Visit Alberta, Canada
When they think of vacation, I can bet that most people do not have Alberta, Canada on their list of the top five places to visit. It doesn t fit the mold of the sandy beaches, palm trees, margaritas, and sun that most of us Northeasterners and Midwesterners tend to crave, especially living in a cold and sometimes gloomy area ourselves. But Alberta is a gem. A secret plot of nature s most fascinating scenery and wildlife found anywhere in the Americas.
Alberta, Canada is a truly memorable place. As you drive along its winding roads, it s easy to get lost admiring the towering mountains. They just seem to pop out of the earth like volcanoes, and the snow-covered tops ice the summits like warm vanilla frosting on your favorite cake. The air up there is like nothing else. You are literally inhaling the most clean, fresh, crisp, cool air that you can t find anywhere on the planet but here. Its cool winds are skin piercing, leaving a tingling shiver as it creeps away.
If you approach the mountains more closely its features in all their beauty are clear as crystal. A mix of snow drifts and rocks create a beautiful, textured pattern across the sky while the trees seem to reach to the heavens. Their branches, long and winding, give the scenery a touch of an almost eerie kind of beauty. The natural surroundings consume you with the peace and calm feelings that only the great transcendentalists of our time seem to have experienced.
If you’re lucky, and in this area of North America you can usually bet you ll be, if you look close and hard enough into the backdrop, you might see a tiny little black bear perched next to a berry tree on a furry patch of grass, their thick fur like the color of wet sand on a beach front with cheetah-like spots of a chocolate shade here and there.
And unlike the sharp, cool scenery, the people of Alberta are warm and extremely friendly. Arms wide open with smiles on their faces; they greet you as if you ve been their neighbor for a hundred years. In the towns nestled inside the vast forests, you won t find a fast-food chain or franchise restaurant for miles. Mom and Pop eateries line the narrow streets with freshly-cooked, homemade meals from recipes that have probably been in their families for hundreds of generations. They are a treat, indeed.
Local souvenir shops are equipped with handmade wool sweaters, bone jewelry, fuzzy and heavily padded hats and boots lined with real animal fur. The items are truly reflective of the culture and lifestyle of its people and rich history. This province is a far cry from the hot beaches of Mexico, gambling nightlife of Las Vegas, and massive cruise ships that line the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. It is an experience that is truly incomparable to the stereotypical vacation hotspot. You are guaranteed to come home feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and happy with your decision to visit.
