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The Best Things to Do in Crowsnest Pass Alberta

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Crowsnest Pass Alberta

Crowsnest Pass, or “The Pass” as the locals call it, is a singular collective of five historic mining towns, all surrounded by the majestic rocky mountains. Each community is unique and has been formed through a history of economic booms, tragedies, and a local passion for the area.

Today, small historic mining towns, incredible mountain vistas, and lots of outdoor adventure are just some of the things that attract visitors to the Crowsnest Pass. One of the most scenic areas in Alberta, the Crowsnest Highway makes for a wonderful road trip, which is also perpendicular to another famous Canada road trip – the Cowboy Trail. Whether you’re looking to explore the historic sites of some of Canada’s deadliest disasters, go hiking in the mountains, or just enjoy that small-town vibe, the Crowsnest Pass should be on your bucket list. [Read more…] about The Best Things to Do in Crowsnest Pass Alberta

Things To Do in Cardston, Alberta | The Remington Carriage Museum

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Remington Carriage Museum

I’m always amazed by big attractions that lay hidden away in small towns just beyond the beaten path. I find travel is like an onion. As you peel away one layer, another emerges. Such is the case for the Remington Carriage Museum, which is located in Cardston, Alberta. Despite living in Alberta and traveling extensively within the province, I had never heard of this museum until I was on a writing assignment with Zenseekers to showcase Southern Alberta.

The Remington Carriage Museum is home to more than 270 carriages and is the largest of its kind in the world. Upon entering the museum, we were essentially transported back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, getting a glimpse of carriages that carried pioneers and some that carried the rich and famous. As someone who grew up watching Western movies, I really loved seeing the overnight carriages, decked out in white canvas, used by pioneers traveling across the country. We learned all about Don Remington (1914 – 1987) and why he created this place. We also learned of their newest exhibit featuring Robert McLaughlin, the entrepreneur behind the largest carriage manufacturing company in the British Empire. Considering how big of an impact this family had on Canada, I was surprised I had never heard of them before. They even created Canada Dry Ginger Ale. [Read more…] about Things To Do in Cardston, Alberta | The Remington Carriage Museum

A Day in Castle Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada

By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

things to do in alberta

2017 was an exciting year for Alberta. We got a new provincial park! Castle Provincial Park, located just 45-minutes South of Pincher Creek, is a 105,000-hectare treasure chest of rocky mountain scenery, lakes, and rivers. It’s also much less crowded than heavily established parks like Banff, Jasper, and Waterton national park.

We recently had the opportunity to spend a day there, and although we wish we had more time to explore the park a bit deeper, we were on a busy road trip throughout Southern Alberta and had already made plans to visit places such as Frank Slide. [Read more…] about A Day in Castle Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada

Standing on Top of Canada’s Deadliest Landslide at Frank Slide, Alberta

By Matthew G. Bailey 1 Comment

frank slide alberta

Today, Frank is a very small town in Southern Alberta, but back in the early 1900s, people thought it was going to be the next Pittsburgh. Due to its rich mining industry, people were coming from all over the place in hopes of creating a better life. Then, in 1903, the mountain tumbled down with 82 million tonnes of limestone rock covering up more than three square kilometres of the valley below, claiming more than 90 lives in the process. It was a devastating morning that changed the town of Frank forever.

More than 100 years later, Frank Slide is a “bucket list” attraction, teaching people Frank Slide facts while providing dramatic views of the landslide itself. For me, it was mesmerizing to be standing on the rubble that once crowned the top of Turtle Mountain. We started off with the free “Drive Through the Slide” tour, which is basically a self-driving tour through the original road that was covered up by the landslide. Along the way, we stopped the vehicle to read the info-signs provided by the interpretive centre. At one point, we were standing in the closest place that didn’t get struck by the landslide. It’s truly hard to believe that I could have been standing here back in 1903 and had the landslide go whizzing right by me. Can you imagine that? Our next stop was where they found some skeletons in one of the houses that got demolished. In fact, there are skeletons still underneath the rock. There was just no way to find them all. [Read more…] about Standing on Top of Canada’s Deadliest Landslide at Frank Slide, Alberta

One-Day Itinerary: Three Ways to Experience Pincher Creek Alberta

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

things to do in pincher creek alberta

Located right next to beautiful Highway 3, not too far from Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek often gets left out of a traveller’s itinerary. That’s just what happens when you’re so close to a major tourist attraction. People tend to just stop for gas and keep ongoing. This time, however, we decided to stay and uncover some of the hidden gems that make Pincher Creek a cool destination to visit. [Read more…] about One-Day Itinerary: Three Ways to Experience Pincher Creek Alberta