We live on a quiet, safe street in Ponoka, a town of about 7000 people. We have two groceries, three pharmacies, three hardwares, a gym/workout facility, tennis courts, indoor pool, baseball and soccer fields - all the usual amenities in a family-oriented municipality. In the first week of July, we host a 7-day professional rodeo, complete with live entertainment and an amusement fair with rides and food that's bad, but oh-so-good! Golf is very popular in Alberta - there are about 80 golf courses within a 2 hour drive (I'm not even exaggerating). Alberta's summer weather is very reliable - you can count on early morning sunshine, a late afternoon storm, and a clear evening. Temperatures are warm, but very comfortable, because our climate is quite dry. At any rate, it's not hard to find some air conditioning, because we Albertans love our shopping malls and movie theatres. There are many local lakes with day-use areas where you can take a picnic and spend the day lazing and people-watching. Our capital city, Edmonton, has the largest urban park system in Canada, with more than 160 km of maintained trails for walking, biking, blading, and boarding. Also within driving distance are three National Parks- Jasper, Banff, and Elk Island - offering camping, cycling, hiking, and watchable wildlife. Alberta's summer absolutely bustles with activity - it's easy to find a farmer's market, music venue, street party, rodeo, or cultural celebration where everyone is welcome and there's lots of free parking. Travel Alberta is a free government agency with friendly staff on the phone who will connect you with any type of adventure and help you find accommodations and event tickets. And don't forget, here in Canada, our summer days have nearly 17 hours of daylight!