Alberta Named Top 10 Travel Destination by The Guardian

Alberta Among Some Pretty Exotic Locations on the Guardians Top Travel Destination List for 2014

Alberta, Canada has been named as the 9th top world travel destination in 2014 by The Guardian, a daily newspaper based in the United Kingdom. The top 10 are:

• #1 - Cape Town, South Africa

• #2 - Uzes, France

• #3 - Austin, Texas, USA

• #4 - Carmarthenshire, UK

• #5 - Kolkata, India

• #6 - Sao Tome and Principe

• #7 - Alacati, Turkey

• #8 - George Town, Malaysia

• #9 - Alberta, Canada

• #10 - Bordeaux, France

Some may be surprised by the ranking considering there are so many other beautiful places in this world to go and see; however, there is something new in Alberta’s Rockies that is catching the attention of many U.K. travellers in the New Year.

Glacier Skywalk

Located at the Icefield's Parkway between Banff and Jasper, the Glacier Skywalk is a half ellipse shaped glass walkway built into the mountain rock atop a cliff - down below, beautiful crashing waterfalls amid the beautiful scenery of Sunwapta Valley.

At 280 metres high, the walkway will provide visitors with spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains and will be another top reason for tourists to drive down the already scenic route of highway 93 from Banff, Alberta.

The experience begins with a short five minute ride from the Glacier Discovery Centre. Visitors will be dropped off at the Discovery Trail; an easily treaded, cliff-edge pathway extending along the Sunwapta Valley. At the end of it all lay the impressive architectural and engineering feat - the Glacier Skywalk.

So stunning is this new addition that when it was unveiled back in 2011 it was awarded with a World Architecture Festival Award.

The Glacier Skywalk is set to open in May of 2014.

Tour Package

The Glacier View Inn (hotel) has a few different options including:

• Adults (16 and up) - $24.95

• Children (6 to 15) - $12.50

• Children 5 and under are free

All in one packages are also offered including a combination of one or all of:

• Glacier Skywalk

• Glacier Adventure

• Banff Gondola

• Banff Lake Cruise

Prices range from $64.95 to $109.95 for adults and $32.95 to $54.95 for children. There also are packages that include an overnight stay at the hotel for those who may want to spend a little more time at the glacier.

Rocky Mountains

Perhaps the best part of the new Glacier Skywalk for the British is its location amid the majestic Rocky Mountains.

Anywhere from a half an hour to a few hours away are several world-class mountain ski resorts waiting for tourists to enjoy including Whistler, Marmot Basin, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise.

Enjoy!

If you plan on heading out to the Glacier Skywalk this year, we hope you enjoy! Until then, be sure to check out these fun and exciting activities in Banff, Alberta… check them out!