Alberta is filled with some of the most spectacularly beautiful and diverse landscapes on Earth. From sparkling lakes to thick evergreen forests to cosmopolitan cities famous for their hospitality, the prairie province to the west of British Columbia has a lot to brag about. When chartering a private flight to Wild Rose Country, prepare to be impressed by its wonderful diversity.
Sleep
Fairmont Banff Springs | Banff, Alberta
Located in Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fairmont Banff Springs is styled after a Scottish Baronial castle. The “Castle in the Rockies” offers luxury ski packages, a European-style spa, championship golf course, dog sledding, river rafting, fishing and more. For the best view, book a Fairmont Gold Mountain View One-Bedroom Suite or Room.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise | Lake Louise, Alberta
On the shore of Lake Louise, with mountain peaks and the majestic Victoria Glacier serving as a spectacular backdrop, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise was originally built for alpinists and those who love the outdoors. Today, the luxury mountain resort offers guided mountain tours, canoeing, scenic hiking, world-class skiing, sleigh rides and an award-winning spa. Book the Fairmont Gold Junior or One-Bedroom Suite for views of Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier. The Whitehorn, Fairview, Belvedere, Glacier, and Gold Signature Suites offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains, Victoria Glacier, and Lake Louise.
Shadow Lake Lodge | Banff, Alberta
If your goal is to unplug and unwind, Shadow Lake Lodge gives you a backcountry retreat among the alpine meadows and glaciated peaks. You can’t access the lodge by car. You must hike or bike in on trails that range from 8 to 16 miles. The lodge doesn’t have Wi-Fi or a cell phone signal, making it simple to focus on the beautiful surroundings. A stay at the cabin includes breakfast, afternoon tea, a lunch buffet (taking food to pack a picnic is encouraged), and a gourmet three-course dinner made with fresh seasonal ingredients.
Eat
River Café | Edmonton, Alberta
With cuisine rooted in simple, quality ingredients, River Café works directly with local growers and uses a wood-burning grill and oven for all meals. The eatery also makes all its desserts and bread in-house using grains and flours from the nearby Prairie region. Locals flock to River Café for its weekend brunch, which features pastries filled with house-churned butter and house-made fruit preserves. In the evening, the Chef’s Tasting Menu is the star of the show.
Q Haute Cuisine | Calgary, Alberta
Striving to give you the dining experience of a lifetime, Q Haute Cuisine appeals to the senses with vibrant flavors and sustainable products. Experience the best the restaurant has to offer with an exclusive Kitchen Dining experience. Here, Chef Paul takes you through a gastronomic journey as he gives you insight into his signature dishes, which are paired with sommelier-chosen wines.
Alder Room | Edmonton, Alberta
An experiential restaurant, Alder Room gives you the opportunity to interact with regional cuisine and the talent that prepared it. The menu reflects the seasons and the country’s raw nature. During one of the two evening seatings, you and 11 other diners enjoy an “evolving” tasting menu together. Rather than make a reservation, you purchase a ticket in advance to experience a connection instead of a transaction.
Play
Helicopter Tour
Rockies Heli Canada offers heli tours and heli adventures that range from 20 minutes to full a day, depending on the destination. Activities include seeing frozen bubbles in Abraham Lake, fly-fishing at one of the area’s various lakes, seeing six area glaciers, and aerial tours of Wilson Icefield or the Columbia Icefields.
Awaken Your Inner Paleontologist
Alberta is home to one of the greatest sources of dinosaur fossil beds on the planet. Every year, paleontologists make new discoveries. Check out a real dinosaur nesting site at Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur & Heritage Museum. Unearth dinosaur bones and fossils in Dinosaur Provincial Park. Explore the Canadian Badland, a fossil-rich region with unearthly landscapes thanks to windswept hoodoos. Watch paleontologists at work at the Pipestone Creek Bone Bed, an active dig site with one of the planet’s densest dinosaur bone beds.