The Canadian Badlands: The world’s largest graveyard with the biggest bones
The Canadian Badlands is sometimes referred to as the world’s largest graveyard with the biggest bones due to its extensive dinosaur finds. This claim to fame makes this southeastern region of Alberta a perfect place to search for extraordinary Hallowe’en travel ideas.
The Centrosaurus Bone Bed in Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a good example. An October 6th guided hike to this massive bone bed will be the last one offered this season. The bones of up to a thousand Centrosaurus lie in the bed which is the size of two tennis courts. Palaeontologists who studied this site in the 1980s speculate that a massive flood killed an entire Centrosaurus herd. The 2.75 hour hike is moderately strenuous and children under 7 years are not permitted. Click here for further details
From the early 1900s to 1960, Drumheller was the Fort McMurray of coal mining. One hundred and thirty-nine mines once operated in this part of the Canadian Badlands. The Atlas Coal Mine, now a national historic site, is the sole survivor. This former mine with its historic wooden tipple (the only one left in North America) is a favourite Hallowe’en haunt, especially for families with teenagers. The grey-timbered tipple has a creepy appearance in daylight let alone at night when Hallowe’en guests are invited to explore it on their own. The former bathhouse is just as creepy. Big meat hooks attached to ropes on pulleys hang from the bathhouse ceiling. Miners once used these to hang their street clothes on, high above the coal dust. Evening Hallowe’en tours run Saturday, October 20th and 27th from 7-9pm.
http://www.atlascoalmine.ab.ca/special.html.
For those who love a good thriller combined with an authentic Alberta community hall dinner, the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions has two murder mystery trains running October 13th and 27th from Stettler to Big Valley. Shortly after departing Stettler, professional actors begin the murder mystery by mingling with rail passengers. By the time the train arrives in Big Valley, passengers are madly taking and comparing notes. The mystery continues at Big Valley’s Community Hall where an Alberta beef dinner buffet is served. The train returns to Stettler at 8:25pm.
Other interesting Badlands travel ideas and events are found at canadianbadlands.com.
Tags: Alberta, canadian badlands, dinosaur provincial park, Drumheller, murder mystery trains
