Image via Travel Alberta
Canadian travel, but make it quirky! There’s no better place than Alberta for a summer road trip. From diverse landscapes to pit stops that will make you scratch your head, there’s plenty to see.
You may already know that our province is home to the world’s largest dinosaur, but did you know we have a ton of other quirky roadside attractions? From giant fishing lures to UFO landing pads, here are all the weird and wonderful places to stop on an Alberta road trip.
You can visit all these spots from Calgary to Edmonton. If you’re starting in Edmonton, just follow this list in reverse.
Start your Alberta road trip adventure in Vulcan — the town, not Spock’s home planet. This small prairie town was named before the iconic TV series came out, but they’ve leaned into it since. Now, the town is known as the official Star Trek Capital of Canada. Don’t miss a photo-op with the Starship FX6-1995-A, a replica of the Starship Enterprise. There’s even a Star Trek-themed tourist centre right behind the ship.
Where: 115 Centre Street East, Vulcan
Drumheller Alberta is already famous thanks to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and many fossils unearthed in the area. It’s also home to Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur. She’s about four-and-a-half times the size of a real T-Rex and you can pose for a photo in her mouth! Sadly, Tyra will only be around for a little longer. It was announced that the dinosaur, along with the adjoining gift shop and visitor information centre, will close down in 2029. So make sure to cross this one off your bucket list soon.
Where: 20 1 Ave W, Drumheller
If you’re a golf fan, you can’t miss stopping by the world’s largest golf tee. From Drumheller, continue for about an hour until arriving at Trochu. The staggering 12-metre-tall Golf Tee towers over the Trochu Golf & Country Club. Play a few holes and grab lunch at the country club while you’re there.
Where: 101 Devilder Ave., Trochu
In the small town of Torrington, you’ll find a museum unlike any other. The World Famous Gopher Museum started as a last-ditch attempt to reinvigorate a beloved small town, and it worked! The entire museum is dedicated to taxidermied gophers set up in various dioramas depicting events from the town’s history to classic ‘Canadiana’ tableaus. It’s quirky, there are lots of puns, and the gophers are ethically sourced… hawks often drop them from the sky — truly!
Where: 208 1st St. S., Torrington
A 13-metre-long fishing lure and hook? Why not. Stop by the small town of Lacombe and get a photo with the 2019 Guinness World Records-certified largest fishing lure. The installation was commissioned by the Thompson-Pallister Bait Company as a replica of one of their most popular lures, the Five of Diamonds. You’ll notice it right away by the signature red and yellow pattern on the spoon. Well, that, and it’s massive.
Where: 5910 Len Thompson Dr. #5914, Lacombe
Speaking of big things in small towns, head on over to Donalda, and you’ll find a giant oil lamp that stands 13 metres high. It overlooks the Meeting Creek Coulee and the northern Canadian Badlands and lights up every night. Across the street, you’ll find the museum, which is home to the world’s largest collection of oil lamps, with over 1,000 lamps dating back to the 1600s.
Where: Donalda Gallery for the Arts — 5002 Main St., Donalda
In the charming St. Paul, Alta., beings are encouraged to park their vehicles, flying or otherwise, by the world’s first UFO Landing pad. The iconic landmark was built back in 1967 and stands for the town’s enduring reputation of unity and hospitality. While they haven’t had any extraterrestrial visitors yet (that we know of), it’s a great place to stop for a photo and dream of encounters of the third kind.
Where: 4844-5012 53rd St., St. Paul
Time to fuel up and start exploring.
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