Alberta: A romantic couples getaway and high-flying family adventure By Kathy Chin Leong With dreamy eyes transfixed, a young couple sits across the other at the Calgary revolving restaurant here in Alberta, Canada. He reaches for her hand, and she eagerly extends it, leaning over to kiss him on the forehead. They are oblivious to the architectural views Alberta’s capital city has to offer, for Cupid’s arrow has struck at 40 stories high. This province is a lovebird’s playground, from an elegant window table at the Calgary Tower to a rustic tea house above the glacial waters of Lake Louise. Couples on the hunt for that perfect honeymoon or intimate interlude will find Alberta the place that will stoke the embers of amour. ACTIVITIES GALORE But at the same time, the region is a family destination with great hikes, excursions, and activities for every member. While driving the scenic province is often preferred, motor coach tours from Brewster Vacations, Greyhound Bus Lines, and Red Arrow Bus Lines are also popular. Another, option is train travel on the Via Rail at Edmonton and Jasper. Upscale rail tours from Rocky Mountaineer Vacations take clients from Calgary and Banff to the west coast of British Columbia, and the trip through the Canadian Rockies is considered one of the world’s most scenic passages. On the map, Alberta is perched above Montana and features two international airports in Edmonton and Calgary. Alberta, famous for its panoramic stretch of the jagged Canadian Rockies, boasts unbelievable emerald and turquoise waterways. Tour guides often explain that the unique colors happen this way: glaciers eroding mountains create rock flour which reflect light in the water. A week to ten days in Alberta is ample time to absorb its treasures. Calgary, Edmonton, and towns within the Canadian Rockies yield top-of-the-line dining, spa, and shopping experiences as well as picturesque mountains and lakes for hiking and boating. There are properties for every taste, from comfortable country lodges to high rise hotels to historic chateaus. CALGARY While Calgary is known for its annual Calgary Exhibition and Stampede every July, at any time of year, the city is ideal for couples who thrive on shopping and great restaurants-at last count the city’s visitor’s bureau counted over 600. The Hyatt Regency is a hotel which also runs the Asian-themed Stillwater Spa, which lists an array of treatments and provides Zen-like relaxation rooms. Located in a safe and airy downtown, the Hyatt is walking distance to Stephen Avenue, a flower-basketed, outdoor shopping plaza closed off to traffic and also within steps of the panoramic Calgary Tower with its revolving restaurant, the Panorama Room. On a nice day, families can take a half-mile walk to eat outside at the upscale River Café located at Prince’s Island Park, a tiny island linked by an arched bridge. Prince’s Island Park is reminiscent of New York’s Central Park, for budding trees and waterways are backed by stairstepped skyscrapers and gargantuan towers. EDMONTON For something entirely different, a trek to Edmonton is definitely in order. The West Edmonton Mall , known as the largest indoor mall in the world, is an over-the-top experience that draws more visitors to Alberta than any other attraction in the province. The surreal shopping, eating, and entertainment arena is shoulder-to-shoulder with customers during the winter chill. Not only is it an architectural marvel with its domed curved glass ceiling, the larger-than-life complex boasts its own waterpark, amusement park, bungee tower, daily sea lion show, as well as mall hotel called the Fantasyland Hotel. (See sidebar: West Edmonton Mall). Away from the shopping scene are some quaint French Canadian restaurants, one of which is called Normand’s, aptly named after the talkative and cheerful owner, Normand Campbell. The quaint,18-table Normand’s takes advantage of Alberta game meats such as elk, deer, and buffalo and serves up generous portions. Says Campbell, "We Canadians like hearty, fresh food." TOWNS OF THE ROCKIES Further west, in the towns of Jasper and Lake Louise and Banff, memorable overnighters and outdoor adventures await. In Jasper, visitors can cozy up in fireside chalets at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, the only lodge within Jasper National Park, Canada’s largest mountain park at 4,199 square miles. Once there, activities include cruising on Maligne Lake, boarding the Jasper Tramway, the longest aerial tramway in the country, or picnicking at Athabasca Falls. World renowned Lake Louise with the gorgeous Chateau Lake Louise on the premises, is the perfect place to stage a wedding or a family reunion. The hotel hosts has three main dining rooms at different price points. Another spot to tackle scenic wonder is the rugged, but worthy, four-mile roundtrip hike to the Tea House above Lake Louise from the hotel chateau chockful of beehive mountains, mirrored lakes, and a tiered waterfall. The Lake Agnes Tea House is a fully operational rustic log cabin-style eatery with simple items such as tea, coffee, breads, and some hot dishes. Nearby is the Columbian Icefield, the largest one in North America. Young and old can enjoy time on the Brewster’s Ice Age Adventure and take a memorable snapshot standing on a slab of ice that’s 1,000 feet thick. The unique excursion features a specially-designed tour bus with giant tires that can climb up the slick icefield at a whopping 7 miles per hour. But for days where no sightseeing is desired, an overnighter at the historic Banff Springs Hotel is a getaway that will provide the relaxation. On the premises is the Willow Stream Spa, a megaspa with fancy treatment rooms and series of mosaic-tiled dipping pools that run from hot to cold to stimulate healthy blood circulation. And yes, at the hotel I have seen kids here, and with one little guy I noticed in the elevator I said, "I hope you know you are very, very lucky." Less than five minutes away is the exclusive Eden Restaurant at the Rim Rock Hotel situated near the top of the Banff Springs mountains. Service at this five-star restaurant with five-star mountain views is magical. Clients are treated like royalty by the professional wait staff donning dark suits and ties, with the quinessential white napkin on the bent forearm. Not too many restaurants have waiters escort each customer to the restroom and address them by formal Mr. and Mrs. throughout the meal. Each night, the French menu features a series of one-of-a-kind, small plate courses where patrons can mix and match appetizers, main dishes, and desserts for a $90, $130, and $150 dinner. Dishes such as lobster poached in white chocolate are extremely popular. The restaurant carries an extensive wine selection and carries bottles that cost up to $10,000. Our waiter agreed that, like its name, Eden is a garden where something special happens. "We have two of those in our cellar," whispers wine sommelier-in-training Warren Waldern. With stomachs filled with the best in food and wine, senses overcome by scenic wonders, and exquisite hotels, Alberta draws out the smiles in everyone and will not disappoint. **** Heading to Alberta? Here’s the Must List on what to do, eat, and buy. MUST SEE: Colombia Icefield –one of the largest icefields on earth. West Edmonton Mall- largest indoor mall in the world. Maligne Lake, Moraine Lake, Lake Louise – emerald green waters with breathtaking scenery. MUST DO: Bicycle through Jasper National Park. Hike to Lake Agnes Teahouse. Take the elevator to Calgary Tower. MUST EAT: Wild game meats- buffalo, quail, Alberta prime rib Saskatoon berry-anything: berry pie, berry jam, etc. MUST BUY: Canadian maple-anything: maple syrup, maple cookies, maple sugar. Ammolite jewelry: ammolite, a rainbow-colored shell stone mined commercially only in Southern Alberta. **** NOTEWORTHY WEBSITES: www.travelalberta.com www.edmonton.com www.westedmontonmall.com www.jaspercanadianrockies.com www.malignetours.com www.brewster.ca www.banfflakelouise.com www.hyattregencycalgary.com www.fairmont.com/banffsprings www.fairmont.com/lakelouise www.fairmont.com/jasper Kathy Chin Leong recently celebrated her twenty-first wedding anniversary in Alberta. She has not been there in twenty years. [Back to Top]     [Back to Index]