Discover "The Festival City" of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada
As the capital of Alberta, Canada, the city of Edmonton is located in the beautiful river valley of the North Saskatchewan River, about 183 miles north of Calgary and approximately three hours from Jasper Park and the Rocky Mountains. Edmonton features a man-made lake, more than 21 movie theaters, a casino, an amusement park, a couple of zoos, and a variety of shopping areas so every visitor can find something to do that they'll enjoy. Edmonton thrives on art and music with events and cultural sites that attract people from all around.
In 2004, Edmonton celebrated its 100th Birthday. Its population was estimated 730,372 as of 2006 and it is the second largest city in Alberta, next to Calgary. Edmonton hosts many world-class festivals each year, earning it the name "The Festival City." The largest mall in North America and the largest historic park in Canada are both located in Edmonton.
In history, it is believed that settlers were in the area as far back as 3,000 or even 10,000 BC. Many believe the first European explorer to the land was Anthony Henday in 1754, who worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. A major trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company was established by 1795 and was called Fort Edmonton, named after Edmonton, London. During the late 19th century, new settlers came to the area for agriculture and commercial purposes. The area was known for its rich, fertile soils. Edmonton was also a popular retreat for those on the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897. The city was incorporated in 1904 and had a population of 8,350. A year later, Edmonton became Alberta's capital.
Today, Edmonton is still growing with many jobs in oil refining and production industries. The downtown area has been expanding in recent years with much city planning underway for the future.
Tourism in Edmonton
Edmonton has much to offer travelers, whether looking for outdoor adventure or cultural activities. The city has extreme seasonal temperatures, but milder winters than Winnipeg or Regina. The temperatures are mild in summer and cold in winter. Edmonton features a number of river valley parks with biking and walking trails. Nature lovers can see the variety of plant life and trees including American Elm trees, Basswood, Green Ash, White Birch, Aspen, White Spruce, Norway Maple, and Evans Cherry. The city also offers golfing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating.
The West Edmonton Mall (http://www.westedmall.com), which is the biggest mall in North America, is one of the city's most popular attractions. It features a skating rink, a large water park (indoors), an indoor amusement park, a bar district, a luxury hotel, and more than 800 shops and services. The mall also has an indoor lake with a salt-water habitat featuring sea lions, a Deep-Sea Derby bumper boat ride, Sea Life Caverns, and a replica of the Santa Maria.
Some retailers in the mall are The Brick, SportChek, Sears, The Bay, Zellers, Winners, Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, Tommy Hilfiger, and many others. More features of the mall include an IMAX Theatre, a bowling alley, a pool hall, an arcade, the Palace Casino, two mini-golf courses, a petting zoo, several radio stations, and several theme areas such as Bourbon Street and Chinatown.
Edmonton Museums
Edmonton features more than 70 museums including the largest in the area called the Royal Alberta Museum (http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/). The Royal Alberta Museum houses more than 10 million items in its collection with displays from the aboriginal tribes of the area. At the Alberta Aviation Museum, visitors can view collections of items from military aircraft and civilian aircraft including the Boeing 737. There's an air show here every summer. At the Alberta Railway Museum, visitors can view railroad cars and locomotives from the past along with a real working steam locomotive. Most of the exhibits are outdoors, so it is open during the milder months between Victoria Day and Labour Day.
Art lovers can tour the city's largest single art gallery, the Art Gallery of Alberta. It has more than 5,000 works of art in the collection. A museum and art collection can also be seen at the University of Alberta.
Tours by Boat or on Foot
Edmonton offers a number of local tours, whether by boat or on foot. At Allan Beach Resort, Inc., guests can enjoy boating, scuba diving, swimming, fishing, or sun bathing. The Edmonton Queen Riverboat Cruise gives guests an opportunity to tour the waters of the North Saskatchewan River. Fly-fishing trips are available at Edmonton Still Water Adventures. Other tours by water are offered at Get Hooked Fishing Adventures or the Edmonton Yacht Club.
Visitors can discover Edmonton on foot through a variety of guided walking tours. Discover Downtown walking tours offers a peek at some of the city's most historic landmarks and buildings, and access to restaurants, entertainment, recreation, art, and more in the Downtown area. For more adventurous excursions, the Hammerhead Scenic Tours (http://www.hammerheadtours.com/) takes guests to the Rockies for unique places and museums such as Jasper, Calgary, Banff, or Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. For more about the area's history, Edmonton Historical Walking Tours is a three-hour tour through Downtown Edmonton, Old Strathcona, or Oliver. Other tours include Edmonton Ghost Tours, Alta-Can Tours, and True North Tours, Ltd.
Festivities in Edmonton
Edmonton is a city filled with festivities year round. The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival features street entertainment with a variety of acts including juggling, acrobats, dancing, living statues, and more. A Taste of Edmonton is a time when about 40 restaurants get together to offer samples from their menus. The Edmonton International Jazz Festival features jazz singers and swingers, workshops, and free outdoor events the entire family can enjoy. In winter, the Ice on Whyte winter festival is held in the Old Strathcona historic area and features an ice castle and ice sculptures from amazing artists, ice slides, and a maze.
Other festivals include Black History Month, the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival, Edmonton's Festival of Beer, the Syncrude Next Generation Arts Festival, the River City Shakespeare Festival, and the Feats Festival of Dance.
Family Fun in Edmonton
Families can enjoy a day at the Valley Zoo (http://www.valleyzoo.ca/) seeing elephants, tigers, and more than 100 other exotic, native, or endangered species. The zoo features special presentations, a miniature train, and a Little Children's Zoo. Or, they can visit the Horse Sence Training and Petting Zoo with a variety of animals such as sheep, rabbits, goats, llamas, emus, donkeys, parrots, wallaby, and ducks. There's also a picnic area and a small play area.
Kids also enjoy watching the sheep graze at the Legacy Park Sheep Grazing. There are about 50 sheep here from the middle of June through September, and visitors can walk among the sheep and sheep dogs for a firsthand look at how sheep are herded.
The spirited city of Edmonton promises to be an excellent vacation choice for travelers of all ages. Come see why so many people love Edmonton.