When traveling to and from the Canadian Rockies, your journey will likely take you through one of Alberta's two major cities, Calgary and Edmonton. Calgary, the primary gateway to the Rockies, is known as much for its western hospitality as its vibrant economy supported by vast oil and gas reserves in the surrounding foothills and the prairies to the east. Every year in early July Calgary plays host to the greatest cowboys on Earth at the Calgary Stampede, the world's second richest rodeo. Edmonton, Alberta's capital, is a more modest city supported by the government and service sector. Edmonton's version of the Stampede, Klondike Days, is a major tourist draw in addition to the world's largest mall / indoor amusement park - West Edmonton Mall. If your schedule permits, some of the attractions you shouldn't miss are the Calgary Zoo, Drumheller and the Royal Tyrell Dinosaur museum, Heritage Park (Calgary), West Edmonton Mall, Fort Steele Historic Park (Cranbrook, BC), or heading up to the northern reaches of Alberta to experience the magnetic 'Northern Lights'.

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