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Discover what southern Alberta has to offer, like the landscape of the Canadian Badlands, towering mountains and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This itinerary is great for outdoor enthusiasts as well as history and culture buffs.

At a glance

  • 7 day itinerary
  • 1585 km (985 mi) total distance
  • 17 hrs 49 mins drive time
  • Your starting point is in Calgary

People play instruments inside the Studio Bell museum.

Studio Bell, Home of the National Music Centre

Take in five floors of exhibits that span 450 years of music history. The National Music Centre boasts a collection of more than 2,000 pieces, plus interactive exhibits where visitors can try their hand at different instruments. Don't miss the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and featured exhibitions.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

After Studio Bell, visit East Village and Inglewood, two of Calgary's most popular neighbourhoods.

A woman posing inside Gasoline Alley

Heritage Park Historical Village

History comes to life at one of Canada's largest living-history museums. Explore southern Alberta's pioneer past through 180 exhibits and 55,000 artifacts that span from 1850 to 1950. Take a ride on a steam train and a Ferris wheel from 1893. Watch for featured exhibits and events during your visit.

A tourist looks at a reconstructed dinosaur at a museum

Royal Tyrrell Museum

Visit one of the world's largest collections of dinosaur fossils. The Royal Tyrrell Museum’s extensive exhibits will take you on a 3.9-billion-year trip through time. Budget about two hours to explore everything. While you’re there, hike the Hoodoo Trail, found 16 km (10 mi) east of Drumheller.

Hikers on an interpretive tour in Dinosaur Provincial Park

Dinosaur Provincial Park

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the highest concentration of late Cretaceous period fossils in the world, and more than 150 full dinosaur skeletons have been found here. Take a guided excavation tour or hike the self-guided trails. Allow two hours to get here from Drumheller.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

In Drumheller, stop for a photo op with Tyra, the world's largest dinosaur.

Family hiking on guided tour group at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai'pi

See the largest concentration of First Nations rock art — petroglyphs and pictographs — on the North American plains. Indigenous Peoples have called this land home since time immemorial, and Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai'pi ("it is written" in Blackfoot) is best experienced with an expert guide.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Check out the hiking trails throughout the provincial park, including the Matapiiksi (Hoodoo) Trail.

Couple in front of Galt Museum

Galt Museum & Archives

This internationally recognized museum pays homage to the people, places and industries of southern Alberta through more than 17,000 artifacts and one million archival documents. There are featured exhibitions throughout the year alongside the mainstay attractions.

People on a guided tour at Fort Whoop-Up, inside an old fort store

Fort Whoop-Up

Southern Alberta's history includes the illegal whisky trade, and the infamous characters and stories await at Fort Whoop-Up. You’ll also learn about the buffalo robe trade of the 1800s, the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis and other First Nations, as well as Canadian, American and British settlers.

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

This lush oasis in the heart of Lethbridge will make you feel like you've gone to Japan. Constructed in 1967, the garden recognizes the multiculturalism of Lethbridge and the friendship shared between Japan and Canada. Stroll the paths or visit the tea pavilion to take part in cultural experiences.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Take a break from exploring and visit one of the local breweries, like Spectrum Ale Works.

Historic hotel on a hill above a lake with a mountain view in the background.

Prince of Wales Hotel

This iconic hotel was built in 1927 and maintains its vintage charm. The Prince of Wales overlooks Upper Waterton Lake, which means stunning views. Indulge in Afternoon Tea, a delicious meal in the Royal Stewart Dining Room or end the evening with a cocktail in the Windsor Lounge.

Waterton Shoreline Cruise

Take a scenic cruise on the deepest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. Enjoy a round-trip adventure that crosses into the United States — Waterton is an International Peace Park. Keep an eye out for wildlife. It’s not uncommon to spot animals like black bears and moose along the shoreline.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Try the Bear's Hump Hike in Waterton. It's a popular one, and you’ll see why when you reach the top.

A couple explores a trail surrounded by the massive boulders from the disastrous Frank Slide.

Frank Slide Interpretive Centre

Canada's deadliest rockslide forever changed the landscape of Turtle Mountain, when 110 million metric tonnes of limestone fell onto miners' cottages on the edge of a small mining town. The interpretive centre shares exhibits and stories of survivors, and you can walk a trail through the rubble.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Stop at Lundbreck Falls and the Burmis Tree on your way to the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre.

Woman walking past a tipi in a meadow at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Visit one of the best-preserved buffalo jumps in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was used by Indigenous Peoples for nearly 6,000 years, and you can learn all about the site's past and present significance through guided tours. Make sure to visit the on-site museum.

A covered wagon travels along the road at Bar U Ranch National Historic Site.

Bar U Ranch National Historic

Experience the life of a cowboy at one of the longest-running ranches in Alberta. Take part in ranching activities, venture into 100-year-old barns, see farm animals and visit the Stoney Nakoda encampment to learn about the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to ranching in Western Canada.

People sit on the patio in front of Eau Claire distillery in Diamond Valley.

Eau Claire Distillery

The award-winning craft distillery was the first of its kind in Alberta, and it's become highly regarded for its farm-to-glass spirits. Stop by the tasting room to sample gin, whisky and vodka.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Be sure to try the Parlour Gin at Eau Claire Distillery. It’s their flagship spirit.