Fact or Fiction?
Albertans put to bed any and all myths about their home province.
Do you have a question about Alberta? Find out if what you believe is really Fact or Fiction! Email us @ Fact.Fiction@travelalberta.com.
Fiction:
Alberta is a "Wild West" place where old style saloons are as common as the tumbleweeds rolling down the street! A place where lawlessness and antiquated living are still the norm!Fact:
Although Alberta and her people have a strong western heritage and take a great deal of pride in our pioneering spirit, we've come a long way! Alberta is still a place where you can find real cowboys and working ranches (the beef has to come from somewhere). Many of the traditional ranching and riding practices are still used today. What might surprise you is when your grizzled cowboy guide pulls
out his or her blackberry to send an email from under the stars! Alberta also takes pride in our multicultural communities and our sophisticated urban centres of Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge and our capital city of Edmonton. Here you'll find the latest in gadgetry, electronics, fashion, art, food and just about anything else you may need! Where Alberta is different is how she is able to provide secluded natural and wilderness areas right beside modern urban ammenities in shopping, dinning and the arts. Come in our summer to take a horseback ride through the beautiful Rocky Mountains or haunting Hoodoos then finish your day with dinner at a world class restaurant and a show! Fiction:
Alberta's iconic Rocky Mountains are so very high, steep and dangerous that only the most skilled and experienced mountaineers, campers, bikers, skiers and snowboarders should even attempt to participate in various mountain sports and activities.Fact:
The Rocky Mountains are one of the world's largest and widest mountain ranges. Of course that does not mean the youngest or oldest of beginners can't take part in their majesty. Regardless of the sport or activity you are looking to try you'll always find the best in guides and instructors as well as equipment and safety.
Throughout the towns of the Rocky Mountains you'll find a variety of experienced and certified guiding company's and outfitters at a very affordable price. If you'd like to try and scale these peaks, in the summer or winter, we'll start you on the less intimidating cliffs of the Kananaskis and Grassie Lakes. Here you can learn to climb with no fear of falling into anything other than the arms of your great looking Albertan instructor.
Perhaps you'd like to try mountain biking. Well Canmore can provide a world class Olympic training ground. Riders from all over the world come to Canmore to compete or just to ride leisurely through the spectacular mountain scenery. Skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels have more than enough room at either Sunshine Village or Lake Louise, another former Olympic site. Both of these ski and snowboard areas are impressive in size and stature, with enough "steep" and "deep" for the most acomplished rider. Don't worry they haven't forgotten about you beginners! Every chair lift has a "green" or beginners run to get you back to the bottom as painlessly as possible. If the shear image of these two giants is too much for you then try the smaller gems of Norquay and Nakiska. Both of these hills are designed for the beginner to intermidate. Their "bunny hills" have
a slow, small slope that you may be looking for! All four hills offer the expertise to get you equipped and trainned quickly, properly and safely without missing the fun! If adreniline sports aren't your thing then take a relaxing but breathtaking Gondola ride. Maybe you'd like to go back in time to one of the original methods of Rocky Mountian travel: dogsledding. There's also snowmobiling or just simply hike to take in the beauty of the scenery and abundant wildlife. Again, no need to fret! If you'd like a trained and certified guide to come with you we have someone ready. Your guide can lead you through the mountains explaining all that you see. Or, your guide can put you on the right path with all the tools for excitement and safety so you can confidentally explore the Rocky's for yourself.
Fiction:
Alberta is so vast and expansive that it is hard to get around. The time to get between tourism destination regions is too long to experience them all.
Fact:
Alberta is vast and expansive but it is also easy to travel within the province. Whether you prefer to explore from the road, rail, or air you’ll be connected to the experience your looking for. The two major cities of Edmonton and Calgary are separated by less than an hour by air. Both cities have international airports that fly to every major destination world wide.
If you prefer the way of the road you can still explore everything Alberta has to offer. The Rocky Mountains have a scattering of towns, villages, National Parks, campgrounds, and resorts that are keep you close to a prime vacation spot regardless of tastes. Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise are all within a two hour drive. Vacation favorites such as Sunshine Village Winter Resort and Lake Louise Ski Area, two of Canada’s largest ski and snowboard resorts, are within an hour of Banff.
Up north Jasper is a great jumping point for nature lovers. Fort McMurray is home to Alberta’s infamous Oil Sands. The Southern Alberta Region provides unique variety from the hauntingly beautiful Hoodoos region to the UNESCO protected Waterton parks area. Cities such as Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Pincher Creek are steeped in Alberta’s “wild west” heritage. The entire province can be traveled from tip to tip in a maximum 8 hour flight, sometimes less.
In Alberta the amenities are as varied as the landscape and activities. No matter what part of Alberta you’d like to experience luxury dinning and accommodations, motels or hostels, camping and cabins are all readily available.
Fiction:
Alberta is a cold and barren place. Only those with the strength and fortitude to brave the extreme artic cold can survive Alberta's weather!
Fact:
Nothing could be further from the truth! Although Alberta's temperature occasionally dives down to sub zero conditions but this is not the average day in Alberta! The lowest average temperature during Alberta’s winters is usually -14 degrees Celsius (7 degrees F). Often in the winter the southern part of the province experiences a weather phenomenon known as a “Chinook”. A Chinook is when warm air comes off the eastern most tips of the Rocky Mountains and into the “Foothills” area. Subsequently the weather usually rises to about 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees F). These Chinooks usually come around once every month and can last up to seven days! 
Don’t worry skiers and snowboarders in winter the snow is more than ample. What separates Alberta’s snow from other ski destinations is our dry climate. This lack of humidity creates the light, dry champagne powder that you crave. Did you know that in winter (on average) Alberta is warmer then most Northern European countries of approximately the same latitude; such as Sweden, Norway and Finland?
Summers in Alberta are even warmer. Alberta’s prairie environment is often compared to that of a desert. Although the temperatures can rise to as high as 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees F), Alberta is far from a desert! The mountain terrain and elevations create a bevy of beautiful and varied floral growth. Wildlife of all kinds is abundant. Alberta’s bountiful creeks, streams, rivers and lakes make sure of that. Down south the Hoodoos and their assorted rock formations give you an idea of what the early settlers faced and add to our “Wild West” heritage.
Regardless of the season, what Alberta is most famous for are our gigantic, deep
blue skies. Often referred to as “Big Sky Country” Alberta is the second sunniest travel destination in North America. There will be no rain on your parade when you are in Alberta!
Want to learn more about our climate click here.
