How many times have you experienced a simply unforgettable moment on holiday? Watching the sun rise over a mountain range, viewing an iconic, world famous sight for the first time, or sharing your first ever helicopter flight with your closest loved one?

One man who knows all about unforgettable travel is adventure traveller Dominic Gill who in 2006 embarked on a journey down two continents on a tandem bicycle, picking up strangers on the way. Three years after setting off, he'd travelled from Alaska to Argentina, made an award-winning documentary and written a book that explored the more human side of the journey.

One of his favourite places in the world is the West Canadian province of Alberta, home to the Canadian Rockies. Three times the size of Britain and equal to the combined areas of France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The province has a diversity of natural terrain - from the aforementioned Mountain ranges (home to the National Parks of Banff and Jasper), terrifyingly named badlands (home to the dinosaur bone beds), extensive plains, ancient glaciers, boreal forests and not to mention thousands of lakes and rivers. All of which offer adventure, activities and those unforgettable moments we all search for when on holiday – no matter our age or gender.

If you've ever wanted to visit somewhere rich in areas of natural beauty and breath taking scenery, with hundreds of species of wildlife, an intriguing history of indigenous cultures, prehistoric dinosaur remains and not forgetting home-grown cowboys, Alberta could be the perfect place for you.

Log on to our Web TV show where Dominic Gill and Jeffrey Sundquist, from Alberta give you a guide as to how best you can get out there and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime in Alberta.

For more information visit www.myalbertaadventure.com

H: Kevin Harris, host

A: Jeffrey Sundquist, Alberta UK

B: Dominic Gill, Adventure Traveller

H: If you’ve ever wanted to visit somewhere rich in natural beauty, full of wildlife and boasting prehistoric dinosaur remains, then stay right where you are, because we’ve just the place for you

Titles

H: Hello and welcome to Travel Talk, I’m Kevin Harris. Now then, how many times have you experienced a simply unforgettable moment on a holiday or trip away? I know I’ve had plenty of them over the years. Maybe it was a sunrise over a mountain range or perhaps a glimpse of some local, special wildlife that’s usually very rare to the human eye. Whatever it was one place which will fill you with moments like these is the Western Canadian Province of Alberta, and here to tell us more about this are two experts on all things Alberta, joining me today Dominic Gill and Jeffrey Sundquist. Before we join the guys just time for me to tell you what’s coming up today. So over the next 10 or 15 minutes we’ll be having a look at the stunning landscape, you’ll learn about all there is to see here. We’ll learn a little bit about the intriguing culture, and you’ll find out all the things there are to do here. And as always we’ll be answering all of your questions live on the show. So Jeff Dominic, thanks so much for coming in. We were just having a little chat there about all there is to do in Alberta. I for one would absolutely love to go there, I think we’ve discovered that much. But it’s a huge place Jeff, there’s a lot to see and there’s a lot to do

A: Well Canada is the second largest country in the world

H: Yes

A: And the province of Alberta in the Western part is about three times the size of the entire United Kingdom

H: Yes that’s incredible. That’s incredible

A: It is

H: Because our viewers will be thinking oh you know I might – if I’m in the UK I might visit Scotland or visit Cornwall or Devon or somewhere like that. Well you know you’ve got three times those places to visit if you make a trip to Alberta

A: It – and there’s so much to do once you’re there, whether you’re into high country hiking or whether you’re wanting to take your children to go through the dinosaur bones in Drumheller in the Flatlands, so there’s just such a diverse geography of the province

H: And what I’ve learnt already just chatting to – well both of you really and for what I’ve seen on the internet, it’s summer and winter, there’s something year round there

A: It’s an absolutely 4 season destination, having lived in Alberta all my life certainly I’ve been able to enjoy all 4 seasons, family skiing in the mountains, enjoying the parks in the summer, the lakes stream fishing, all of those things

H: It’s incredible. And Dom I’m sure you’ve got many an adventurous tale you can tell us from all of your travels, but Alberta in particular – it is stunning

B: Oh I mean I’ve been lucky enough to ice climb there in the winter and rock climb there in the summer and just – managed to get to know the mountains pretty well and it’s a special place, but may – particularly special made by the – after a good day’s climbing or maybe a couple of days on the hill you can come back to what would be après skiing in the winter but in the summer really lovely cafes and really relaxing cafes - sort of a valley atmosphere I guess

H: Yes absolutely. Well I think we’ve heard enough for a moment, I think it’s probably time now to let the pictures do the talking as we take a look at what more this stunning region has to offer

Video Footage

Recent research shows 30% of people believe spotting wildlife makes a holiday destination. But while we travel the world looking for amazing wildlife, who are the people behind the scenes at some of the world’s most amazing wildlife parks, and do they still enjoy the local wildlife as much as their holidaymaker visitors? We caught up with a park warden who’s been responsible for looking after Jasper’s National Parks for 35 years, and why he still loves the region’s wildlife.

Wes Bradford, Park Warden: I’ve lived here for almost 36 years now, and I’ve just recently retired from Parks Canada. I worked in Jasper National Park here for 35 and a half years as the wildlife conflict specialist, dealing with all the wildlife issues. I actually have a love for wildlife and that’s one of the reasons why I do live in Jasper because it’s a pretty amazing place. You know you’ve got 4 seasons here which is, you know, common for Western Canada and if you’re a person that likes to view wildlife or enjoys wildlife, well things happen differently in all those 4 seasons. Now spring time period, spring’s come a little bit early to the Rockies this year. One of my favourite things to do is I like going south of Jasper into some of the meadow complexes down by the Valley of the Five Lakes. Go in there for like the last two hours of daylight during the evening, set up on a hillside, and I mean the wild flowers are starting to come out – crocuses are just starting to come out right now which is pretty spectacular. All the spring birds are starting to migrate through and all the wildlife’s starting to come out and eat grass and those new meadow complexes. So you can sit there for two hours and you might see a wolf walk by and you could see a herd of elp coming there, some white-tailed deer. You could see some bluebirds so you never know what’s going to happen, but for two hours it’s pretty darn exciting.

H: Well some stunning images there chaps, I thoroughly enjoyed watching that and Dominic I think we’ll just move on with you. You’ve had some terrific adventures though this part of the world. In 2006 you rode a tandem from Alaska to Argentina, picking up all manner of people along the way, and obviously past right through Alberta so you must have some great memories of the region

B: Yes both cycling and off the bike as well, you know exploring the mountains like I said. But the wilderness is truly amazing. If you’re a fan of solitude and quiet and calm, nature-filled tranquillity then you don’t have to go off the road you know, you can go drive a little way out of town wherever you are in Banff say and sit by the side of the road and you’ll see as much as you’d ever see you know in the wilds of Scotland.

H: I’m with you. So you don’t have to do an awful lot to experience the enjoyment of the place, you are in it, you’re living it – you’re not just seeing it, you’re part of it

B: Absolutely. I’d recommend getting out of your car and taking a wander around but it’s not necessary to see some stunning stuff already

H: And great scenes there as well, I mean we joked when we were watching that VT, that chap’s got the most stress-free job in the world, he must just love his life. But a great image there of a family in a canoe just taking a little paddle somewhere, we don’t know where they were but just enjoying it

A: And you see that, you see that all over the place. Families enjoying nature, being immersed with wildlife and the splendour of the surroundings. To be able to canoe or kayak across a lake and just look up and just see the mountains and you know the snow blowing off the top and – it’s something you know pictures are great and that was a phenomenal video, but you actually have to be there

H: That’s right and the thing is if you do want to get there you’ve got to get yourself to either Edmonton or Calgary and you can access wherever you want to go from there, if you’re flying in from perhaps this part of the world

A: Yes it is very accessible from the UK. A little under 9 hours to Edmonton and Calgary and of course all the land transportation is readily available whether it’s private car hire or tour buses that you’d like to hire

H: And it’s certainly easy to get a lot more information about the area, you can go online, I mean if someone did want to find out some more about the region where would they go on the web?

A: So there’s an excellent resource at myalbertaadventure.com

H: Myalbertaadventure.com, that’s the great thing, everyone’s going to have their own Alberta adventures. Specifically then obviously we’ve seen that the region is stunning – what’s the culture like specifically once you’re there? What’s the average Edmontonian or Calgarian – what’s it like once you’re there?

A: Well having grown up in the province I think we’re really, really nice group of people

H: Yes

A: And it’s a very diverse culture, I’ve got people from all over the world. Very strong economy, the people are truly western. Very welcoming and warm, and very open to people from all over the world

H: We always hear if you travel to America people always say that the customer service in America is second to none, but I’m presuming that North America and Alberta is just the same?

A: Very – yes very focused on making sure guests to our provinces or our provinces are – is taken care of. The care and attention, both at the properties and the restaurants and so forth is phenomenal. We really, truly want to make your experience very memorable

H: And Dom you spent some time there obviously on your travels and I know you visited there a lot from basing yourself elsewhere in Canada. When you’re living there, when you’re visiting there what kind of food can you expect to eat?

B: Well I – you know – often been camping I often sort of catch grubs and chew on them

H: Live off the land

B: But I’ve been lucky enough to dine in a few nice restaurants in Banff particularly and I know that the rocky mountain cuisine, whether it be local – locally sourced meat and maybe bison, and things that really we’re not that familiar with here

H: No

B: But particularly you know the Alberta beef is world famous for you know, melting in your mouth and cook a slab of their beef on an open fire and for me there’s nothing quite like it. From what I’ve heard you’ve got some pretty crazy chefs out there making some pretty tasty food but probably you’re the best person to talk about your cuisine

A: Well what you said and more. It truly is very diversified, very creative cuisine and certainly the using local produce and locally sourced meats and so forth is a very unique – unique part of that cuisine, and given the diversity and environment some of these restaurants have spectacular vistas overlooking the mountains and I was at a restaurant in Kanwar a little while ago and a black bear strolls across in front of the – so you don’t want a patio table on that particular one, but no, it’s –

H: What an amazing experience

A: It truly is, you are really immersed in with the wildlife, in with the majesty of the Rocky mountains

H: Absolutely stunning. And specifically I mean we’ve mentioned obviously you’re a keen climber and a keen skier but if you’re not feeling that adventurous there’s plenty of other things that you can do when you’re there. I know there’s golf and cycling, and perhaps a whole host of other things

A: World glass golf, high country hikes, just strolls through the mountains, there’s a lovely walk around Lake Louise, so it’s really as much or as little as you want to do, you can do the extreme things as Dominic does, or you can simply kick back the Jasper Park Lodge in front of the fire, sipping a glass of wine and just looking at what nature has to offer.

H: And that is the great thing, I mean there’s something – everyone’s a photographer these days, it must be a photographer’s paradise if you like sketching, if you like drawing, you’ve probably got something to sketch or draw wherever you look, and it just sounds absolutely amazing

A: You do see artists just picking and putting an easel down and painting the landscapes of wildlife –

B: I’ve been there with an 11 year old and a 6 year old, on holiday and you know providing you maybe carry one of them in a backpack, I’ve been on some of the most incredible, you know, family-friendly hikes and you sit all day next to a lake with no one else there, just playing in the shallows. It’s magic for anyone really

H: Well you mentioned also if you flew into Calgary or Edmonton and you hire a car and go on a bit of a road trip, that in itself – it’s not the destination, it’s actually the journey you’re going on that is part of the experience

A: And you would see many different things. You would see the vast farming lands that we have in Alberta, you would see potentially the Badlands in Drumheller where the dinosaur fossils are and then driving through the mountains is just spectacular. So yes the destination is a point, but the journey is breathtaking

H: And it’s a great journey winter or summer isn’t it?

B: Yes and the roads are pretty good. The roads are always kept in good condition, it’s not like when you drive into the European Alps and you’re risking your life just getting there

H: Absolutely. Alright well great stuff chaps, we’re coming back in just a moment or two. Don’t go anywhere because when we do come back on the other side of this we’ll be getting to grips with the many questions that have been sent in and tweeted and one chap’s been talking – we’ll see you right after this

Break

H: So hello and welcome back to Travel Talk, I’m Kevin Harris where today we’re discussing the wonderful region of Alberta in Canada of course, and I’m pleased to say I’m joined by Dom and Jeff here, both championing the cause for this wonderful region, and the good news is we’ve had people tweeting and sending in questions thick and fast so chaps we’ve got a lot to get through. This is from Dorothy, Dorothy I’m afraid I don’t know where you’re from but thanks for getting in touch. She’s put “Alberta sounds interesting but I’m of the older generation and so I wonder how much is there to do for an older, active person?” So have a go at that one

A: Well again it’s as much or as little as you like. There is great opportunity for nature walks, there’s great opportunity to go canoeing, or kayaking. So late intensity activities, but again all within the confines of the beautiful surroundings around you. Sightseeing would be another opportunity, driving through the mountains as we talked about in the previous segment; all of these things are going to add to the vacation.

H: And I guess as well, we haven’t really mentioned this yet but if you do fly into Edmonton or Calgary, you’ve got a city break right there – why not spend two or three days of your vacation or your holiday in the city before you set off?

A: Thank you for that, both cities, all the cities are very culturally rich, we’ve got the provincial art gallery in Edmonton, the Winspear Centre for the Arts

H: Right

A: Calgary has got a vast number of – the Bow museum for instance. So many cultural things to do within the urban centres. Course the Calgary Stampede will be kicking off here in July. We’ve got a vast number of festivals happening throughout the summer in Edmonton

H: That’s fantastic so there you go Dorothy, I hope that answers your question before you get your walking boots on have a look round the cities as well. Who else have we got? Let’s have a look at this one, ah this is interesting, we kind of answered this before but we’ll get to it – Lewis has sent a question in, Lewis has put “my partner Zara and I are real foodies. What sort of feasting opportunities are there?” We’ve kind of answered this already haven’t we but –

A: Definitely going to be –

B: Before anything else Alberta beef, as an English person you’ve never quite tasted anything like it. We have some good meat in this country but you have to search, you know for a little bit whereas there I mean it’s ubiquitous

H: Yes

B: And tasty

H: I’m guessing as well there must be salmon or fish from the lakes and the rivers, must be –

A: Well we’re very close and both Edmonton and Calgary are very accessible from other markets, so fresh fish would be flown in daily and again creativity in the chefs in both cities are - is terrific – it’s world class.

H: And as always with these things the trick is I’m sure just to go where the locals go, to keep an eye out for guys like yourself and their families and see where they are and eat where they are I guess

A: Right, and we’ll be happy to take you

H: Great stuff, lovely. Hope that answers your question Lewis. Who else have we got? Lucy, let’s have a look Lucy. “I’ve never left the comfort of mainland Europe. Are there any dangerous spiders that I should be worried about?” Lucy get out! She’s never left the comfort of mainland Europe

B: I don’t think for arachnophobes there is an issue in any of Canada actually and certainly not in Alberta. There are a lot of things we don’t think about though which are larger animals like bears, wolves, karrabul or reindeer. Bison. And they all are seen often in the wildlife and on the edges of towns in the Rockies for instance and are beautiful things to watch and take pictures of from a distance

H: I guess it’s kind of – as with all these places – it’s us – what’s the word – kind of putting our toes into their habitat. It’s kind of funny if we see a bison walking down the street but the byson’s like well I was here first

B: Yes it is

A: It’s really respecting nature

H: Yes. Reminds me of a time when I was in Australia, I think there was ostriches just walking up the street in the first place in Western Australia I went to and I couldn’t believe it. But –

B: I certainly, on a bike often you’re left open to the elements

H: Absolutely yes

B: And cycling through these herds of buffalo I can say first-hand that they certainly didn’t – they weren’t out to hurt me

H: No, just give them a wide berth and they’ll do the same. There you go Lucy, get out and about. Right so Sean’s in North West London, aha, somebody’s put where he is. “I’m thinking of taking a couple of weeks out to celebrate my birthday; will 2 weeks be long enough to explore Alberta?”

A: I think it’s a good start

H: Right

A: Certainly 2 weeks would be a fantastic vacation and holiday, in Alberta, but there’s so very much to see. I mean it is a big province, so the recommendation there would be to be very targeted and strategic on what you want to do, what you want to accomplish – is it an urban vacation or do you want to see something a little bit more outdoorsy. So plan, plan thoughtfully and there are resources available to help you with your planning

H: I think that’s the thing and it’s something I always look at when I travel is that there’s never enough time is there, so if you have only got two weeks, you’ve just got to be really focused and perhaps not spread yourself too thinly but just kind of really enjoy less places, if that – you know –

A: And whet your appetite, we’re sure you’re going to come back, so come in, see what you want to see, enjoy it. Take the time to thoroughly enjoy it, get to the places that you want to do go to, enjoy the mountains if that’s what you like, do some extreme hiking if that’s what you want to do, if you want to take in some festivals, enjoy those festivals. And then come visit us again

H: I like it. Here’s one from Jay, I like this question, it’s just come in and he’s obviously a Brit – “no doubt the water is delicious with all those mountains that it filters down through, but how much is a pint?” He wants to know about beer! Dom do you want to have a go, as you were on your bike travels were you pulling into local hostelries and enjoying a pint or two?

B: You know people have always given North American beer a bad rap, but embarrassingly as an Englishman, these days I feel like they’re leading the way in micro-breweries

H: Yes

B: Canada and Alberta especially is no different. I know that the Rockies are home to some seriously good micro-breweries and the amber ales they’ve got there are spectacular and not by our standards, certainly not expensive

H: No

B: The only thing that’s definitely different, you won’t find anything served at room temperature, and it’s a little bit more gassy than our own beers but it’s quality stuff

H: Because that’s always the criticism from North Americans coming to England, they tell us that we drink warm beer

B: Yes

H: Do we drink warm beer?

B: It’s not as warm as they think it is, but obviously too warm for them, but they have everything with ice ok?

H: It’s frosted pitchers come in frosted mugs, that’s another thing. Great stuff, well listen I for one would love to go there and I’m sure many of our viewers are feeling exactly the same, but I’m afraid we’re out of time chaps, that’s it. We’re done for today, so Jeff, Dom thanks so much for coming in, please do come in and see us again. And like I say that is all we have time for. Thanks to you for watching, thanks to everyone who sent in and tweeted their questions of course. If you’d like to find out more then the place that you need to go to is obviously Alberta itself, but if you can’t quite get there then it’s myalbertaadventure.com online and we’ll see you again next time real soon here on Travel Talk. Goodbye