Our province is large. It has many different attractions in it as well as many interesting towns and cities to visit.

Because there are so many people visiting all of the parts of our province, you may be asked to give directions not only in your town, but also the easiest way to get to another part of the province. 

Think about This:

No wonder many people come to visit Alberta.

It is just as important to give clear and accurate directions when telling someone how to get to another town or location as it is giving him or her directions within your town.

The person requesting the help may have certain requirements for their trip. For example, they may want the most scenic route possible, or they may want the quickest way possible. If they are looking for the most scenic route, you might even offer some information about areas of interest along your suggested route.

For example, let's say that a person is asking for directions to Calgary from Whitecourt. They say that they want a scenic route. You can offer them two options. With both options, you must be very accurate in giving directions.

Use the map of Alberta to follow these directions from Whitecourt to Calgary:

Courtesy of Public Domain
 
Option one is the Cowboy Trail. The Cowboy Trail is actually Highway 22.

    Go east on Highway 43 to Mayerthorpe.
    Turn right onto Highway 22.
    When you reach Highway 16, turn left and drive into Entwhistle. In Entwhistle, you can get back on Highway 22 by taking the exit to head south at the overpass.
    Just east of Drayton Valley, you need to turn right at the intersection of Highways 22 and 39. This will keep you on Highway 22.
    Just east of Rocky Mountain House, you need to turn right at the intersection of Highways 22 and 11. This will keep you on Highway 22.
    Just east of Caroline, you need to turn right at the intersection of Highways 22 and 54. This will keep you on Highway 22.
    Just east of Sundre, you need to turn right at the intersection of Highways 22 and 27. This will keep you on Highway 22.
    Follow Highway 22 through Cochrane to the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). Go east on Highway 1 into Calgary.

Courtesy of Pixabay

Option two is to go through the national parks. To do this:

    Go south from Whitecourt on Highway 32 until you get to Highway 16. Turn west.
    Follow Highway 16 until you get to Jasper.
    Go through Jasper, and at the lights, turn left. This puts you on Highway 93.
    Follow Highway 93 through Jasper National Park and into Banff National Park where it merges with the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1).
    Follow Highway 1 east to reach Calgary.

As you can see, both options are very precise. When you are giving someone directions to go such a long distance, you have to do this, or they will be lost. The biggest advantage when doing this is they usually have a map in front of them for you to point out the routes.

  Self-check!