Hometown hidden gems revealed for all Albertans to enjoy

Do you have a favourite hometown hidden gem that flies under the radar?

That was the question this week on Alberta at Noon, as the showspoke to a number of guests, and callers (and emailers)about a few overlooked spots that Albertans might want to check out.

It was inspired by Edmonton high school student Riley Holterhus, who had no intention of launching a trend.

"I'm leaving [Edmonton] soon and won't be back in the future. I just wanted to record the places I like. I posted on Redditand it got really popular," he said.

Among those commenters was someone from the University of Alberta, who offered to work with Holterhus to create a website featuring his favourite places.

Holterhus's favourite? Edmonton's end of the world.

"I think what it was was a foundation retaining wall. It's kind of like a cliff. A lot of kids hang out there. It has a nice view of the River Valley. It's kind of in a curve in the river, so it has a nice view, so you can kind ofsee the zoo across the river. Youcan see HawrelakPark," he said.

He was also a big fan of the Edmonton wildlife underpass.

"That's on the south side. It's a place they made for the wildlife to go under the road. There's lots of graffiti there, but it's all pretty tasteful, and it's all just a really cool place to go check out," he said.

Alberta's badlands

In Calgary, travel writer Kim Gray, the co-founder of the Toque and Canoe website (and wife of the Calgary Eyeopener's David Gray), shared a couple of her favourite under-the-radar destinations.

First suggestion for all visitors flying into Calgary: drive east to the badlands, rather than west to the mountains.

"The badlands are so dramatic and here I'm thinking too of the amazing HorsethiefCanyon," she said, referencing an area 16 kilometres northwest of Drumheller.

"It's otherworldly.It's fantastic for kids to run around in," she said, noting its history as the hiding place for horses smuggled into Canada from the U.S. It's also known for good fossil hunting.

Dinosaur country

Of course, the Drumhellerarea is the home of the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

"I took my 80-year-old mom there. I didn't know she was a dinosaur fan, but I discovered she was. She was like a kid there, devoured the natural history and excited by what she saw in the museum."

A little further out about twohours from Drumheller is Dinosaur Provincial Park, which Gray thinks might be worth a look.

"This park has been designated a UNESCO world [heritage]site, because over 50 dinosaurs used to be there," she said.

"Amazing rivers used to flow there 75 million years ago."

"You can camp here and glamphere becausethere are premium riverfront sites you can rent," she said.

Banff'screative hub

Gray also selected an under-the-radar hidden gem hiding in plain sight in one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations: the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

"Of course you read about Banff in guide books, but do you know about the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity?Often when Igo to Banff, that's where Istay. It's off the beaten path," Gray said.

"You can just feel the creative juices flowing wherever you go.

"Every year, 4,000artists and leaders from across the country and around the world come to the centre to train, and create new work," she said.

"This work is showcased at the centre for you and I toenjoy in the form of performances, exhibits, concertsand talks."

Gray also got an insider tip from Travel Alberta writer Lisa Montforton, who was on assignment visiting the Cowboy Trail Highway 22 or more specifically, Black Diamond.

She recommended a restaurant called TheWestwood, which she said has a great outdoor patio, and offers things such as deep-fried avocado and lamb burgers. It also has live music on weekends.

There's also a great brewery in Black Diamond called Hard Knox, run by a local brother and sister. The names of the beers pay homage to local ranchers and homesteadersof yesteryear, including gas riggers and miners hence, names such as Dusty Trail and Gruntwork.

Here's a select sampling of locations, venues, and sometimes not much more than vistas provided by callers, emailers, and guests.

• Riley Park in Calgary.
• The Powderface Trail, between Sibbald and Big Elbow. One caller said it was his favourite secret drive.
• The Metro Cinema in Edmonton, which plays great foreign films you've never heard of.
• Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• A second museum dedicated to dinosaurs, the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, near Wembley, in northern Alberta, around 25 kilometresoutside of Grande Prairie.

And don't forget

Votes were cast as well, by callers, for the sandstone mansion ruins in Stanley Park, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, and the Colonel Walker House, inside the sanctuary. Listeners also suggestedthe accidental beach in Edmonton, also Medicine Hat, which has "115 kilometresof paved hiking paths," the caller said. Cold Lake was recommended by caller Chris from Cold Lake.

"There's a provincial park. You can walk forever. Sorry, they're not paved. Wonderful area."

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With files from Alberta@Noon