Staycation Alberta: A Vacation Close To Home

I’m going to be adding a series to my blogs called “Staycation Alberta”. As an avid traveler, the thing that keeps me from going on more big trips is time and and money. There never seems to be enough of either. However, that doesn’t keep me from traveling entirely.

Hike to the Plains of the Six Glaciers Teahouse near Lake Louise

“Staycations” or vacations near home are a great way to save some money and support your local economy but feel like you’ve been on a bit of a much needed getaway. Even a day trip or a long weekend can provide a respite from the day to day grind. They can give a you a bit more appreciation for your local history, environment and community.

Father’s Day at the Reynolds Alberta Museum

I live in Alberta, a province in Canada. Alberta is a lovely, diverse place with so much to offer. We have a wide variety of terrain ranging from boreal forests in the north where you can likely see stunning northern lights, to lakes and grasslands, farmland and prairies, badlands, foothills and even the majestic ranges of the rocky mountains.

The butterfly house at the University of Alberta (Formerly Devonian) Botanical Gardens

In Alberta we have everything ranging from small country towns to large metropolitan cities. We have a lot of history as well, including that of the First Nations and Inuit peoples and the first settlers to this area from Europe. This history makes us a really culturally dynamic area with a lot to learn about the past and other cultures.

The hike to Siffleur Falls near David Thompson

I have always felt lucky to be a Canadian, but also to be an Albertan. We can be a little bit conservative, and dare I say “redneck” in certain things (driving back from Red Deer to Edmonton the other day I saw a bumper sticker that read “Redneck Pride”) but we also have a great appreciation for history, nature and the arts. And because of that, there are a great many things to do in Alberta.

Full Moon canoe tour at Elk Island National Park

There is no lack of choice of day trip,  vacation spot, historical landmark or nature preserve. I hope that by including some of my local travel adventures in my travel blog, I can inspire you to find some of the special areas near where you live and do some exploring. Maybe it’ll even inspire you to come visit my lovely province. Enjoy this series as they come and please feel free to comment or share some of your adventures with me. Happy travelling!

Day Trip to Ram Falls