DYK: Alberta Parks surrounds Edmonton with a wide range of epic provincial parks complete with camping, beaches, hiking, OHV trails and wildlife watching all just a short drive away. But what about winter? Visiting Provincial Parks in winter could be one of the best kept secret bonuses of living and thriving in Alberta. Here are three great Provincial Parks all east of Edmonton that are ready, set and geared to make your season bright if you come to visit …
5 Fun Family Ski Hills and Tubing Parks East of Edmonton
When you ski East of Edmonton, not only will you avoid the crowds, you’ll also save on lift tickets and rentals. AND there’s that fresh, fluffy snow. No matter which area of the region you prefer to venture out to, adventure awaits! Go Ski Northeast of Edmonton Long Lake Ski Area Find this family-friendly resort amidst the scenery of the Long Lake Provincial Park in Thorhild County. They offer downhill skiing and snowboarding for all ages with 13 downhill & …
On the Ice
By: Lisa Roper Pictures by: Lisa Roper The winter months can be dark and cold in Alberta, but I spend countless days looking for fish on frozen water. Whether it’s early, mid- or late season ice fishing, there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of using just the right lures, bait, and techniques to land my aquatic quarry. Just east of Edmonton, lies several ice-fishing lakes, well-known among anglers. To name a few: Lac La Biche, Touchwood, Blackett, Pinehurst, Little …
Hooked on Lake Trout
By: Lisa Roper Pictures by: Lisa Roper and Mat Weaver Crunch, crunch, crunch. My boots connect with the icy snow. It is a sound I have come to love in the stillness of the morning before the sun crests the horizon. Pulling my sleigh across the frozen lake with fishing gear in tow, I drill my first hole and drop a line into the ice-chilled depths of the water. My Kims Watermelon tube jig baited with a frozen chunk of …
Building Bonnyville’s Nordic North
By Jeremy Derksen Credit: Paul Lavoie / SnowSeekers BONNYVILLE, AB – In Bonnyville, folks like Mitch Sylvestre (of Sylvestre’s Source for Sports) have long been clearing their own cross-country ski trails and enjoying the solitude of a winter glide. But when Les and Sarah Parsons came to town, they saw a way to turn the solitary pursuit into a community building project. For Les, it was an extension of the mission he’s lived most of his life: growing the Alberta …
Go Hut to Hut Cross-Country Skiing in Lac La Biche
Jeremy Derksen for #SkiNorthAB Although you can still see the town of Lac La Biche in the distance if you squint carefully, Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park is separated from the town’s daily bustle – if you can call it that. And that is the key to its appeal: once you cross the bridge to the island, you are disconnected both literally and figuratively. No traffic, few if any people, and absolute quiet. It’s the perfect place to discover – …
Enjoy Vermilion’s Vibe with Skiing and Local Après
#SkiNorthAB #ExploreVermilion By Lisa Monforton Looking for a cabin fever cure mid-winter that’s not too far a drive from Edmonton? Head east to the town of Vermilion, about two hours away for a daytrip. Or, you could easily make it a mini-holiday. You’ll find wide open spaces for outdoor activities like fat biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Then warm up by popping into homey restaurants, cafes, shops – or Vermilion’s first homegrown distillery. Over the past decade, Vermilion’s main street …
Finding space to get close in Lac La Biche
By Jeremy Derksen / SnowSeekers.ca Lac La Biche, AB – Snowmobiling through willow stands and old birch along Tom’s Trail (one of a handful of locally known cut trails), Heather Maekelburger wraps her arms around David Schultz and leans in, while he navigates the hairpin turns. Soon the trail opens out onto a bay of Lac La Biche and they both grin as Schultz opens it up, the engine growling to life as they skim across the bay. As they …
Go East of Edmonton 2024 Photo Contest Winners
We have our winners for the 2024 Go East of Edmonton Photo Contest! Thank you to everyone who participated and a BIG congratulations to all of the winners! The BEST of photos are awarded $100 and the runners up are award $50. Sponsored by The Marketer – publishers of the Go East of Edmonton Travel Guide and Go East Regional Tourism Organization. BEST SCENIC PHOTO – Quadding along the North Saskatchewan River in Two Hills County Photo by Miles …
Winners of the 2024 Go East of Edmonton Roadtrip Adventure Game
CONGRATULATIONS to all of our WINNERS in the 2024 Go East of Edmonton Roadtrip Adventure Game and what a successful year it was! Sweet 16 & Ultimate Bonus Prize Winners Participants who visited 16 or more communities automatically earned the Sweet 16 Bonus Prize (valued at approximately $25). Additionally, those who completed the full journey across all 46 communities became eligible for both the Sweet 16 Bonus and the prestigious Ultimate Bonus Prize categories. Haley Koncur, Ardrossan, …