According to Polyhobbies, the Canadian city of Edmonton is located east of the Rocky Mountains in the province of Alberta. Edmonton’s skyline rivals that of other major Canadian cities such as Vancouver and Montreal. It is therefore difficult to imagine that a few centuries ago mainly Indians lived here in a austere way. Since the nineteenth century, the place has developed rapidly. Thanks in particular to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, this has accelerated. This gave trade much more opportunities, so that the once small ‘cowtown’ slowly grew into a thriving city. Much of this ancient culture is still preserved today. Festivals like the Edmonton Stampede help with this. But open-air museums such as Heritage Park Historical Village also make a significant contribution. The inner city of Edmonton consists of a number of large neighborhoods, each with its own character. Downtown West End, Downtown East Village, Downtown Commercial Core are filled with modern high rises housing offices, shops, historic buildings on Stephen Avenue and other entrepreneurs big and small. In Chinatown you will find mainly Asian entrepreneurs with their own shops, restaurants and cultural establishments. And in the northern Eau Claire neighborhood you will find mostly specialty shops, fine restaurants and the ever-beloved Eau Claire Park and Prince’s Island Park on the Bow River. As a multicultural city, Edmonton is nicely varied in terms of cuisine, art, and its inhabitants. Something that certainly benefits the atmosphere of the city.
Edmonton ‘s Top 10 Things to Do
#1. West Edmonton Mall
Canada’s capital is home to one of the largest shopping centers in North America. The West Edmonton Mall has more than eight hundred stores with a variety of merchandise. Edmonton’s indoor, three-story shopping center opened in September 1981 and has been expanded several times since. Today, the West Edmonton Mall is much more than a shopping center. In addition to shopping, you can also go to the casino, the water park, go ice skating, go to the theater, spend the night in one of the hotels or spend a day at the Galaxyland theme park. Apparently West Edmonton Mall is a jack of all trades.
#2. Elk Island National Park
East of Edmonton is Elk Island National Park. This not too large nature park is popular for the many bison that reside there, the grasslands and the wooded area. In addition, Elk Island is frequently visited by two hundred and fifty different bird species, moose, beavers and coyotes. Elk Island National Park is ideal for varied hiking trips, for climbing, canoeing, and camping in the great outdoors. You can have a picnic in various places, but preferably at the beautiful Astotin Lake.
#3. Fort Edmonton Park
Not far from the North Saskatchewan River is Fort Edmonton Park. Many tourists visit the park to get a good idea of the history of Canada and in particular the Edmonton region. Its history goes back about a hundred years. You can take a look at the fortress, visit a farm, have your picture taken with one of the costumed employees or be transported by an old-fashioned steam train from 1919 or by carriage.
#4. Royal Alberta Museum
The Royal Alberta Museum of Natural History is divided into three galleries with its permanent collection: Wild Alberta, Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture and Natural History of Alberta. But there are also regularly changing exhibitions to admire. The Royal Alberta Museum was established about 1967 with the help of Raymond O. Harrison. The Royal Alberta Museum is still growing and carries out various studies related to culture, science and that of mammals, plants and geology.
#5. Muttart Conservatory
The botanical gardens of the Muttart Conservatory in the Edmonton river valley are certainly worth mentioning. The Muttart Conservatory was established thanks to the efforts of the philanthropist couple Merrill and Gladys Muttart and their foundation. The beautiful glass pyramids are designed by Peter Hemingway, a British architect. In these pyramids, all kinds of plant and flower species are cared for under the best conditions. Shows, workshops and live music concerts are also organized very regularly, trying to bring nature and art together.
#6. Galaxyland
Amusement Park Galaxyland is officially part of the spacious West Edmonton Mall. Galaxyland was built in 1985 and was called Fantasyland at the time. Unfortunately, this name was lost in a lawsuit with the Walt Disney Company, which apparently registered this name. Ten years after opening the doors, the name was changed to Galaxyland. Edmonton’s amusement park is suitable for young and old. You can enjoy all kinds of fast and less fast attractions, of which the Mindbender is the most popular roller coaster.
#7. World Waterpark
Another great park in Edmonton is also located in the famous West Edmonton Mall. World Waterpark is a splashing water suit with all kinds of slides, rapids and a real Tsunami surf simulator. The temperature under the glass roof is always tropical. It is also fun for the little ones here. You can even book separate private spaces where you can retreat from the crowds.
#8. Edmonton City Hall Edmonton City
Council resides at Sir Winston Churchill Square in Edmonton City Hall. The remarkable building is a creation of Canadian architect Gene Dub. The construction project was started in 1990 and then completed two years later. The Edmonton City Hall consists of two pyramids made of steel and glass. There is also a tower with more than twenty carillon bells. Guided tours can be booked for enthusiasts.
#9. Art Gallery of Alberta
An impressive piece of architecture can be found on Sir Winston Churchill Square in Edmonton. In addition to the Edmonton City Hall, this is also where the Art Gallery of Alberta is located. The now deceased American architect Randall Stout has managed to bring things like light, shadow, nature and dynamics together in a unique way. In the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA), you can admire more than 6,000 works by artists such as Wil Murray, Christian Marclay, William Henry Fox Talbot and Lyndal Osborne.
#10. Alberta Aviation Museum
The Alberta Aviation Museum of Edmonton is located in the hangars on Kingsway Avenue. The museum is housed in hangars that used to serve as military training space for airmen from the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. This training room was better known as ‘British Commonwealth Air Training Plan’. Today as a visitor you can enjoy all kinds of old fighter planes and admire them up close.
