Banff National Park
In the 1880s, the Canadian Pacific Railway was in Alberta conquering the great Rocky Mountains when three workers encountered a cave filled with hot springs. Though they were not the first to discover the hot springs, they became the first to attempt to utilise them for commercial use. Their first thought was to turn the area into a bathing resort, which were quite popular with the upper classes during the Victorian era. The workers dream of instant wealth was dashed within two years. The Government of Canada had decided that the area of the hot springs was to be set aside for the public - all Canadians. The first national park of Canada, Banff National Park, was born around the minerals springs of the new townsite called Banff. (Often misspelled as "Banf").
Located in southwest Alberta on the eastern slope of the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is a 6,641 sq. km (2,564 sq. miles) of forests, valleys, mountains, glaciers, rivers, and meadows. Banff National Park and the town of Banff are one of Canada's top year round vacation destinations. The township of Banff is a top-notch vacation resort town with world-class dining and all the amenities of site-seeing, shopping, and recreational opportunities.
The Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada commemorates the spot that the railway workers discovered. Interactive displays and exhibits at the site detail the discovery, history, and growth of the park. Visitors can see the mineral springs inside the cave and the emerald coloured basin outside the cave. Also at the site are hiking trails, self-guided tours, and the "Bathhouse Theatre"featuring the video "Steam, Schemes and National Dreams". The movie chronicles the evolution of the Canadian National Park System.
There are two ski areas in Banff National Park - Lake Louise and Sunshine Village. Lake Louise is a popular destination within Banff National Park. The Stoney Indians called it "The Lake of the Little Fishes". In 1884, it was dubbed Lake Louise after Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. Lake Louise offers an incredible and widely recognised view of the mountains from the lakeshore. Beyond Lake Louise, trails and roads through and past glaciers and icefields in the park offer unsurpassed scenic views.
What began is a resort bathing spa for the upper classes has evolved in over a century into a vestige of wilderness, a haven from the encroaching civilisation and perpetual westward settlement. The first and now one of 40 national parks in Canada, which administers the largest park system in the world, Banff National Park is a place where the natural beauty of majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and crisp white glaciers still exists for the people of today and for future generations to enjoy. Banff National Park is open year round. The Banff Information Centre is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. The Lake Louise Information Centre is closed on Christmas.
Calgary Exhibition & Stampede
It's billed as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth"- the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede, more commonly referred to as the Calgary Stampede. The Calgary Stampede is one of Canada's largest annual events and is considered the world's biggest outdoor rodeo. The Stampede features rodeo competitions, agricultural exhibitions and competitions, concerts and stage shows, a midway, chuckwagon races and much more. The Calgary Stampede is held for ten days in July. The event draws in nearly one and a quarter million participants and spectators to southwest Alberta each year.
In 1884, the Agricultural Society was formed in Calgary. In 1886, the Calgary Exhibition was first held. In 1912, American trick roper, Guy Weadick launched the Calgary Stampede in order to host a world-class rodeo and Wild West show. Later, the two events were combined and have been together ever since.
The Stampede opens with the Stampede Parade, one of the oldest traditions of the Stampede, attended by hundreds of thousands and watched on television by millions. Led by the Stampede Showband, the parade route travels 4.5 km through downtown Calgary. With a proud tradition, the Stampede brings locals and visitors out in western attire during the time of the Stampede. Locals businesses often decorate their stores with western motifs as well.
The Stampede Grounds are located southeast of downtown Calgary. Buildings at the site include the hockey arena (Pengrowth Saddledome), the convention and exhibition centre (Round-Up Centre), the Stampede Casino, the racetrack/grandstand, the agricultural building, and more.
West Edmonton Mall
The world's largest entertainment and shopping centre is the Wrest Edmonton Mall, located in Edmonton, Alberta. The mall contains over 800 retail stores and services, over 100 eating establishments, and nine top-notch attractions including a water park, an amusement park, an NHL-sized ice arena, and more. The West Edmonton Mall is Alberta's top tourist attraction.
The West Edmonton Mall is more than a shopping mall - it is an adventure for the whole family. Three theme streets at the mall offer shopping and dining "around the world"with Bourbon Street featuring the flavour of New Orleans, Europa Boulevard fashioned after a blend of European streets, or Chinatown modelled after an authentic Chinese marketplace. The mall also features an artistic side with the decorations of water fountains, aquariums, a Chinese pagoda and dynasty Chinese vases, and a half dozen bronze sculptures. The mall contains 21 movie theatres, a bingo hall, chapel, and a dinner theatre in its 5.3 million sq. ft of space.
Within the West Edmonton Mall, the Galaxyland Amusement Park is the world's largest indoor amusement park at 37,160 sq. metres (400,000 sq. ft.). The park features 25 rides and attractions, 18 wall games of skill, the "Mindbender", a 14-story tall, triple loop rollercoaster, the "Space Shot" - a 120-ft launch in under two seconds with negative Gs on the way down, "Galaxy Kids" a space-themed, 4-story play park, and "Cosmo's Party Launch Pad" a three-tiered rental party complex.
West Edmonton Mall's Ice Palace is the second home to the Edmonton Oilers NHL team. The official NHL-size ice arena offers a figure skating club and a senior skating club. The world's largest indoor wave pool is at the World Waterpark - a two-hectare (5-acre) park that offers 23 slides and attractions, private meeting areas, whirlpools, an indoor bungy jump, a raging rapids inner-tube ride, and a family tube slide, and more. The Deep Sea Adventure features the hand carved and hand painted Santa Maria Ship - an exact replica of Christopher Columbus' ship. The Santa Maria - available for weddings, receptions, and other events - resides in a lake 122 m. (400 ft) long and up to 6 m. (20 ft) deep. The coral in the lake is real - some of it is over 2,000 years old.
The West Edmonton Mall is open year round every day, with special hours on Statutory Holidays, Sundays, and regular holidays. Easter Sunday and Christmas are optional opening days for each business.
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