Travel

Drumheller, Alberta, in the heart of Canada’s prairies, proclaims itself“The Dinosaur Capital of North America”, and has the fossils to back it up.

Just northwest of Drumheller is the Dinosaur Trail, a 32-mile (50km) circular drive along Highway 838 that will lead visitors to, among other things, the Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology, and the World’s Largest Dinosaur.

The Royal Tyrell Museum has a wide array of exhibits.  The Hexen Science Hall features an interactive display to demonstrate basic scientific concepts.  In the Preparation Lab, visitors can watch scientists prepare fossils for study or display.  The Burgess Shale and Devonian Reef exhibits offer a look at life under the waters of Canada’s prehistoric oceans.  In the Cretaceous Garden, Museum guests can walk through living history, a garden filled with the same plants the dinosaurs ate.

The main attraction at the Royal Tyrell is Dinosaur Hall.  The Hall is full of mounted dinosaur skeletons, and is the largest exhibit of its kind in the world.  Walking, swimming, and flying reptiles are all present, including the Albertosaurus, first discovered by Joseph B. Tyrell.

Farther down the Dinosaur Trail visitors will find themselves confronted by the World’s Largest Dinosaur.  The Dinosaur is an 86-foot (26.2 m) concrete and steel Tyrannosaurus Rex.  He stands four times taller than the real thing did and visitors who climb the 106 steps to the viewing platform in his mouth will enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the badlands.

For dinosaur lovers, the two-hour trip to the Tyrell Museum’s Field Station at Dinosaur Provincial Park is a must-see. It functions as a base for continuing scientific study in the area and has skeletons on display in an exhibit building.  Visitors can also make reservations for a bus tour to areas of the park being excavated, areas not available to the public any other way.

Calgary, Alberta is home to the Calgary Stampede, ten-day rodeo and agricultural exhibition held the second week of July each year that bills itself “the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”.

The first Stampede was held in 1912 and attracted almost 40.000 visitors its first year, far more than anyone expected.  Attendance at the 2006 Stampede was a record-breaking 1.26 million people.  Stampede organizers recommend that anyone who wants to attend the event make reservations well in advance.

The Stampede is famous for its chuck-wagon race, reminiscent of the races cowhands would have in celebration at the end of long trail rides.  Other rodeo events include pro and novice bareback competitions, bull riding, saddle bronco riding, both pro and novice, barrel racing, wild pony racing, and several roping events.

Not even nightfall slows down the Stampede.  When the sun sets, visitors enjoy the nightly Grandstand Show, a pageant that features Canadian performers and changes every year.  Each evening, stages all over Calgary light up with performances from country music stars, comedians, dancers, and more.

The Stampede’s Midway keeps growing, too, and now averages over 30 adult rides and 20 kids-only rides each year.  Midway guests can test their skill in one of 20 or more games.  When they get hungry, attendees can find refreshment at one of the dozens of food and beverage vendors—and that is just on the Midway!

Agricultural events have been part of the Stampede since it merged with the Calgary (Agricultural) Exhibition in 1932.  Aggie Days is a family-friendly look at how milk gets from cow to table and wool from sheep to sweater plus other fun activities for kids.

One of the Stampede’s best-known events is the Caravan Breakfast.  Each morning of the Stampede, a group of dedicated volunteers puts out a free breakfast for Stampede attendees, a tradition going back over 80 years.