It’s summer! We’ve been cooped up for far too long and we’re finally able to travel with some considerations in mind. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or maybe a week-long trip, we have some vacation areas in mind to bring our own families—so we thought we’d share them with you, too!
In Alberta
Alberta Beach
Driving time: 60 minutes
If you’re a born and raised Edmontonian, you’ve likely visited Alberta Beach once or twice. But just because you’ve been there before, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t visit again! Located less than 60 kilometers west of Edmonton on beautiful Lac Ste Anne lies the Village of Alberta Beach—a sandy beach and warm shallow water provide fun for all ages. The best part: you can make it a day trip! If you want more than a day trip – talk to us about our lake specialist team in this area.
Gull Lake
Driving time: 90 minutes
Located less than 60 kilometers west of Edmonton on beautiful Lac Ste Anne lies the Village of Gull Lake—a sandy beach and warm shallow water provide fun for all ages. Enjoy the beautiful, relaxing beach, go sport fishing or go windsurfing during the summer months! And if you love it enough to return in the winter, Gull Lake is also a great spot for ice fishing.
Jasper National Park
Driving time: 3.5 hours
Another classic spot for Albertans to visit is Jasper National Park. The largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park has activities that suit people of all ages. With breathtaking views, hikes, biking, paddling, shopping, camping, eating and drinking, Jasper is bound to make for a beautiful weekend away.
Drumheller
Driving time: 3.5 hours
A perfect vacation if you have some little ones to bring along with you (or not!). Drumheller has a ton of things to keep you busy, such as amusement parks, dinosaur adventures, museums, historic sites, natural attractions, performing arts, sports, recreation and more. With so many things to do, there’s definitely something for everyone. For more details about what to do and to grab some accommodations, visit the Drumheller website.
Sikome Lake
Driving time: 3 hours
Stay in Calgary soaking up our sister city’s downtown vibes, then take a day trip to Sikome Lake to get a vacation from your vacation. This man-made lake is located in the Southern quadrant of the city, and it gets up to 20,000 visitors a day in the busy season!
Ghost Lake
Driving time: 3.5 hours
Though the shoreline is more driftwood and rocks than soft, silky sand, Ghost Lake might be right up your alley if you’re looking for peace, quiet and lots of sunshine. What’s more—when you’re done floating on the water for the day, head on over to the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary as it is a very short drive away. There, you can go for a beautiful sanctuary walk or a visit with the wolfdogs—if you’re lucky, you may even get to give the dogs a treat!
Beyond Alberta
Kelowna
Driving time: 10.5 hours
Though the driving time is a bit long for a Kelowna day trip, it’s definitely worth it to go enjoy the views for the week. For the childless folks looking for a fun time, Kelowna is filled with wine tours, boozy boat rides and lots of good cocktails spots. And if you’re looking for a family-friendly time, there’s plenty of large beaches, stunning hikes, mini golf, animal encounters, small clothing boutiques and playgrounds in this small city, too! Did we mention, the food and restaurant scene in Kelowna is incredible?
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
Driving time: 6.5 hours
Have you ever wandered east of our border? If you haven’t, now’s your time to explore. And if you’re a fan of the outdoors, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park might be the perfect close-to-home vacation. Only a 6-hour drive away, you and your vacation crew can enjoy the daytime backcountry Grasslands National park, and during the night, because of the crystal clear skies, you can stargaze for hours upon hours.
Little Manitou Lake
Driving time: 6.5 hours
Another Saskatchewan gem is Little Manitou Lake—the soothing vacation spot where the salty lake water possesses natural skin and body care properties, kind of like the Dead Sea in Israel! This beach is perfect for parents who want to relax, float and enjoy their free spa day, while the children are enjoying the sandy beach and splashing in the water!
Grand Beach Provincial Park
Driving time: 14 hours
It’s true that many Albertans haven’t yet travelled further east to provinces like Manitoba, and that needs to change. Manitoba is filled with many beautiful attractions, with Grand Beach Provincial Park being no exception! Only one hour from Winnipeg, this beautiful beach is a well-known and well-visited beach throughout the summer months. Take a day trip from Winnipeg or set up camp in one of the various sites!
We hope this sparks some inspiration for you and your family! Get out, enjoy the summer and spend time with those you love—in Edmonton or beyond. You deserve it.
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