5 Edmonton Destinations You Must Visit

One in a series of articles about Canadian destinations.

The Canadian city of Edmonton is the capital and second largest city in the province of Alberta. If you are planning on taking a trip there, you will find that there is no shortage of things to do. In this article we will take a look at five of the best destinations that are suitable for the entire family, both adults and children alike.

1. West Edmonton Mall – The West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping mall in North America, even dwarfing the famous Mall of America in Minnesota. Quite simply, it has to be seen to be believed. The mall boasts more than 800 shopping and food outlets and has parking for 20,000 vehicles. This mall is far more than just a shopping mall, as the West Edmonton Mall is also home to a large number of tourist attractions and leisure facilities. Included within the mall is Galaxyland, an amusement park that has 24 rides. It is also home to the second largest indoor water park in the world, named World Waterpark. And the fun doesn’t stop there as the mall also includes an indoor lake which hosts Sea Life Caverns and Sea Lions Rock, an indoor ice rink, movie theaters and so much more. In fact, the place is so big, it is unlikely that you would be able to explore it all in a day!

2. Edmonton Valley Zoo – The Edmonton Valley Zoo is open year ‘round (with the exception of Christmas Day) and the admission prices vary depending on what time of the year you visit. The zoo boasts more than 350 different species of animals from different habitats and climates across the world. The zoo is a great destination for families — in addition to the wide selection of animals, there are also plenty of other things to do including paddle boats, a miniature train and a carousel.

3. Fort Edmonton Park – This is a destination that offers you a chance to step back in time. When you visit Fort Edmonton Park, you get the chance to experience life as it was in various periods of the city’s history, and these include 1846, 1885, 1905 and 1920. The park represents the first European settlement, named for a Greater London community of the same name.

4. Edmonton Corn Maze – This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Edmonton, and is sure to be a hit with people of all ages. Opening in late July and running through October, the maze is located in Parkland County, west of the city. It is one of the largest mazes of its kind in the world and may take you more than an hour to complete.

5. The Telus World of Science – This is a fascinating attraction where you can discover all kinds of information pertaining to science and space. Operated by the Edmonton Space & Science Foundation, the Telus World of Science is composed of an IMAX Theater, a star theater, an observatory, a science stage, computer lab, radio station and other related facilities. The Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre is the largest planetarium in Canada.

Destination Alberta

Your visit to Edmonton will soon be over, located in the heart of one of Canada’s three prairie provinces. When done visiting Edmonton, head south for three hours and you will find yourself in Calgary, the most populous city in the province. Other Alberta destinations include Fort Saskatchewan, Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.