Edmonton, the bustling
capital of Alberta, offers a wide range of attractions to vacationers and
locals alike. From the cosmopolitan world of West Edmonton Mall to the natural
beauty of the North Saskatchewan River Valley, Edmonton has something for
everyone.
West Edmonton Mall
No trip to Edmonton is
complete without a trip to West Edmonton Mall, the largest shopping complex in
North America. In addition to world-class shopping and restaurants, the Mall
contains movie theaters, a skating rink, a miniature golf course and Galaxy
World, an indoor amusement park.
The Mall, or WEM as
locals call it, also includes the World Waterpark, the second largest indoor water
park in the world. The World Waterpark includes a wave pool, inflatable raft
ride, multiple slides (including the 83-foot-high Cyclone and Twister), and a
bungee jump. On a cold winter’s day the Waterpark is a real draw, whether
you’ve been shoveling snow off your driveway or are taking a vacation from a your
work at the holistic drug rehabilitation center.
Fort Edmonton
People associate the Old
West with the United States, but Edmonton was once a frontier town too. Fort
Edmonton recreates the city’s beginnings as a fur trading fort run by the
Hudson Bay Company. The fort includes historical recreations, a steam-driven
train and opportunities to explore life from the 1840s to the 1920s.
K-Days
Speaking of the city’s
past, K-days are a ten-day festival and exhibition. Once called Klondike Days,
the festival once had a gold rush feel. Today, K-days center around an
extensive midway and exhibition at Northlands Coliseum.
K-days run alongside a
Taste of Edmonton, where the city’s best restaurants present samples of their
best creations in Winston Churchill Square, next to the City Hall. Tickets are
cheap, and offer an opportunity to eat gourmet food in a fair-like atmosphere.
Whyte Avenue and the Fringe
A stroll down Whyte Avenue
is a window shopper’s dream, with niche shops, bookstores and cozy cafes. Catch
a movie at the historic Princess Theatre or explore the weekly farmers’ market
with its fresh food and artwork.
If you’re on Whyte
Avenue in August, be sure to catch a show at the International Fringe Theater
Festival. Performances are often edgy, imaginative and push the boundaries of
theater to new levels.
The River Valley
One of Edmonton’s most
scenic attractions is the river valley, a stretch of uninterrupted park and
woodland running through the city on both sides of the North Saskatchewan
River. Formally known as the North Saskatchewan River Valley Parks System, the
river valley includes 20 major parks and is the largest urban parkland in North
America.
The valley covers 18,000
acres, and offers golf courses, cross-country skiing and hiking trails, bike
paths and skating facilities. The valley includes Fort Edmonton Park, the
Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Muttart Conservatory and the John Janzen Nature
Center. The Muttart Conservatory is a particularly well-known Edmonton
landmark, made of four connected pyramid-shaped conservatories offering plants
from across the world.
The John Janzen Nature
Center provides information on the many animals that make the river valley
their home. Nature lovers may spot rabbits, beavers and skunks, as well as
larger wildlife. Deer, porcupines and even bears inhabit the valley. In
addition to tours and demonstrations, the Nature Center includes the Tegler
Discovery Zone, where kids can experience life in recreations of local wildlife
habitats.
Author Bio:
Orlando Bryant is a
blogger and likes to share his travel experience and tips for travelers. In
free time he likes to read books to know more about the places and their
cultures.
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