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Moon Handbooks Alberta is the perfect source for enticing coverage of Alberta's massive glaciers, towering peaks, and abundant wildlife. Highlighting Alberta, Banff, Jasper, and the Canadian Rockies, the fifth edition offers a detailed look at this stunning region for travelers with all types of interests. Author Andrew Hempstead, a veteran traveler and Alberta resident, gives in-depth insights into the region's history and indigenous culture as well as essential advice on practicalities, with photographs, precise maps, tips on activities, and information on accommodations for all budgets. Moon Handbooks Alberta provides details on cycling the Icefields Parkway, hiking around Lake Louise, and staying in a wide array of lodgings, from backcountry huts to fine hotels.

450 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2004

4 people want to read

About the author

Andrew Hempstead

95 books12 followers
Hempstead has authored, coauthored, and updated over 60 guidebooks that have sold over 800,000 copies. His books are available worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages. Major guidebook clients include Avalon Travel, Frommer's, Michelin, Odyssey, Dorling Kindersley, and Michelin. His travelwriting has also appeared in dozens of different magazines and online for clients such as Alaska Airlines, Expedia, and Microsoft Automaps. He also writes and edits for corporate clients such as Parks Canada and Travel Alberta.

He is an academy member of S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants; has spoken on guidebook writing to a national audience; has contributed to a university-level travel writing textbook; joined Tony Wheeler and Tim Cahill as an interviewee of Rolf Potts; and is called on by CNN Travel as a Canadian travel expert.

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Author 38 books85 followers
March 27, 2008
Moon Handbooks Alberta Including Banff, Jasper, and the Canadian Rockies is the ultimate overview for traveling within Alberta, Canada. This book contains 467 pages of travel information but is still small enough to tuck in a backpack for easy reference. Furthermore, this book has plenty of fairly detailed maps, complete with accurate distance scales, for easy travel planning or reference while you travel.

There are twelve chapters in Moon Handbooks Alberta: Introduction, On the Road, Calgary, Dinosaur Valley, Southern Alberta, West of Calgary, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Central Alberta, Edmonton, Northern Alberta, Resources. The introduction chapter contains an overview on Alberta and its various regions. This detailed information includes geology, climate, flora, fauna, history, economy, and the government of the province. The next chapter, On the Road, contains general information and contacts for outdoor recreation; arts and entertainment; accommodations and food; transportation; and information services within the province of Alberta. The Resources chapter contains further information on suggested readings and internet resources.

The rest of the chapters in Moon Handbooks Alberta focus on particular geographical regions within Alberta. The first paragraph or page of each regional section describes a little about the region. After this overview, individual sights, recreation areas, special events, accommodations, food services, information services, and transportation services are depicted in detail. Depending on the size and general amount of facilities in a given region, there may be only one or two entries per category or over a dozen. Each entry contains the location, contacts, costs, and a short paragraph description of the facility or event featured. Several black and white maps accompany each section, clearly marked with the various facilities described in that particular section.

Some facility or event categories are described in extreme detail. For instance, there are six pages about the Calgary Stampede held in Calgary every July. This mini-section reflects the history of the Calgary Stampede and then sets out the events, entertainment, food services, accommodations, and transportation services available during the ten-day event. Specifics such as costs and contacts are also printed under each entry.

Though some medium sized towns are described in Moon Handbooks Alberta, most of this book focuses on cities and larger towns. Thus, not every town in Alberta is discussed in this work. No doubt such a complete book would no linger fit so easily in a backpack for easy reference. Therefore, if you are looking for something to do or some place to stay in a small Alberta town this book will not detail these specifics. Nonetheless, the regional coverage of this work is such that there is probably a pertinent entry or two a short distance from most any small town in Alberta. In this way, entertainment, accommodation, and food are but a short commute away from anywhere in Alberta.
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