Get ideas for your trip with vacations from Calgary
Calgary offers an array of attractions and landmarks, but it’s nice to travel away from the city and enjoy relaxation in nature sometimes. Calgary is surrounded by beautiful lake areas, alpine town, dense wilderness, provincial parks, and towering peaks to explore on a trip. You could venture to parklands for hiking and climbing, stay on the lakefront for watersports and sunsets over the water, or explore charming towns with local restaurants and shopping. No matter how you want to spend your break away from the city, there’s no shortage of options in destinations around Calgary. Plan your trip with inspiration for vacations from Calgary.
Lake Louise for skiing and snowboarding
Only a few hours from Calgary by car, Lake Louise is one of the most popular destinations for outdoor fun in all seasons. The emerald-green lake is surrounded by rugged peaks and glaciers that host ski resorts in winter and hiking trails and climbing in summer. You’ll have numerous opportunities for outdoor adventure, including dog sledding, sleigh rides, paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing. In town, you’ll find charming shops and restaurants.
Sylvan Lake for family beach fun
If you want fun in the outdoors, Sylvan Lake is a great destination for adventure. You can drive from Calgary to Sylvan Lake to enjoy all the fun of Sylvan Lake Provincial Park & Jarvis Bay Provincial Park, such as swimming, beach games, waterskiing, windsurfing, and boating. The lake is also popular for canoeing and kayaking, and you’ll find plenty of excellent fishing spots. In winter, you can try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, skiing, and ice skating.
Emerald Lake for lake adventures
Located in Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake is a stunning lake that’s named for its vibrant green hue. In winter and spring, the high-elevation lake is frozen from November to June but thaws in summer for watersports. You’ll have a lot of woodlands to explore around the lake, including the President Range and Wapta Mountain. The area is teeming with wildlife, including birds of prey, marmots, squirrels, and moose.
Lacombe for family attractions
Lacombe is a charming city with historic appeal and plenty of family-friendly attractions. You’ll find many fascinating museums, such as the Michener House Museum & Archives and the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum, for kids to learn about local history. Kids will also like the Kraay Family Farm, a working farm with livestock exhibits and animal encounters. You could also visit Lacombe Lake, a beautiful lake area for watersports and hiking.
Banff for outdoor adventure
Banff is a resort town within Banff National Park that’s an ideal base camp for exploring the region. You’ll find many summit hikes in the Canadian Rockies in the park, including the trails to Mt. Cascade. The wilderness is popular for wildlife sightings, including elk, deer, and grizzly bears. If you prefer to stay in town, you’ll find charming alpine attractions like souvenir shops, high-end boutiques, and delicious restaurants.
Jasper for hiking and biking
Jasper is a charming alpine town near Jasper National Park that offers glacier-fed lakes, snow-capped peaks, dense forests, and roaring rivers to explore. Along with hiking, fishing, boating, and mountain biking, you can take the Jasper SkyTram to the summit of Whistlers Mountain to see views of the town or tour the Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives to learn about the region’s unique history.
Medicine Lake for a unique experience
Located in Jasper National Park, Medicine Lake is an incredible lake with shallow waters. The lake has a unique feature in that it disappears with the seasons. In spring and summer, Medicine Lake is a beautiful lake area for scenic views and watersports, but in fall, the water drains and you can see the lake bottom. You could also hike around the lake to explore the dense wilderness.
Canmore for fun with the kids
Canmore is a former coal-mining town that’s home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. Located in the Canadian Rockies, Canmore is home to incredible summits like Ha Ling Peak and Three Sisters. You could spend time hiking in Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park to see waterfalls and blue lakes. In winter, the park is popular for cross-country skiing and fatbiking. You could also visit the Grotto Canyon to explore caves and see the sweeping landscape views from various lookout points.