgary and Banff

[dsichewski]

Hey everyone! at the beginning of August I'm planning to take about an 11 day trip out to Alberta to visit the four listed cities above. I was just wondering if any of you have been out there and maybe could offer some tourest attractions to see? I'm going to see the oil sands(syncrude & suncore) in fort mcmurray, in edmonton I'm planning to visit the edmonton mall, banff i'm planning to do the hot springs, travel through the hiking trails and go on the athabascar(spelling) glacier... I haven't really set anything for calgary yet. If you have any suggestions on tourist places to see I would really appreciate it :) Thanks alot and have a great day!

David

[MattC]

calgary, depending on when it is, i can't remember... But the Calgary Stampede is a staple in the summer in calgary (it might be in July)

the saddle dome is a cool sight for the hockey fan too.

Drumheller dinosaur museum is really kickass.

While you are in Banff, maybe think about going white water rafting, you get come pretty crazy whitewater out there, the "Kicking Horse Pass" is a well known one.

[chinsterr]

fort mcmurray is kinda dry , i had some friends that worked at suncor for coop.

But i guess it would be an experience for you if you've never seen it before.

[IMHIP2]

calgary, depending on when it is, i can't remember... But the Calgary Stampede is a staple in the summer in calgary (it might be in July)

the saddle dome is a cool sight for the hockey fan too.

Drumheller dinosaur museum is really kickass.

While you are in Banff, maybe think about going white water rafting, you get come pretty crazy whitewater out there, the "Kicking Horse Pass" is a well known one.

Stampede is July, usually start the first Friday and runs for 10 days so you will miss it along with Klondike Days in Edmonton which is in mid July. Same as the CNE except smaller (although the Rodeo is what you go to the Stampede for)

Banff is nice but Lake Louise is a must see. It is about 50km outside of Banff but the Lake is beautiful. Moran Lake is also very picturesque and is about 10Km from Lake Louise. I would rather go there then Banff anyday but Banff has more action.

Radium Hot springs is another place to check out but its about 1.5 hrs from Banff and it takes you into BC.

Tyrell Museum in Drumheller is good as are the Hoo Doos (sp) but a bit out of the way from your travel plans.

Calgary Tower, Glenbow Museum, Heritige Park, and the rest of the tourist stuff in Calgary.

Having grown up in Calgary and having been to Edmonton a few times all I can say is there is absolutely nothing to see in Edmonton (the mall is just like any other mall but the amusment park is cool - spend 1 Day max). I would just skip Edmonton and take in Jasper instead after Fort McMurrey. Then do Jasper to Banff through the Mountains and finish off in Calgary.

I've never been to Fort McMurrey so I have no comment.

One thing you will find is everything in Alberta is about 1.5hrs from everywhere else in Alberta and the best thing to come out of Edmonton is Hwy 2 South.:chuckle

[dsichewski]

Wow Thanks everyone for the suggestions....I'm planning to do the tours of suncor and syncrude becasue I work with heavy equipment and might be looking for a job out there in the future so that was kinda of a must...in a sense. lol and I wanted to see the place in general...
I will definatly look into the above list mentioned for calgary,
I'm not sure i can venture too far from each city as i don't think i'll be getting a rental car, I was planning to get my hotels kinda of centered between all the things i was going to see and then just walk or take the bus kinda thing.

Thank you very much guys for the suggestions, I really appreciate them and look forward to hearing more if more things are thought of :)

[starwind]

About a dozen years ago I took a week-long trip to Bannf/Jasper. To cut costs we stayed at campgrounds (incl some with cabins, all with free hots showers and flush toilets; so not exactly roughing it; think KOA-type). We rented a car. Did a circle loop from Calgary (whcih we flew into) to Banff to Jasper, into BC a bit (Valemont), then to Edmonton then back down to Calgary.

Absolutely spectacular.

And having a car let us see some great things we would not have been able to see otherwise. $ saved on hotel could = enough for car rental + gas.

Not sure if you would be into the camping thing, but it may be something to think about...

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Are you driving?

[dsichewski]

About a dozen years ago I took a week-long trip to Bannf/Jasper. To cut costs we stayed at campgrounds (incl some with cabins, all with free hots showers and flush toilets; so not exactly roughing it; think KOA-type). We rented a car. Did a circle loop from Calgary (whcih we flew into) to Banff to Jasper, into BC a bit (Valemont), then to Edmonton then back down to Calgary.

Absolutely spectacular.

And having a car let us see some great things we would not have been able to see otherwise. $ saved on hotel could = enough for car rental + gas.

Hey starwind, well I'm a true camper, lol I go camping yr round, literally...unfortunatly I don't think I'm gonna go the camping route for this trip, I'd have to bring to much gear. lol That sounds like a great trip you had! I'm not sure I will or can rent a car out there becasue of my age...I've heard alot of ppl say you have to be 25+ to rent one...I was planning to centralize my hotels selectiopns kind of in the middle of everything I want to see in each city, that way I can walk or transit most of the way. I'm planning to go greyhound from city to city, actually is very reasonable pricing. I had thought about making a trip out to jasper or lake louise but I'm not sure how that will pan out yet but was something I thought i might try.



Not sure if you would be into the camping thing, but it may be something to think about...

Actually I was torn between going to alberta and visiting the 4 cities or going to bc and hiking the full west coast trail. Unfortunatly there were a few storms that swept through BC and have ruined parts of the trails, ladders got knocked down so now you can't climb from elevation to elevation. trees that were used as bridges got washed away. unfortunatly they haven't been able to fix it all yet and said they wern't sure when they could. So i decided I'd do alberta now and then mabye next yr or the yr after that I would do it.


Are you driving?

No Jeff I’m going to fly out there…..actually the sad part is if I could only have waited 2 weeks to do this trip Tiesto is playing in Alberta at the end of the month!!! *Bangs head against wall!!!!*

[dsichewski]

Less than 2 weeks away :D I can't wait!