Things to do in Southern Alberta

Banff National Park is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, defined by a picture-perfect mountain landscape of rugged peaks, sparkling lakes and powerful rivers. Spanning 2,564 square miles (6,641 square kilometers), the park is part of the iconic Canadian Rockies mountain range. Enjoy hiking, fishing, skiing and wildlife watching, or simply relax in natural hot springs and admire the park’s majestic natural scenery.

Attend a world-class event, from a Calgary Flames game to a James Taylor concert, at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the main indoor arena in Calgary. The “Dome,” as it’s locally called, was built in 1983 as the home of the city’s National Hockey League team and for ice hockey and figure-skating events in the 1988 Olympic Games. Today, it continues to host the NHL Calgary Flames, as well as the Calgary Hitmen junior ice hockey team, the Calgary Roughnecks box lacrosse team and the Calgary Stampeders professional Canadian football team.

Catch the C-Train from downtown to the Calgary Zoo and gardens located on St. George’s Island and the banks of the Bow River. Here you’ll find creatures large and small, and even prehistoric! If you’re visiting the zoo on Sunday, kick off your visit with a safari brunch in the Destination Africa area.

Upper Hot Springs is a thermal pool within the gorgeous landscapes of Banff National Park. Come here to relax in the geothermally heated and bubbling mineral water that flows from the Earth’s crust through the Sulphur Mountain Thrust Fault. Marvel at panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains as the therapeutic water cleanses and soothes your body. Have a scenic picnic or eat at the café at Upper Hot Springs.

Some of the best views in the Canadian Rockies can be enjoyed from the top of Sulphur Mountain. Take the Banff Gondola to the summit. The eight-minute ride offers spectacular views from a glass-enclosed cabin. The Summit Complex at the end of the gondola ride has restaurants, a gift shop and multiple viewing platforms. Look out over six different mountain ranges, through valleys and down onto the town of Banff.

Visit Calgary Tower to dine with a rotating view at 4,225 feet (1,288 meters) above sea level, looking out over the glittering city lights. Stand on the glass floor and look down more than 600 feet (180 meters), taking in the views of downtown. Calgary Tower offers the perfect vantage point to orient yourself in the city and beyond.