2025 AUG · A Round Trip from Calgary to Edmonton

Two cities, one province: a stroll between Alberta’s urban giants.
Big bison with tiny bean-like eyes, a pirate ship marooned in a kingdom of commerce.

This two-day trip north from Calgary felt like a mini time-travel. Highway 2 stretched straight to the horizon, flanked by hay bales, farmland, and small towns. Along the way, history and nature kept jumping out at us—glacial lakes, oil fields, a century-old legislature, and a mega-mall that felt like the future.

Sylvan Lake — A Glacier’s Gift, Now a Water Playground

Our first stop was Sylvan Lake, west of Red Deer. Thanks to a navigation “oops,” we ended up on a long gravel road and accidentally found a quiet local dock rather than the crowded lakefront. Lucky us! From here, you could wade 20 meters into the water and it still only reached your knees. I didn’t go in—too cold, and honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking of the old fable “The Pony Crossing the River.”

Thousands of years ago, glaciers retreated and left this giant pit behind, which filled with water and became Alberta’s beloved “summer bathtub.” There’s little commercial development here—if you want to paddleboard, fish, or dive, you bring your own gear. The freedom is part of the charm: gear in hand, the lake is yours. Nature used to be quiet, but humans have turned it into a lively playground.

Alberta Legislature Building — Stone That Speaks, Politics More Intricate Than the Carvings

Construction started in 1907; by 1912, the building stood tall in classical revival style, declaring its authority. The white marble dome glistened in the sun, as if whispering: This is where countless Albertan destinies were decided.

Inside, marble halls and arched windows impress immediately. Details reveal visits from royalty, portraits of past premiers line the second-floor gallery, and from the top rotunda you can hear the fountain below echo like a spiritual baptism. It reminded me of echo walls back home.

The ceremonial mace rests in a display case, still radiating the gravitas of opening sessions long ago. The whole place insists on reminding you: Alberta may be about oil and cattle, but deep down, it still carries the imprint of the British Empire.

Outside, a statue holds a stained-glass book, almost as if to say: the light of power is blinding.

Elk Island National Park — A Staring Contest with Giants

Not far past the entrance, a herd of bison—each weighing tons—was having breakfast. Their eyes said only one thing: nothing interrupts mealtimes.

This park saved North America’s bison from extinction in the early 20th century. Today you can see both wood and plains bison roaming in groups, a living miracle. In the wetlands, besides otters, we spotted muskrats—the “little engineers” of the marsh. They build mini villas in the water, probably with better feng shui sense than human developers.

The visitor center even has animal furs you can touch—moose, white-tailed deer, elk. Every four-legged resident of this land seems to have a spot in the park’s family registry.

University of Alberta — Halls of Learning, Old Bricks & New Students

This is the academic landmark of Western Canada. Red bricks, Gothic spires—old by Canadian standards, young by world standards. Knowledge itself feels like decoration here, heavy as the ivy climbing the walls.

The campus core is dense with buildings:

• The Three Sisters (Athabasca, Assiniboia, Pembina Halls), the first red-brick residences around the central Quad.

• Rutherford Library (1950s), one of the main libraries.

• CCIS (Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science), a modern science hub with an observatory on the roof.

• Aga Khan Garden (2018), an Islamic-inspired landscape with pools and pathways.

It’s hard to call it “new,” but it doesn’t feel ancient either—a blend of youthful energy and historical weight.

West Edmonton Mall — A Pirate Ship Trapped in Consumer Utopia

One of the world’s largest shopping centers. Inside, you’re greeted by a full-size pirate ship that looks ready to sail for the Caribbean. Add in an indoor amusement park and a waterpark, and it feels like a perpetual carnival.

Consumerism runs wild here. Winter may be long in Edmonton, but this place is a warm Noah’s Ark of fun. With enough money, you can have it all: a life-size Lego car, roller coasters, every brand imaginable. The mall walls shut out winter’s chill—though, sadly, they don’t shut out my shallow wallet.

Final Thoughts — Alberta as a Jigsaw Puzzle

Two days on the road made Alberta feel like a mosaic:

• Lakes gift you calm,

• The Legislature reminds you of history,

• Bison and muskrats warn that nature is stubborn,

• Universities stay quiet,

• And malls roar with noise.