One Tank Trip for Alberta Camping

Alberta's grandeur and beauty are obvious from the moment you arrive. Awe-inspiring mountain ranges, rolling foothills, lush farmland, and even desert topography dot this area. Alberta has long been known as the perfect place to play during the winter months, offering a wide variety of sports, from skiing to dog sledding. And if that doesn't win you over, the hospitality will. Alberta is among the friendliest places you'll ever visit. What are you waiting for? Let's head to Alberta! Lloydminster is unusual in that it lies in both the Alberta and Saskatchewan Provinces, but it’s a great place for us to begin our one tank trip. The line separating both Provinces runs directly down the center of the city, giving it the unique distinction of being Canada's only “border city”, and one of the few places you can claim to have been in two separate towns, and two separate provinces, at the same time! Being the only border city, Lloydminster is also home to the world's largest (100 ft.) survey markers, which can be found in Lloydminster's City Hall. Once a Barr Colony, the city takes pride in its pioneer heritage, and nowhere is this more evident than at the Barr Colony Heritage Cultural Centre, found on the Saskatchewan side of town. This impressive collection houses over 250 religious and historical artworks, and is a good way to glimpse into the past of this unique place. Saying goodbye to Lloydminster, take BC-Yellowhead Hwy/Hwy-16 W to our next Alberta RV camping location, Vegreville. Named after Father Valentin Vegreville, a missionary in Western Canada, the first settlers arrived here in 1894. One of the most unusual aspects of this small town is the cultural diversity and the harmony with which the locals live and work together. By the 1950s, there were more than thirty different ethnic groups living in the area, the four largest being English, French, German and Ukrainian. The other amazing notable fact about Vegreville is that it is home to the world's largest pysanka, or Ukrainian Easter egg. Measuring some 25.7 feet long, 18.3 feet wide, and 31.6 feet high with the massive internal structure weighing 3,000 pounds. It is the premiere attraction of Vegreville, and one that thousands of visitors come to marvel at every year for its beauty, size and engineering. Now, try and picture the 300-foot chicken that would have laid it........... Continuing on Hwy 16 W, we come to our next Alberta RV Camping stop, the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. This little village is not like any other you'll encounter; in fact, you might want to check your calendar, just to make sure what year it is. An open-air museum, the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village was built to resemble the pioneer settlements in East Central Alberta. Buildings from surrounding communities have been moved to the village and painstakingly restored to various years within the first part of the twentieth century. Guides at the village are in full historic costume, and remain in character at all times, answering questions as if it is the year their building portrays, usually from the year 1930 or earlier. Many of the structures are homes of three important settler families, as well as farmsteads, and town buildings. Activities at the Village change from day-to-day and week-to-week according to the season so that no two visits to the site are ever quite the same. Making your way back to present time, it's time to get back on Hwy 16 W to the final destination of our one tank trip, Edmonton. The capital of Alberta, Edmonton is known for its scenic river valley, and a thriving art and music community. But the most incredible sight is the mammoth West Edmonton Mall. Much more than any shopping center you've probably ever seen, this complex has a giant water park, a man-made lake, a skating rink, two mini-golf courses, 21 theaters, a casino, and an amusement park with 25 rides and attractions. With all of this, is it any wonder that it's also North America's largest shopping and entertainment complex? This is one place that will provide you with more than just your run-of-the-mill shopping adventure. Make sure you bring your walking shoes! Beautiful Alberta, with its charming, warm people, beautiful landscapes and deep-rooted history, offers broad possibilities for any travelers. Whether you're looking to escape the grind of every day life in the wilderness, or to dive head first into metropolitan creature comforts, Alberta's door is always open. Back to One Tank Trips for 2011 Woodall's Recommended Alberta RV Campgrounds