Packing a lengthy trip into one or two short weeks can create tense situations in any RV, but when a vacation offers shorter drives and longer stays at cool destinations, parents and kids alike are sure to have a fantastic time building memories and having fun.
"RV travel can be a great opportunity for families to bond and explore Alberta and its UNESCO sites," says Anastasia Martin-Stilwell of Travel Alberta.
"Travel can be at your own pace, everyone is in a comfortable environment, the kids can check everything out through large windows, and at the end of the day, families have the opportunity to relax around a campfire and be surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature."
Indeed, it's a relaxing, rewarding and educational trip when Alberta's UNESCO sites are involved. In fact, of 15 worldwide UNESCO World Heritage Sites, five are located in the Wild Rose Province.
WOOD BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK
Canada's largest national park is nearly 45,000 square kilometres in size, and is home to boreal forests, sedge meadows and rivers, along with the largest free-roaming herd of bison in the world.
"What's incredible about Wood Buffalo National Park is its sheer size," Martin-Stilwell says.
"It's also pretty amazing that it's home to the largest free-roaming herd of bison in the world, right here in our own provincial backyard."
Located in northern Alberta, the park offers plenty of forest to explore and wildlife to see -- perfect for the outdoor lover's getaway.
WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK
Only a few hours from Calgary is a national park that combines the dramatic rise of the mountains with the flatlands of the prairies. And, with two distinct landscapes, there's a wide range of wildlife.
Birds, bears and bighorn sheep are only some of the animals visitors can expect to see in the 536-sq.-km park, while Trappers restaurant (known for its Saskatoon Berry Pie) and the Serenity Spa are elegant ways to kick back.
HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP
This is the largest, oldest and best-preserved buffalo jump in North America.
For more than 5,000 years, bison were herded over the edge of the 10- to 18-metre cliffs by the Blackfoot peoples, and today, the site is preserved with pits, a butchering camp and a kilometre-wide expanse pocked with the remnants of meat caches and cooking pits.
"Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump immerses you in Blackfoot culture," says Marty Eberth of Travel Alberta.
"It's not just about the fascinating story behind the jump, but the traditions that are such a vital part of lives, both past and present.
DINOSAUR PROVINCIAL PARK
A favourite for kids, this badlands destination was once a low-lying coastal plain at the edge of a large, shallow sea.
Today, the Alberta attraction is a maze of hoodoos, mesas and coulees, and hoards more than 300 first-quality dinosaur skeletons and other valuable fossils.
"The first thing that strikes you is the strange look of the eroded landscape," Eberth says. "Then, you're awed by the dinosaur fossils that are weathering out of the ground. It really appeals to the 'explorer' in all of us -- and for those who want to take it to the next level, you can join a dinosaur dig for a day."
Or, families can visit the renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum to see the dinos that once called this area home.
BANFF AND JASPER NATIONAL PARKS
Two of Alberta's most popular tourist destinations, Banff and Jasper National Parks, are built around hot springs and railways that wind through the mountains. The birthplaces of Alberta's national park systems, Banff and Jasper are as steeped in history as they are breathtaking and rustic.
"Alberta's UNESCO sites are incredible attractions for all travellers, including RVers," Martin-Stilwell says. "Whether it's driving past Jasper and Banff National Parks' breathtaking mountain views and glaciers, learning about our province's Aboriginal history at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, to witnessing the diverse landscape and unique ecosystems of Dinosaur Provincial Park, there's an aspect of each UNESCO site sure to engage the entire family."
Alberta’s UNESCO sitesBosch recently introduced Bosch Park Assist
