TORONTO -- Dear Alberta, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford loves you.

The mayor's office released an open letter from Ford to the more than 3.6 million residents of Alberta Thursday - less than a week after the Ford family visited the prairie province for a family vacation.

In the letter and a subsequent press release brimming with praise for the West, Ford encouraged Albertans to drop by Toronto City Hall the next time they are in Hogtown.

"I would like to extend an invitation to visitors from Alberta to drop by my office if they are ever in Toronto," Ford stated.

Ford had nothing but nice things to say about the Albertans he met.

"The friendliness and hospitality that was extended everywhere we visited was truly heart-warming," Ford wrote.

Ford, his wife Renata and their children travelled to Edmonton, Calgary and Banff late last week.

A diehard football fan, Ford took in an Edmonton a game and a Calgary Stampeders game during the brief trip.

"The atmosphere at each game was electrifying," Ford said.

Ford also visited the West Edmonton Mall and the University of Alberta Golden Bears training camp.

Both Ford's letter and press release failed to address media reports from Calgary that the mayor accidentally walked into the Stampeders' locker room while searching for a bathroom during last Saturday's game against the Toronto Argonauts.

The mayor indicated he plans to head West again as early as next year.

"My family and I are already planning our next visit back and look forward to exploring more of what Alberta has to offer," he wrote.