Highlights from a Few End of Season Road Trips

Okay, I’ll admit I’m a little slow at getting this post out. These quick jaunts through Drumheller, Lethbridge, and Bowden were done back in early September (hence the lack of snow and the warm looking weather). To be honest, there were some time constraints and a sprained ankle to deal with, so our usual exploration abilities were limited. There are so many great places to visit in Alberta, and these are definitely not all of them, but they are the ones we discovered (and were able to hobble around) this time around.

Have some time before getting lost inside the Royal Tyrell Museum? The Hoodoos Trail is a little stop just outside of Drumheller. A good place for taking in some unusual landscapes.

The hoodoos of the Hoodoos Trail. There’s also parking across the road, a pair of port-a-potties, and a small food truck (hours may vary).

Crossing Star Mine Suspension Bridge (still in Drumheller). Originally for coal miners and now for tourists. Follow the path on the other side of the bridge up the hillside for great views of the Red Deer River.

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. Bringing a touch of zen to…Lethbridge?! Yep, the buildings were constructed in Japan and brought here. Check out their website for fun events such as yoga in the gardens or anime night in the pavilion (comes complete with popcorn).

The High Level Bridge a.k.a. the Lethbridge Viaduct. This is the closest I’ve been to a trestle bridge before (I’m either going over them on a train or admiring them from afar) and it was super cool to see up close.

Built over 100 years ago, it remains one of the largest railway bridges in Canada.

We found this little bathing guy at the Elizabeth Hall Wetlands. A nice place for a short walk and to take in some wildlife.

There is a floating dock that lets you go out on the water and watch the birds play among the reeds.

Yes, there really is a town called Vulcan in Alberta. And yes, there are Star Trek things here.

The starship right next to the highway is a good indication that you’ve arrived at Vulcan. Grab a free map from the Vulcan Tourism and Trek Centre to find all things Trekkie.

In the fall, there are a number of corn mazes and sunflower mazes to choose from, so it’s worth a bit of research to narrow down the choices. We picked the Bowden SunMaze.

Beautiful trifecta of a sunflower, a butterfly, and a bee.