Your wish list for a trip to Edmonton begins here right away! We’ve compiled a list of Edmonton’s top tourist attractions and hidden gems that are ideal for creating lifelong memories. You can find anything here, from family-friendly excursions to cost-free outdoor activities, fascinating museums to creative galleries, and more.
Those who’ve got even better plans after the vacation, for instance, to reside in Alberta, can go ahead with one of the several Provincial Nominee Programs. No wonder Canadian immigration could be the next thing!
What else could you explore?
Make your own path through the North Saskatchewan River Valley, explore the Royal Alberta Museum’s extensive collection of Alberta’s pasts, and then test the limits of your pocketbook at West Edmonton Mall. At Fort Edmonton Park, take a step back in time. At Elk Island National Park, hang out with roaming bison. And at Rogers Place, support the Edmonton Oilers to round out the day. Folks, it’s all in a day’s job! These top experiences and attractions are available.
West Edmonton Hall
West Edmonton Hall is the Mount Everest of shopping and entertainment in North America. It comprises 48 city blocks worth of stores, eateries, roller coasters, and other attractions. Bringing your most comfortable shoes is a must. Drive, a thrilling multi-level go-karting experience, is one of the new attractions. Additionally, three and a half acres of Galaxyland’s amusement park have been converted into attractions with a Hasbro theme. One can explore so much, it is pretty unimaginable. At the mall, you could stay all week long and never run out of entertainment.
Elk Island National Park- Edmonton’s top tourist attractions
A wild oasis is located 35 minutes east of Edmonton. The ideal area to go on a day trek, canoe, snowshoe, skating and more is Elk Island National Park. Additionally, it is a certified dark sky preserve, making it a fantastic location to see the Northern Lights. Prepare your cameras! Moose, elk, lynx, black bears, grey wolves, 250 species of birds, and of course herds of plains bison call Canada’s largest fully enclosed park home.
Elk Island National Park provides you with the luxury of residing in one of their Tipis, Cabins, or oTENTiks without complying with the inconvenience of purchasing and putting up your own equipment.
Alberta Legislature
The Alberta Legislature is an architectural wonder with marble pillars and carved oak, perched above the North Saskatchewan River. Free hourly guided tours of the Legislature are available; be sure to listen for the “magic spot” phenomenon. The Visitor Center is present on the main floor of the Federal Building, which is located just north of the Legislature Building. The Pehonan Theatre, the Agora Interpretive Centre, and the Borealis Gallery are all accessible to the general public all year round. Additionally, taking a stroll around the grounds in either season is spectacular. In the very heart of the city, witness a bit of tradition and heritage!
Fort Edmonton Park
Fort Edmonton Park offers antique structures that have been intricately recreated to depict Edmonton’s historical growth. Moreover, the park is another open-air museum that one must add to their schedule while visiting Edmonton. The structures put to display include a typical Hudson’s Bay Company fort (1846), a street from a pioneer village (1885), the burgeoning provincial capital (1905), along with the 1920’s structures.
Visitors can hop on a steam train or a horse-drawn wagon, two instances of the numerous vintage transportation modes. Nearby, the John Janzen Nature Centre also depicts a region’s geology and ecology.
Royal Alberta Museum
The largest museum in Western Canada is the Royal Alberta Museum. Visiting this cutting-edge facility is unquestionably leisure in disguise. It is home to an intriguing blend of present temporary exhibitions as well as permanent cultural and natural historical events.
The dinosaur abundance and ice period fossils, the sizable aquarium of native fish, and the insects are all exquisite things to witness. Besides this, it includes some unique and gigantic species, specifically stunning.
Moreover, the massive new kids’ gallery, the larger bug room comprising real invertebrates, and the visible nursery in the significant feature gallery, with traveling exhibits from all across Canada and the globe. Further, there are Blackfoot artifacts, and the ones from Cree, and other First Nations. Not only this, but the cultural and historical departments of the museum even examine indigenous cultures. A stocked gift shop and a café are even prevalent.
Whyte Avenue
Whyte Avenue, one of Edmonton’s most renowned and lively neighborhoods proves to be a must-visit. It is indeed one of Edmonton’s top tourist attractions. Whyte Avenue is a center for entertainment, dining, shopping, and the arts.
Whyte Street is situated in the hip Old Strathcona neighborhood, which comes alive with live music, hip eateries, theatres, and other entertainment opportunities at night. The neighborhood is a favorite among tourists and shoppers during the day. Shopping in this area is a popular and enjoyable activity because of the heady combination of trendy apparel stores, odd businesses, art galleries, and home décor stores.
North Saskatchewan River Valley- exploring Edmonton’s top tourist attractions
The North Saskatchewan is a magnificent river that flows through Edmonton to the northeast. Its genesis is in the enormous 325 km2 Columbia Icefield, located 1,800 meters above sea level. It travels through Saskatchewan and Alberta before entering Lake Winnipeg, the Nelson River, and ultimately Hudson Bay. Year-round recreational activities on the river and in the river valley include canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, jet boating, fishing, gold panning, and others. Additionally, Edmonton and the surrounding communities receive their drinking water from the North Saskatchewan River.
Metis Crossing is Edmonton’s best tourist destination
Visit Métis Crossing for a day excursion to learn about the trapper lifestyle of the Métis, historical families and their homes, the usage of herbs as medicine, and much more. On 512 acres of property created to provide visitors with immersive experiences, Métis Crossing is the first significant Métis cultural interpretive facility in Alberta. About an hour and a half outside this city, in Smoky Lake, Alberta, is where you’ll find this amazing institution. As new attractions such as a boutique lodge, the “Visions, Hopes and Dreams Wildlife Park,” cross-country ski paths, and the “Whispers from the Stars Stargazing Experience” open, learn about them here.
Edmonton Valley Zoo
The Edmonton Valley Zoo is an escape for more than 350 adorable creatures that are eager to get to know you. It is tucked away in Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park. Bring the kids along to observe the bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, zebra, fox, and endangered peregrine falcon, among other animals. The snowy owl, bald eagle, and great horned owl can all be seen by bird enthusiasts. Visitors can get a close-up view of seals, sea lions, and arctic foxes in the Polar Extremes display. Another popular Christmas event in the city, Zoominescence, is held at the zoo. It is a brilliant opportunity to discover a breathtaking display of artistic light installations, skating, hot chocolate, and family-friendly entertainment.
Conclusion
North America’s largest city, Edmonton, is the coldest. It’s wonderful to travel during the milder months of spring, summer and autumn. The city truly embraces life at this time with celebrations, concerts, and festivals that the residents, who must endure long winters, eagerly and enthusiastically participate in.
