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30 Days in Alberta: Glaciers, Dinosaurs, and the Start of Our 20,000 km Road Trip

Exploring Banff, Jasper, the Columbia Icefield Parkway, and Drumheller as a family before driving coast-to-coast across America.

This story is part of The 20,000 km North America Road Trip, the master account of the wider journey.

Our 3-month North American road trip began with a full month in Alberta, Canada. Traveling together as a family, we wanted to experience the natural landscapes, glaciers, and paleontology museums of the Canadian West.

Banff and Jasper National Parks

Driving through Banff and Jasper provided breathtaking views of glacier lakes, pine forests, and mountain passes:

  • Columbia Icefield Parkway: One of the most scenic highway drives in North America, connecting Banff and Jasper.
  • Lake Louise & Moraine Lake: Turquoise glacier water surrounded by mountain walls.
  • Calgary & Edmonton: Experiencing urban life and regional culture in Alberta’s major cities.

Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller

In the Alberta badlands, Drumheller offers a stark contrast to the Rocky Mountains. The Royal Tyrrell Museum houses world-class dinosaur fossil displays that were both educational and memorable for my family.

This month in Alberta set the tone for the remaining 20,000 kilometers of our journey across the United States.