How to Have an Unforgettable Honeymoon in Alberta

You said “I do” to your person, and now it’s time to celebrate the start of your next chapter. Your honeymoon is your chance to immerse yourself in new experiences and create memories together, and many couples are choosing to embark on a longer trip. In the past, honeymoons were often a quick escape for the couple before they got back to everyday life. But in recent years, couples have opted for longer getaways — even up to two weeks — to spend quality time with one another and immerse themselves in their chosen destination.

Alberta’s distinctly diverse landscape, culture and welcoming hospitality make it a must-visit honeymoon spot. Design the trip of a lifetime exploring the famous Canadian Rockies, visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites or relaxing in nature.

A foodie’s delight

The province is spoiled when it comes to fantastic restaurants — some have even snagged international acclaim and been named among the best in Canada. In recent years, Calgary’s Major Tom, River Café, Eight, Shokunin, Lulu Bar and Lonely Mouth Bar have made Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list. Edmonton’s RGE RD, Fu’s Repair Shop, Little Wolf and Uccellino have also graced the list. Spend a day strolling the neighbourhoods of both cities, stopping along the way to create your own food tour. Or you can leave the navigation to the experts and book an Alberta Food Tour, which offers tours in Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore and Banff — so you can have a side of mountain views with your dishes. The Eat the Castle tour at the Fairmont Banff Springs is one of the company’s most popular experiences.

If you time your visit right, you may even catch the lively food festivals here. Taste of Edmonton graces the capital city in late July while Taste of Calgary is underway in early August, and each festival features tasty sips and bites from local eateries, plus live entertainment.

Are craft beers and spirits your jam? You’re in luck, because Alberta has tons of those too. There are more breweries than you could possibly manage in one trip, but you can fit a few tastings into a Pedal Pub Tour (or a couple to try different routes). On the spirits side of things, take a short trip to Diamond Valley south of Calgary to visit Eau Claire Distillery, an international award winner that was the first craft distillery in Alberta.

Wellness rediscovered

Post-wedding, you may want to slow down, relax and soak up the beauty of nature. A wellness retreat in Alberta is just what you need after a whirlwind of wedding celebrations. Start your getaway with couples’ treatments at Canadian Rockies spas, like the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (take a walk along the lakeshore hand-in-hand afterwards), the Rimrock Resort or the Fairmont Banff Springs (soak in the outdoor pool and watch the sunset). Or escape to the quiet of the foothills for a serene stay and spa getaway at Azuridge Estate Hotel.

There’s also something to be said for the rejuvenating power of the natural landscape. Have you ever tried forest bathing? Forest Fix in Canmore may get you hooked. The Japanese wellness practice, called shinrin-yoku, is a sensory experience of nature and one’s surroundings. They also offer EcoYoga, which blends walking meditation, contemplation and yoga in the mountains.

The Indigenous Peoples who have called these lands home for millennia are stewards of its beauty and natural abundance. Mahikan Trails in Sundre hosts medicine walks in Banff, sharing knowledge about the flora and fauna all around. In the Northern Rockies of Jasper National Park, Warrior Women explore the natural foods and medicines on the Wapakwanis Plant Walk, Make & Take.

Immersive culture and history

Culture and history abound in Alberta, and there are sights and stories to discover in every corner of the province. Plus, many of the province’s cultural highlights are a short road trip from city hubs.

Take a drive an hour-and-a-half northeast of Edmonton to Métis Crossing. It’s the province’s first major Métis cultural interpretive destination, and it’s situated on river lots first settled in the late 1800s. Métis Crossing is a place to explore the past, present and future of the culture, and interactive activities like paddling in a voyageur canoe, archery and buffalo paddock tours deepen the experience. Make it a day trip or stay overnight in the boutique hotel or romantic sky-watching domes.

From Calgary, head east to the otherworldly Canadian Badlands and visit the world-famous Royal Tyrrell Museum. There, you’ll see one of the best collections of fossils around, and you can venture out on the walking trails surrounding it. If you’ve ever wanted to experience what ranch life is like, head south to one that’s been visited by royalty and the infamous Sundance Kid. Bar U Ranch National Historic Site is an hour southwest of Calgary (follow the aptly named Cowboy Trail) and has the largest collection of historical ranch buildings in Canada. You can even try your hand at ranch activities like wagon rides and learning to repair a saddle.

Farther south, use Lethbridge as your base to explore the Crowsnest Pass, which has an intriguing history — and it’s a must for nature-lovers. Lethbridge has its own intriguing attractions, too. It’s where you can get acquainted with fascinating characters at Fort Whoop-Up (learn about settlers and First Nations who shaped the region), see larger-than-life exhibits at the Galt Museum and Archives (they pay homage to the people, places and industries of southern Alberta) or find serenity in the city at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. The city is also about an hour’s drive from Writing-On-Stone / Áísínai´pi and Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump, — both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The former is a sacred place for the Blackfoot people, and the landscape is adorned with the largest collection of rock art on the North American plains (some are thousands of years old). The latter preserves more than 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo and Blackfoot culture, not to mention, it’s one of the oldest buffalo jumps remaining in the world.

The awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies

A honeymoon in Alberta wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Canadian Rockies. There are three national mountain parks to explore year-round, from summer hiking to skiing world-class resorts come winter, and they’re all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Waterton Lakes National Park is a hidden gem in the southwest corner of Alberta. It’s the smallest of the mountain parks, but it’s big on gorgeous scenery and outdoor activities. The lake is a popular spot for stand-up paddleboarding, and the town is a starting point for fantastic hiking — Bear’s Hump is a short trail that delivers on jaw-dropping views of the lake and town. To venture farther, try Upper Bertha Falls or Rowe Lakes Trail. Just outside town, Red Rock Canyon and Blakiston Falls are picturesque spots to savour the scenery.

Banff National Park is Alberta’s most famous mountain destination, and it’s easy to see why. You’ve no doubt seen photos of icons like Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, but there’s so much more to see and do. Sparkling lakes are plentiful, and Lake Minnewanka, Vermilion Lakes, Peyto Lake or Bow Lake are all worth seeing.

Lace up your hiking shoes while you’re in Banff — there are hundreds of trails to choose from. Some of the top choices include the Lake Agnes Teahouse Trail (which can be extended to include the Big Beehive or Plain of Six Glacier Teahouse), Johnston Canyon (you’re rewarded with two waterfalls), Tunnel Mountain (a quick hike to a mountain summit) and Sundance Canyon if you’re looking for an easy hike close to town.

Travel north from Banff along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most breathtaking roads in the world. Stop along the way at the Columbia Icefield and neighbouring Skywalk — this glass-bottomed walkway hovers 280 metres (918 feet) above the Sunwapta Canyon. The drive will lead you to Jasper National Park, Banff’s rugged yet welcoming northern neighbour.

Jasper is replete with untamed beauty. Don’t miss the exceptional hiking, a boat cruise to Spirit Island (one of the most photographed places in the world), an evening wildlife tour (watch for bears and moose) or a scenic raft tour.

Closer to Calgary, you can experience a quieter side of the Canadian Rockies. Canmore and Kananaskis are idyllic locales for a cozy stay, with fewer crowds than their national park counterparts. Canmore’s town centre is a walkable hub of local shops and restaurants, and you’re never far from your next outdoor activity — add Grassi Lakes, Grotto Canyon, a helicopter tour or a cave tour to the itinerary. But, if you crave more undisturbed wilderness, look no further than Kananaskis Country. There are popular spots, of course — like Barrier Lake and Mt. Lorette Ponds — but you can venture beyond those and breathe the mountain air on endless hiking trails or even curl up for the night in a tipi or trapper’s cabin at Sundance Lodge.