Standing 86 feet tall, the World’s Largest Dinosaur is the best place to start your tour of the Drumheller Valley (and not just because she’s hard to miss). The aerial view of the river valley from inside her toothy smile is a definite must-see and the Drumheller Visitor Information Centre is located right beside her giant big toe. There you can pick up maps and get free travel information from the friendly staff.

Side trip: Downtown Drumheller
After admiring the view from the dinosaur’s mouth, walk two blocks up Centre Street to 3rd Avenue and you’ll find yourself in downtown Drumheller. There you can visit life-sized dinosaur statues on the street corners (great for photos) as well as many local shops and cafés. For a listing of places to eat and shop while in Drumheller, click Restaurants and Shopping and for a map, see the Map of Drumheller.

Nearby Attractions: Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Reptile World, Badlands Historical Centre, Aquaplex, Rotary Spray Park.

The world-famous Royal Tyrrell Museum has more dinosaur skeletons on display than any other attraction in the world. For a glimpse at some of the exhibits at the museum, see Exhibits at the Royal Tyrrell.

Tip for the Tyrrell: Plan to spend at least an hour or two in the exhibit galleries – even longer if you’re traveling with children. Also, be sure to check out the Tyrrell Programs and Activities available at the museum before you arrive so that you can register early (space is limited and the popular programs fill up fast).

Side trip: Little Church and Midland Provincial Park
Just after the turn for the Tyrrell Museum, be sure to stop for a photo at Little Church – famous for seating thousands (so long as it’s six at a time). And for outdoor enthusiasts, en route to the Tyrrell is Midland Provincial Park. There you will find great trails for biking and walking, and the park's McMullan Island is the perfect spot for a picnic.

Nearby Attractions: Homestead Museum, Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club, Badlands Go-Kart Park, Funland Amusement Park.

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Horsethief Canyon offers some of the best Badlands scenery in Canada. Looking into the canyon you’ll see lunar-like coulees, ancient bone beds, and various Badlands wildlife species. Surrounding the canyon are brilliant yellow canola fields spotted with giant rocking pump jacks (landscapes just don’t get more Albertan than that).

Tip for the Canyon: Admire the scenery from the viewpoint or hike into the canyon basin for a closer look – just be careful, there are no interpretive signs and it is easy to lose your bearings on the canyon floor.

Side trip: Bleriot Ferry and Orkney Viewpoint
Continue 14 km past Horsethief Canyon to the Bleriot Ferry where you and your vehicle can cross the Red Deer River on one of the last-remaining cable-operated ferries in Alberta. Once on the other side, drive south on South Dinosaur Trail (Hwy 837) to the Orkney Viewpoint for a breathtaking view of the Drumheller river valley. From there, you can travel back to the town of Drumheller along South Dinosaur Trail.

Standing 5 to 7 metres tall, Hoodoos take millions of years to form. They are sandstone pillars that stand on a thick base of shale and are capped by a large stone. While you can’t climb them (they’re too fragile) they do make a good spot for photographs.

Side trip: The Rosedale Suspension Bridge
En route to the Hoodoos site, stop in the community of Rosedale for a trip across the Rosedale Suspension Bridge. The bridge was once used by miners to access the Star Mine on the other side of the Red Deer River but is now a favourite among locals and visitors for fishing, sight-seeing, and as an access point to great Badlands terrain.

Nearby Attractions: Last Chance Saloon, Echo Coulee Guest Ranch.

The Atlas Coal Mine is home to Canada’s last-standing wooden tipple mine. With a guide, you can climb up inside the giant tipple for a close-up look at its miles of conveyor belts and massive machinery. And for those who aren't fond of heights, the Atlas offers lots to see and do at ground level as well. After the Atlas Coal Mine, head on back to Drumheller on the Hoodoo Trail.

Side trip: The East Coulee School Museum
En route to the Atlas Coal Mine, be sure to stop in the community of East Coulee to visit the East Coulee School Museum. There you will see what life was like for the children of the very first coal miners in the Drumheller Valley.

Horseshoe Canyon is yet another amazing Badlands canyon. There you can sightsee and (for the more adventurous) hike into the canyon basin. Horseshoe Canyon is the busier of the two canyons in Drumheller, so in the summer you can expect a crowd and a couple of services including helicopter rides over the canyon provided by Mountain View Helicopter Tours.

Located in the picturesque river valley community of Rosebud, Alberta, the Rosebud Theatre is an award-winning professional theatre company that produces shows year-round. Your Rosebud Theatre ticket also includes dinner and live music at the historic Mercantile Dinning Hall.

Nearby Attractions: Akokiniskway Golf Course, Rosebud Centennial Museum, Akokiniskway Art Gallery.