The Ultimate Summer Adventure: Alberta, Canada

Only a few hours apart, Edmonton and Jasper combined make for the perfect summer adventure. Edmonton's nickname is "Festival City," assuring you there's always lots on the go at any time of year. It's also home to the largest urban park land in North America (22 times the size of Central Park), the highest streetcar river crossing in the world, and West Edmonton Mall, North America's largest mall that has an indoor triple loop roller coaster and the globe's largest wave pool.

When it's time for some outdoor adventure, it's only a short trip into Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies. Being among the massive, snow-capped peaks really puts things into perspective, and there's so much opportunity to throw yourself into nature. You can raft on the unbelievably blue Athabasca River, hike some of the more than 1000 kms of maintained trails, and gaze at star-speckled skies in the world's largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled; there are over 50 animal species in the park like elk, moose, bears, and wolves. It's Canada's greatest adventure.