It is often called the "Texas of Canada", and it's no wonder why. Between its vast farmland for cattle and deep oil reserves, the province of Alberta offers plenty of rich resources for those who work in the global agricultural or energy sectors.
Q&A: Outdoor fans with time on their hands should make it a point to travel beyond Edmonton or Calgary if they are visiting Alberta.
Where should they go? The Canadian Rockies, a range of mountains that border Alberta and British Columbia, are a must-see. There are two towns that are often frequented by outdoor enthusiasts who like hiking or river rafting in warmer climates, or skiing, skating and snowshoeing in cooler temperatures.
What are the town names? Banff and Jasper. Banff tends to have more tourists but features a larger selection of quaint restaurants. One is The Grizzly House, which offers an eclectic mix of meats for fondue, including an "exotic" dinner of rattlesnake, ostrich and buffalo.
How is Jasper? Quieter but also very scenic. Nearby, there's an icefield that stretches some 230 kilometres. It has been receding over the years, as warmer climates have shrunk the vast span of ice, but there are still parts where even novice climbers can get an up-close feel for the natural wonder.
Is it still a good time to visit either Banff or Jasper?Yes. Spring tends to be a little messy because a lot of glacial ice and snow melts and washes through hiking trails. But most of the trails that cut through mountains near both towns are still free of snow, and skiing season is just around the corner.
Many business travellers end up in one of two cities, either the more affluent and populous Calgary, or the province's capital, Edmonton. Both feature beautiful river valleys that cut through their downtown cores, where visitors during the autumn can burn off post-meeting stress with runs or bike rides along kilometres of trails. The Fairmont hotels in both cities provide some of the cosiest, most luxurious accommodation.
But Calgary is often considered the prettier of the rival cities for its views of the nearby Rocky Mountains. One of the best views can be found atop the Calgary Tower, which stands 1,228 metres above sea level and features the city's largest 360-degree observation deck. Calgary also provides a greater selection of restaurants for those who are staying downtown. The Stephen Avenue Walk, in particular, often features live performances and festivals, plus nine major shopping centres and department stores.
If it's shopping that visitors are after then Edmonton will offer a better experience, at least for those who don't mind wandering through the largest mall in North America. Much like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which feature lavish malls to escape the heat, West Edmonton Mall was built to help locals avoid temperatures that regularly dip below minus 25°C during winter.
Top 5: Things to do in Alberta.
1 Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park.
2 Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Drumheller.
3 Mount Edith Cavell, Jasper National Park.
4 Chinook Rafting, Banff National Park.
5 Moraine Lake, Banff National Park.
Source: Trip Advisor
West Ed, as locals call it, boasts the world's largest indoor amusement park, biggest indoor wave-pool and tallest indoor permanent bungee tower. Needless to say there are also plenty of shopping outlets and other services. Most of the city's more than 30 annual festivals occur during the warmer months, so this may be the best choice once the snow starts to fall in another month or so.
The Quote: "We [Alberta] are the only province in Canada keeping pace with the top-tier countries in the world." Stephen Harper, prime minister of Canada and a government representative of Calgary
