Why you should go: If you don't mind driving a bit further south, why not head to Drumheller for the day? From there, I plan to visit Fort Battleford National Historic Site en route to Saskatoon, where Ill stay for a few days to explore the city. See the Wood Buffalo National Park official site for more information for planning your trip. Or you can head into Fort Saskatchewan and go straight to Millers Ice Cream. Dont miss shopping at the Silo Farm Store (onsite at the flower farm), which has locally made goods and vintage and antique home decor. But is it worth taking a road trip from Edmonton further east? I recommend booking a vino therapy treatment! Stop in for authentic Ukrainian food try homemade Borsch and a plate of perogies, sausage and cabbage rolls (its all made super fresh). Visit the Bower Ponds and enjoy the scenic trails, have a picnic with your goodies from the bakery or even rent a paddle boat and get out on the water. If you cant go very far from the city this summer, any of these trips would make for the perfect cheap vacation from Edmonton! Continue your road trip by heading north to the Jurassic Forest. Older kids and adults may prefer to go tubing on Red Deer River Fort Normandeau is the perfect launching point. After your treatments, enjoy light snack and a glass of wine in the tea room or on the garden patio. This unique day trip north of Edmonton includes trains, dinosaurs and an adventure farm. Heading south from Edmonton, enjoy the prairie scenery along Highway 21 then 56, with potential stops in Stettler for the Alberta Prairie Railway, remote Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, and Rowley Ghost Town. And make sure you save room for the decadent salted caramel, 4-layer chocolate cake. Check out their site to find loads of activities besides the couple road trips I mention below. We've all been stuck in that situation, the one where your phone is blowing up with messages from your group chat, yet again, trying (but definitely struggling) to figure out what to do this weekend. Then, continue west along Highway 43 for another 45 minutes until you reach the George Pegg Botanic Gardens, a spectacular peaceful spot in rural Alberta. Try ice fishing in the winter, or work on your tan while you go windsurfing in the summer. Comments are moderated according to our Community Guidelines. Then, head south on Highway 32 for one of the nicest drives around Edmonton. Enjoy some boutique shopping or stop in at one of the many bakeries for some sugary sustenance. Continue onwards to Sunnybrook to visit a flower farm Farm Fresh Florals, where you can u-pick your own flower bouquet! We loved Sawback Brewing and Troubled Monk. A top-rated hotel in Fort McMurray is Microtel Inn & Suites (see on Booking / TripAdvisor / Agoda). For more info, here are my top recommended things to do in Medicine Hat. To focus solely on the national park, take the fastest route there, Highway 2. Down the street, youve got to stop by the worlds biggest sausage! After passing Calgary, Highway 2 eventually turns into the 810, and a few others. Why you should go: It's just as beautiful as Banff, but with a substantially shorter drive time. You can book this cozy guest house for the perfect weekend getaway from Edmonton. 31 Things to Do in Invermere/East Kootenays in the Summer (free + low cost)! Where do local Albertans go when they want a natural escape away from the tourist crowds of Jasper and Banff? Head south to Rimbey (about 1.5 hours) to visit Hawk Tail Brewery. Another good spot along the way is Long Lake Provincial Park, where you can swim/picnic in the day use area, or camp in the excellent campground. Head southwest to the hamlet of Calmar, and go straight to the Calmar Bakery. You could even stay overnight at the Village Creek Country Inn, which made the list for the top romantic getaways in Alberta. The area features countless lakes perfect for camping and fishing, the mesmerizing Crescent Falls, Crown Lands where anything goes, and a huge number of hiking trails, both easy and difficult. To break up the 14-hour drive to Fort Smith (the main access point to Wood Buffalo), youll probably want to overnight somewhere along the way. For the bigger kids, one of my favorite day trips from Edmonton with a dog is to visit some rural Alberta breweries and their patios! This post contains some affiliate links, I may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase. The Sweeterie is my favorite. If you do want to stay somewhere in Kananaskis country, hotel options are quite limited. Continue on Highway 43 to Whitecourt and follow the signs for Hard Luck Canyon. Your first stop is at Barr Estate Winery, just off of Highway 14, only 20 minutes from the city. The staff and locals are super friendly, and if you find yourself wanting to do this day trip on a Sunday, make Andrew your first stop. But if you havent been, youre seriously missing out! And scroll to the end to catch the full YouTube video! Dine in the vintage-inspired caf, where you can choose from gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Beer lovers can choose from Hawk Tail Brewery in Rimbey, Snake Lake in Sylvan Lake, Blindman in Lacombe, or Troubled Monk and several others in Red Deer. Climb to the top of the giant T-Rex, explore hoodoos, or dig for fossils. Drumheller Medicine Hat Lethbridge Loop (1 2 weeks), 9. While Kananaskis country is a favorite playground for Calgarians, as it is only an hour away from them, Edmontonians tend to be less frequent visitors. It's not uncommon for people to be feeling extra stressed out around this time of year, what with midterms, the weather changing, and work related things. Ive tested all of these day trips and certify that theyre unique, adventurous and showcase some of the best of Alberta! Next, Ill head over to Little Manitou Lake, Saskatchewans version of the Dead Sea, before traveling south to Moose Jaw to see giant Mac the Moose, check out the tunnels under the city, and soak in thermal waters at Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa (see on Booking / TripAdvisor / Agoda). Not only are these pastries to die for (theres usually dozens of flavours to choose from), the inside of the cafe is eclectic and adorable. To extend your road trip, you can drive as far north as Fort Mackay and the Bridge to Nowhere, while in winter you can even drive the ice road all the way to Wood Buffalo National Park and Fort Chipewyan (when conditions are safe enough to do so). Then only 15 minutes down Highway 2A, youll arrive at the Reynolds Alberta Museum. Alberta has a budding wine industry, and the fruit wine grown here, from the onsite Delidais Estate Winery is an exceptional showcase of our provinces bountiful produce. If you need to work off some lunch, there are a variety of hiking and walking trails throughout the park. If you have time, the Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm where they have a u-pick, petting zoo animals and fun outdoor farm games for the little kids. Read Next: Why Agritourism Should Be Part of Your Next Weekend Getaway in Alberta. Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel is a budget-friendly retreat, Kananaskis Mountain Lodge features a Nordic Spa, while Mount Engadine Lodge is perfect for really getting away from it all. Then head to Sylvan Lake to visit Snake Lake Brewery. Its an easy 5-minute hike and then some stairs which take you down into the canyon bed and waterfall. If you prefer to stroll through some parks, Mirror Lake is stunning in the summer time, where you can watch Trumpeter Swans glide through the water. They serve a breakfast buffet and bottomless mimosas for $15! If youre headed to Jasper, stopping at the waterfalls or the Apex brewery is a great way to break up the drive. Luckily, Southern Alberta offers a wide range of unique landscapes, not to mention a wealth of provincial and national parks, perfect destinations for a road trip. On this adventure, youll find some of the best kid-friendly places to visit near Edmonton. From waterfalls to breweries to historic towns to rural gems and outdoor adventures, take a mini road trip and choose your own adventure with these unique getaways from Edmonton. If youve never been here before, or if its been years since your last visit, youll be so impressed by the every growing collection of restored vintage cars and farm equipment that was used all over Alberta. If you want to spend a whole day in the area, spend some time at the rural attractions nearby. I hope you find some good ideas for planning your next road trip out of Edmonton. This awesome road trip from Edmonton takes in some of the best provincial parks in Alberta, plus lots of dinosaurs and hoodoos. Canmore is a convenient base for exploring either one as day trips. Heading south from Edmonton, you can consider making stops at Pigeon, Gull, or Sylvan Lake for some beach time. As inhabitants of Canadas northernmost city of over 1 million, we Edmontonians have every inclination to go south. Im a sucker for small town mainstreets, and Stettler fits the bill. Why you should go: Jasper has so much to offer, from hiking waterfalls to lakes, admire the views and take lots of pictures to keep your Instagram followers envious of your adventures. Approaching Calgary, make a stop at Nose Creek Park in Airdrie, a lovely pond-side green space with an off-leash area, playground, and a collection of large Korean totem poles. Im willing to bet that a significant portion of road trips from Edmonton are to the west, either to Jasper and Banff in the Rocky Mountains, or further west into British Columbia. If you liked these ideas, be sure to subscribe to be notified for new posts. In Calgary, the list of things to do is nearly endless. Some possible stops or scenic detours on this trip after Calgary include Okotoks erratic, the colorful grain elevators and amazing candy store in Nanton, and the impressive Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Historic Site. After years of backpacking, I now call two places home: Edmonton, Canada and Taipei, Taiwan. This quaint country setting is aptly named and looks like youre entering a scene from the Notebook. Heres my full guide to the best things to do in Waterton. For planning your road trip, either follow my Edmonton-to-Calgary route then veer west at Calgary, or take the slower but more scenic Cowboy Trail (Highway 22). In Fort McMurray, some of the top attractions are Heritage Village, Oil Sands Discovery Center (an excellent museum covering local history and mining), and Macdonald Island Park. The bison roam wild throughout the park, and sometimes theyll come right up to your car! Of course, you can still visit without your furry friend, but these ones are dog friendly. There's also a botanic garden about 30 km away that's perfect for exploring. Be sure to book in advance because this is popular! Ive been, and I can attest that there are enough sights to make a worthwhile road trip from Edmonton. In winter, the lake becomes a mini hot spot thanks to its visually stunning methane ice bubbles. You can also bring a packed lunch and enjoy a picnic onsite. It has the best and cheapest range of accommodations in the region. For a slower and more scenic route, however, consider taking Highway 22, the Cowboy Trail, which runs parallel to the Rockies through Albertas ranch land. The main thing that stops a lot of people from doing this is that its a real long drivelonger even than driving to Vancouver. Then make your way to the town of Lamont and go hunting for treasures at the Elk Island Thrift Store. This is an Edmonton road trip that I have yet to do, but Im planning it for next summer. Heres my guide to when and how to see ice bubbles at Abraham Lake. Try something like the vino pedicure. A great place for photography, picnic and a road trip pit stop. Were not ones to shy from a beverage or two, so we were delighted to partake in a wine tasting. Next, make your way to Medicine Hat, where you can see the worlds largest teepee, the excellent Medalta Potery Historic Site, and explore beautiful green space likes Strathcona Island Park, Police Point Park, and Echo Dale Regional Park. Tastings are conducted in an old renovated fire hall youll love the story of how this winery came about. Our comment section is a place to promote self-expression, freedom of speech and positivity. In order to make this possible, we monitor comments to keep spam, hate speech, violence, and vulgarity off our pages. Although the two cities aren't that different, they definitely have different things to offer in terms of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. One great option is the Nordegg region. By commenting, you acknowledge that Narcity Media has the right to use & distribute your content across our properties. Plan to spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours here! The Jimmy Jock Boardwalk is perfectly quirky and offers fudge, pie and ice cream if you havent had enough sugar yet. This rustic-chic farm is a picturesque setting for a fruit winery. P.S. Order the Caesars that comes with a burger, poutine, mac n cheese bites and fried pickles ON TOP of the burger! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Im Aly - a former Tourism Development Officer who now makes fun and easy to follow travel itineraries for your next trip. (If youre stuck in the city in winter, here are my favourite Edmonton winter activities!). If we'rebeing honest,as much as we wouldall like to plan a weekend road trip getaway to somewhere super awesome, and far, far away from the responsibilities of adulthoodwith all of our friends, it's definitely not alwaysrealistic, or easy. If you like antique shopping, youll love strolling through treasures to be found across the street at the aptly named, Yesterdays Treasures. Thats where road trips come in! Ive always been drawn to the religious centers and spiritual sights of the world. From here, you could head to Regina for a few days, but I plan to bypass it and head further south to spend a few days camping in Grasslands National Park and a few more in the Saskatchewan side of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. If you havent already been to Elk Island National Park and Ukrainian Village east of Edmonton, then make sure you do! Finally, save a few days for Lethbridge, Albertas fourth largest city. You could also explore the Stampede Grounds, check out the view of downtown from Rotary Park, see the medicine wheel at Nose Hill Park, walk across iconic Peace Bridge, get a gelato sample tray at Righteous Gelato, go to the original Peters Drive In, or stop in at some of Canadas best breweries, according to the Canadian Brewing Awards. It could be an add-on to your Banff trip, or you could even stay there as a cheaper and less touristy base for exploring Banff. Unexpectedly, this fruit wine was dry and crisp, on par with something youd find along the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley. How about a road trip to stroll through gorgeous flower gardens? There are a couple historic farmhouses, flower gardens, interpretive signage and a tranquil boardwalk through the trees. Go boutique shopping, take a walking tour of all the murals and be sure to end your day with dinner at Cilantro and Chive. For those who dont have a consider, use this Canada train guide to plan trips by train from Edmonton! Edmonton to Saskatchewan Road Trip (2 weeks), Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Historic Site, when and how to see ice bubbles at Abraham Lake, guide to the Giants of the Alberta Prairies, 30 Awesome Day Trips from Edmonton, Alberta, 15 Awesome Things to Do in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, 20 Playgrounds in Edmonton That My Kids Love (2021! It is the largest national park in Canada and second largest in the entire world! For a couple places that arent too far from Edmonton but feel like a world away, head east for about 45 minutes. Spend a night or two in the excellent campground, and find real dinosaur bones on one of the parks excellent guided tours. Complete your road trip by driving up to the Giants of Mining near the massive oil refineries that are the raison dtre for the town. Start off at Cherry Lane Caf (also a bed & breakfast). We encourage discussion and debate, but our pages must remain a safe space where everyone feels comfortable and the environment is respectful. For more info, here are my favorite things to do in Drumheller. But spend a day in Red Deer proper and you may be pleasantly surprised! ). Share it on Facebook or save the image to your Pinterest travel board! Also, we Edmontonians often assume that Jasper is the closest to us, but we forget that Canmore and Jasper townsite are a similar distance from Edmonton, and Kananaskis Nakiska Ski Area is actually a slightly shorter drive than Marmot Basin in Jasper! This day spa is located within a cozy historic home built in 1906 and has kept all of its vintage charm. For more details about the route, including a map, see my guide to the Giants of the Alberta Prairies. See all the details in my guide to the best things to do in Fort McMurray. Some major highlights include the expansive Calgary Zoo, Telus Spark Science Centre, Heritage Park Historical Village, Glenbow Museum, and Calaway Park. Why you should go: Gull Lake is another versatile spot that's good for visiting any time of the year. Only an hour south of Edmonton is a cute tourist destination known as the Village at Pigeon Lake. Tip take a look at these other ideas in this local guidebook titled Best Day Trips from Edmonton. I wont cover road trips to BC here because there are just too many possibilities; well save that for another article! There are several camping options in Waterton, or you can stay at the iconic yet affordable Prince of Wales Hotel (see on Booking / TripAdvisor / Agoda). Canmore would certainly serve as an excellent base for a mountain-focused road trip from Edmonton. Next, you can either return to Edmonton via Calgary (4.5 hours), or base yourself in Canmore to explore the greater Kananaskis area (see next entry).
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