Alberta's western border is the formidable Canadian Rockies, with world-class skiing and snowboarding in Banff and Lake Louise in winter, and hiking and biking the rest of the year. The Icefields Parkway to Jasper, dotted with glaciers, is generally regarded as one of the world's most scenic drives. Hockey-mad Canadians indulge their home teams, the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. Alberta's cowboy culture is celebrated each July with the Calgary Stampede, ten days of rodeo events, livestock shows, concerts and chuck wagon races. Edmonton is the more cosmopolitan city, with fine art galleries and a lively theater scene. Dinosaurs once roamed here, and Dinosaur Provincial Park near Drumheller is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich fossil beds. The nearby Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology has one of the world's largest collections of dinosaur skeletons. Accommodations range from sprawling Victorian era hotels, such as the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, to family-owned B&Bs. Everywhere, the locals are friendly, and the Alberta beef is best served medium rare.
- Evelyn Kanter for Triporati
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