From My Vacation Lady’s logo, you may think that we will only recommend beach destinations but we can help create your dream honeymoon in most destinations worldwide and one that was recently brought to our attention was Alberta, Canada.  At a travel meeting, we were introduced to Alberta and one of malberta mapy colleagues was amazed how much like the South Island of New Zealand it was— but so much closer.   Thanks to our Travel Alberta business development team for their assistance in putting together why Alberta is a great honeymoon destination!

Why Alberta?

Alberta is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking places on earth, as vast as it is varied in landscape and experiences. It’s a destination you won’t soon forget, filled with unique activities, urban charms and cultural jewels.

We have five national parks for you to explore. Find out why many of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We take pride in our land and are diligent in protecting it. More than 300 provincial parks and recreation areas protect the bounty of wildlife that lives here. An hour’s drive in any direction from our cities and towns will take you somewhere special.

In our Rocky Mountain parks, there’s so much to experience all year round – you’ll just have to stay awhile. Explore the Canadian Badlands and go back millions of years to the age of the dinosaurs. Or venture into a land of churning white water, boreal forests, back country lodges, placid lakes and trophy fishing. In winter, you’re sure to see the Aurora Borealis – try it by dogsled.

Where is Alberta and how do you get there?

Located in western Canada, the province of Alberta is bordered by the Canadian Rocky Mountains and British Columbia (Vancouver) to the west, vast prairies to the east and the state of Montana to the south.  There are international airports in Alberta- Calgary and Edmonton.  There are nonstop flights from the New York area to Calgary, in just a bit over 5 hours, making it a great place to start your honeymoon in Alberta.

When is the best time to honeymoon in Alberta?

Canoeing in Jasper National Park

Canoeing in Jasper National Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the best features of honeymooning in Alberta is that it is a year round destination so if you want champagne powder skiing or prefer summer to visit the lakes and landscapes, all times of the year have their special features.  You can still explore the ice fields in the summer along with great outdoor activities and comfortable weather.  In the summer months, the temperature can range from the 70’s during the daytime and down to as low as 40 in the evening.  For those who love the cold weather and winter activities, the Canadian Rocky Mountains can be magical!

What types of hotels can you find in Alberta?

There is a huge variety of different types of accommodations waiting for you in Alberta, from small country lodges to city hotels to fabulous lake front 5 star resorts.  Some of our favorites are the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or the Fairmont Banff Springs (that resembles a castle with 7 restaurants, a spa and a golf course).

  What is there to see and do in Alberta?

For winter honeymoons, Alberta offers a wide variety of romantic winter experiences from:

  • Skiing or snowboarding and then unwinding in front of a fire at an iconic hotel castle
  • An ice walk through a canyon iridescent with frozen waterfalls that will take your breath away.
  • A private sleigh ride around a lake.
  • Slipping into a natural hot spring under the stars.
  • Running wild with the huskies as enthusiastic dog sled teams pull you through pristine wilderness.
  • Seeing the Northern Lights (Alberta is home to 2 of the largest dark sky reserves–Wood Buffalo National Park and Jasper National Park)

For summer and fall honeymoons, how do these warmer weather romantic experiences sound to you?

  • Hike into a remote alpine pass leading to meadows filled with wild flowers and hidden turquoise lakes.
  • Go on a dinosaur dig in the Canadian Badlands
  • Take a road trip and enjoy sightings of Canadian wildlife – from moose, to elk, deer, bighorn sheep and mountain goats to black bears and grizzlies, along the way.
  • Go horseback riding, white water rafting, fishing, sailing
  • Take a gondola, tramway or chairlift to see some gorgeous vistas and stunning peaks
  • Take a helicopter tour or a sea plane tour
  • Enjoy some festivals (Jasper’s Star Gazing Festival- at the end of October, the legendary Stampede in Calgary- in July or popular music or food and wine festivals in Edmonton-through out the summer and fall)

 

sleigh ride lake louise

What parts of Alberta are must see/must do’s?

Athabasca Glacier, Columbia Icefield

Athabasca Glacier, Columbia Icefield

 

 

 

 

The Columbia Icefields Parkway is one of the 10 most scenic drives in the world.  It is here you can visit the Athabasca Glacier and actually step on to the ancient ice. Just a few minutes up the road you can also visit the Glacier Skywalk that overlooks the Sunwapta Valley.

How can you get around in Alberta?

Driving around is easy on wide open roads and is a great way to explore Alberta from  the Canadian Rockies, badlands, parks and prairies.

Roads trips in Alberta will take you through vibrant towns and will allow you to explore the dramatic landscapes – from buffalo jumps and dinosaur bone beds to cowboy trails and mountain valleys.

How long would should you go to Alberta for a great honeymoon?

To visit our cities and Canadian National Parks I would say a one week stay is a minimum but 10 days is even better!

Remember that every honeymoon that My Vacation Lady designs is customized around your dreams, time frame and budget so your romantic getaway to Alberta, Canada can be as long or as short as you want.  Of course, the longer it is— the more fun you can have!

My Vacation Lady is an award winning honeymoon travel agency located in New Jersey.  We won’t be the first to tell you that your honeymoon should be special but we are the right honeymoon specialists to make is special!