Alberta Province as a vacation destination – Canadian Rockies:
Alberta’s gorgeous Great Plains resemble the backdrop to an epic Hollywood movie, and in fact have often served in that capacity. Life there is simple, where the open range is dotted with ranches dedicated to horseback riding, hiking and fishing.
As you enjoy a down-home meal picked from the land, you can hear stories about Alberta’s rich history of mysterious cultures and natural remnants from the days of the dinosaurs.
Of course, Alberta isn’t called Canada’s Rocky Mountain Playground for nothing. Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise are beautiful towns within the Banff and Jasper National Parks, with glacial lakes and rugged snow-capped peaks. There is something for everyone to enjoy - riding a gondola to the summit of a magnificent mountain or whitewater rafting beneath the Rocky Mountains. While in this area, take some time to soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs and explore the nearby glaciers.
Calgary is a modern city with an impressive skyline and lively social scene, but it’s no ordinary metropolis. Bordered by rolling foothills, it’s just an hour away from the Rockies. You’d be hard-pressed to find anything like the annual Calgary Stampede in July and its chuck wagon races, rodeos, square dancing, amusement rides and exhibits. If you take one of our many optional tours, you can learn all about the Blackfoot tribe and the unique way they used to hunt bison in prehistoric times near Calgary.
Alberta Province as a vacation destination for gay and lesbian vacationers:
You've seen the Wild West, the Old West, and the West End, now visit a place where the best in gay and lesbian travel and adventure comes together. Calgary is a young city of more than a million that's packed with urban excitement and the best of cowboy culture. Come tip your hat to the men and women who make the city a thriving centre for arts, culture, wine and food, exhilarating gay nightlife, and fantastic festivals.
Stephen Avenue Walk is the main drag for galleries, retro cinemas, shopping, pubs, restaurants, museums, and hot nightlife. Stop in at the city's well-known GLBT bars, gay nightclubs, and glam boutiques. Or shop for Inuit art and designer Western wear, then catch a live street performance.
To top off your western adventure, visit an old-style saloon, or explore the area's rich grasslands and rolling hills. And don't miss the gay rodeo, as well as powwows, farmers' markets, and cowboy poetry festivals that make Calgary famous and so gay friendly. One of the world's most famous gay friendly resort towns, Banff is nestled in Banff National Park, surrounded by the magnificent Canadian Rockies.
Beyond breathtaking scenery, Banff is a hot gay travel spot, brimming with renowned restaurants, decadent spas, eclectic boutiques, fine art galleries, live theatre, heritage museums, and bustling gay friendly nightclubs.
For unsurpassed gay travel adventure, don't miss the turquoise waters of Lake Louise, or the dramatic Columbia Icefields. Or go canoeing, golfing, or hiking along canyons, past waterfalls and old-growth trees. And Banff's three ski resorts feature dramatic runs that range from wide-open bowls to tree-lined glades.
