15 Ideas for Summer Adventures - Edmonton & Alberta

Despite many of the restrictions lifting from the Covid-19 Pandemic, it's no surprise that our summer will be much different than what we are used to. But a silver lining from all of this is that we are so blessed to live in such a beautiful and stunning province! With international travel extremely limited why not dive into OUR tourism industry and explore our home? We have compiled together a list of things to visit and do around Edmonton and Alberta during this weird era of social distancing!

*keep in mind these are just a few things to do and have a focus of social distancing - there is truly SO much to see in Alberta! Comment below your favourite hidden gem of Alberta/Edmonton if we didn't mention it!

15 Ideas for Summer Adventures - Edmonton & Alberta

(aside from just Banff National Park & Jasper National Park)

1. Check out graffiti murals all over Edmonton! Here are some stunning street art locations we've seen all over Instagram & TikTok: the Graffiti tunnel of Whitemud Creek, 10442 105 St NW, 10332A 105 St NW, 10519 104 Ave OR check out this incredible blog post by Linda Hoang - Guide to Instagrammable Walls of Edmonton
2. Take a walk in our stunning Edmonton River Valley! There are endless walking and biking trails of varying degrees of difficulty! Download the app All Trails and explore away! Some of our favourites are: the Nellie McClung Park Trail, the Cloverbar Sightseeing Walk and the Kinsmen Park Trail! But there are so many you guys - get outside! Pack some snacks, water and a sitting blanket and catch some rays and beautiful nature!
   
3. Take an adventure to find the Edmonton River Valley Swing

   

   Photo Credit to Linda Hoang

4. Take a road trip to explore the interesting and well, odd monuments sprinkled all over Alberta such as: The Mundare sausage, The world largest perogy in Glendon, Aaron the Herron and so many more. Narcity released an awesome article identifying all the strange Alberta landmarks to check out. This could easily be an activity spread over a few weekends! 

   

   This is not a drill. Photo from Google

5. Check out local farmers markets and support local businesses! As restrictions are lifting many local farmers markets are opening for the summer with social distancing rules. Check these out for locally made products, local produce and so much more! Here is a complete list of Edmonton's Farmer's Markets.
6. With gyms closed - why not check out a socially distanced outdoor workout class? Many local fitness businesses are hosting outdoor workouts whilst following social distancing guidelines! Concordia University has a great list of some social distance acceptable workout ideas here or check out local fitness hubs on social media they are always posting outdoor classes! 
7. Check out Bowden's Sunflower Maze! Usually open in Mid-August, the farm is currently unsure in what capacity it will open but it looks stunning... check out the SunMaze website here! 

   

   Photo from SunMaze Website

8. Nordegg, Alberta - this hidden gem is only 3.5 hours away from Edmonton with a plethora of hikes, viewpoints and so much wildlife! No matter your hiking ability there is something for everyone! Here is a great article of some ideas of what to check out around Nordegg!
   
9. Siffleur Falls, Nordegg, Alberta - an easy 9.7 km hike with beautiful views. Check it out on All Trails and make sure you download the map before leaving since there is no cellphone reception at the trailhead! 
   
10. Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta - an absolutely stunning place we have yet to explore but have recommended over and over and over again! Currently the Waterton National Park is closed but starting on June 1st there will be limited access to the park! Keep informed by checking out the website here and definitely get out there if you can! Plan your trip here.
11. Drumheller, Alberta - roam where the dinosaurs did and check out a totally different geographical landscape than you're used to with hoodoos and sandy trails. If you're a dino enthusiast, you can look for small fossils or explore the trails! There is so much to do in Drumheller, check it out here
12. Take a road trip along the Icefields Parkway for incredible views, hikes and so much more! (yes this is between Banff and Jasper!) Check out some prime spots here! 

    

    Photo from Google

13. Dinosaur Provincial Park - which is different than Drumheller! Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 2 and a half hours east of Calgary known for its' Badland vibes and views - you can literally find dinosaur bones here you guys. Check out the Park website here for more information during covid-19 and this great article on some things to do in the park! 

    

    Photo from http://hikebiketravel.com

14. Check out some of Alberta's stunning lakes, some of our favourites are: Cold Lake, Slave Lake, Crimson Lake, Wabamun Lake - check out this blog post for a list of the BEST beaches and lakes around Alberta to hit up this summer! 
15. Kananaskis Country is a beautiful area an hour outside of Calgary that is made up of 51 parks and endless rivers, foothills, wildflowers, mountain views and trails. Check out this article for a general breakdown of Kananaskis' eight geographical regions and this list of 25 things to do in the summer!