Anyone here ever been to Alberta, Canada?

I live in Edmonton, and I've been all over the province.

It really is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The endless fields and the rocky mountains. If you do visit, I do recommend Banff. Jasper is nice, but without skiing there isn't that much to do. Banff has a ton of stuff to do in the off season, or if you just dont want to hit the slopes. Personally though, if you ARE a skiier/boarder Jasper is where I like hit the mountain. I do have to recommend, if you do go to Banff, try to stay in the Rimrock Resort Hotel. It's very very pricey, but it's absolutely gorgeous and worth it. The hot springs are walking distance, and the view is incredible. If you can stay in winter, do it. You've never seen anything so pretty. It actually kind of reminds me of the hotel from the Shining. But with less death.

That picture you linked appears to have been taken right on the lake outside just Chataeu Lake Louise. Amazing hotel, and amazing scenery. However there really isn't alot to do there. It is close enough to Banff though if you are staying there you can easily day-trip it up, or spend a night enjoying the sights.

The Calgary Zoo is amazing, and must be seen. It's been ranked as one of the best in the world.

West Edmonton Mall is the biggest mall in the world, and is a nice tourist trap. Where else can you go to a movie, go to a waterpark (with wavepool and tons of slides), an amusement park with the world's largest indoor rooller coaster, ice skate, sea lion show, shop for hours, and stay in a hotel without leaving a fucking mall?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by DragoonKain

Have you stayed at Chateau Lake Louise? I was looking up a lot of info on the hotel. It looks very nice and it's pretty much smack dab on Lake Louise. I'm not the kind of guy that needs a billion activities to be satisfied with a vacation. I could sit and admire the scenery for a week straight and have fun.

If I did go I'd probably be gooing in the spring or summer, because I absolutely could not miss football season. Unless I want in late february. But I do love the whole wintry scene. Snowy mountains, etc. The place does look amazing. Alberta just looks like my kinda vacation spot.

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3263/banff29eb8.jpg

I found that picture of Banff on google. It may not look like anything to the average person, but I love those kinda towns on the base of a mountain. Looks awesome.

Also I wanted to ask you about the climate. If I go in the spring or summer, what will the climate be up there? Since I probably couldn't go during winter, I'd at least want that 40 or 50 degree crisp air in my face all day.

I've never personally stayed at the Chateau Lake Louise, but I have been too it. And yes, it is a very nice hotel. If you could just sit and admire the scenery, you would enjoy it.

Spring or summer, depending on exactly what time you go you could expect temperatures of anywhere from the low teens to mid to high twenties (in celsius ofcourse, no idea what that is in F). We went in march to banff last year and it was still quite "winter-y". Hot springs while it's snowing FTW.

There's nowhere I can't reach.