Heading to Alberta? The Rockies are amazing, but don't skip The Canadian Badlands. This large area East and South East of Calgary offers a variety of sites and activities that are too good to be missed.



The town of Elkwater is the entry point into Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Straddling the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan it is the only interprovincial park in Canada. In addition to the expected variety of hiking trails, the park includes Elkwater Lake, which provides a perfect spot for all varieties of water sports. I got a lesson on canoeing while I was there from the park staff. Camp or spend the night at a lodge in Elkwater if sleeping on the ground is not your thing. The park is also one of a growing number of parks across the country that has a Dark Sky Preserve. For stargazers out there, the lack of light pollution makes for some amazing night sky viewing.



Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO world heritage site that is home to 40 species of dinosaurs. Surrounded by hoodoos and un-earthly scenery, go on a guided tour or be part of a dig. Would-be paleontologists are given a toolkit that includes an awl, a paintbrush, a hammer, and a dental pick for the more delicate work. I barely had my hands dirty at Bone Bed 30 before I realized I was staring at actual fossilized dinosaur bones. It is impossible not to find a fossil, whether it's a small piece of tendon or the edge of giant femur; the natural history is everywhere. Remember as part of your planning that Dinosaur Provincial Park and the better-known Royal Tyrell Museum are not the same place and are actually two hours' drive apart. Pre-book your tour or dig in advance.



If arts and crafts are more your speed head to Medicine Hat and check out the former Medalta clay factory, now a national historic district. The iconic beehive kilns of the former factory can still be toured. A highlight is the surprisingly cool museum, which chronicles the history of the factory. My favourite displays are the china collection used by Canadian Pacific hotels during the golden age of travel and the one of a kind line of dinnerware created for Ethiopian Emperor Hailee Selleses. The Yuill Family Gallery showcases rotating exhibits, including creations from Medalta's artist in residence program.