Experience Alberta this year, and all the different areas it has to offer.
Banff
Banff is on everyone's list and rightfully so. Pop into downtown, visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, take a wander around one of the many day use areas including Cascade Ponds. If you want an easy way up a mountain, take a guided horseback riding tour. Lake Agnes is a fun destination on horseback.
Castle Parks
If you're looking for somewhere a bit less crowded and more rustic, check out the amazingly beautiful Castle Provincial Parks in southwestern Alberta. Castle Provincial Park has front country camping options, where Castle Wildland Provincial Park offers backcountry camping. Many waterfalls and trails to explore, as well as abundant wildlife.
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
This area is super unique featuring amazing sandstone hoodoos, petroglyphs, pictographs, a large backcountry area to explore as well as a year round campground. The history here is fascinating, and the guided tours help get you into some of the restricted areas. Take a float down the Milk River from the Weir Bridge to the Writing-on-Stone Campground. That would take 2-3 hours. You could come across rattlesnakes here, so appropriate footwear is certainly recommended.
Buffalo Lake- Stettler Region
Buffalo Lake is a large body of water, with the summer village of Rochon Sands located on the shores. Visit the Rochon Sands marina to view the gigantic northern pike statue in Alberta. There are various campgrounds found around Buffalo Lake. The water is warm enough to enjoy, and the fishing is pretty good too. Nearby areas have a lot of fun attractions such as the World's Largest Lamp, and a cool historic train excursion I am hoping to do soon.
Dillberry Lake Provincial Park
Located up along the northeast border of Alberta and Saskatchewan on the Alberta side. A wonderful campground with private campsites, a sandy beach playground, warm water and much more. The wildlife up here is endless, with great sight lines being on the prairies. Nearby Macklin is a fun place to visit, as well as taking a road trip from Dillberry Lake to the Great Sand Dunes of Saskatchewan. Definitely worth a visit.
Keep your eyes out for all the unique oversized roadside attractions around Alberta. They're everywhere.
Also, the Northern Lights are not just a winter experience! They happen all year round, you just have to stay up later.