West Edmonton Mall
Pack your golf clubs, swimsuit, ice skates and lucky bowling ball. Make a list of your favourite international shops and restaurants. Itemize your every shopping need.
Destination: West Edmonton Mall, the world’s largest entertainment and shopping centre.
Firmly entrenched in the Guinness World Records as the largest shopping centre in the world, West Edmonton Mall offers over 800 stores and services and more than 110 eating establishments. This amazing place features the world’s largest indoor amusement park, the world’s largest indoor wave pool, real submarine voyages in the world’s largest indoor lake, an exact replica of the Santa Maria, an 18-hole miniature golf course and much more, all under one roof!
Covering 48 city blocks (the size of 115 football fields) West Edmonton Mall is, in itself, a tourist destination. Millions of visitors flock to the phenomenon annually. The weather’s great 365 days a year and there is something for everyone! The popularity of West Edmonton Mall around the world has enabled the attraction to bring to Edmonton new concepts in entertainment that would typically only be found in much larger international centres.
Shop and enjoy the unique charm of Europa Boulevard, one of the Mall’s themed indoor streets, or ride the waves in the sensational 5-acre World Waterpark. There is even indoor bungee jumping for those who dare!
Experience “the most intense ride in Canada” - the world’s largest indoor triple-loop rollercoaster, the Mindbender in Galaxyland Amusement Park. Observe exotic sea creatures in the Sea Life Caverns, and learn about dolphins during daily live presentations.
Practice your putt at Professor Wem’s Adventure Golf, a whimsical 18 hole miniature golf course. Or go skating at the glittering Ice Palace - West Edmonton Mall’s NHL-size ice rink!
Looking for entertainment? Experience Playdium, the ultimate place to play, or try your luck at the newly expanded Las Vegas-style Palace Casino. Take in a show at one of the Mall’s 26 movie theatres, and don’t miss the fire-breathing dragon at Famous Players SilverCity. Pamper yourself in one of the mall’s spas, or visit such hot spots as Red’s and Jubilations Dinner Theatre.
Dance the night away in a club, or take a stroll down Bourbon Street, where every day is Mardi Gras!
Make your visit complete with a couple of nights in a theme room at Fantasyland Hotel, or choose comfort and convenience for your family at the West Edmonton Mall Inn.
Whatever the season, West Edmonton Mall is a must-see destination - the vacation experience of a lifetime.
Farmers market
Farm-fresh produce is a hallmark of Old Strathcona's Farmers' Market. |
Farmers’ markets have a long and interesting history in Edmonton.
Before Edmonton was a city, the Rice Street Market was established as the shopping hub for many Edmontonians. Located on the spot where the Stanley Milner Library now sits, the market was the place where shoppers bought a variety of goods, from coal, hay and firewood to poultry and eggs.
Fresh produce and meats have been a mainstay of the public market since it opened over 100 years ago. For 64 years the Rice Street Market flourished, as the city grew around it. These were the glory years, when the market attracted up to 6,000 customers a day.
In 1964, city council considered closing the market, but public outcry prevailed and it was saved. A year later the market relocated to 97th Street and 102 Ave., where it still operates today.
In October 1998 the Edmonton Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) began a development plan to re-establish the City Market. Fixed stalls were taken out and the building was given a facelift. Now into its 101st year, the market is attracting familiar faces ever Saturday morning along with many new ones. For more information on the City Market, call 424-9001.
Over at the Strathcona Farmers’ Market (10310-83 Ave.) there are few quiet days at the public facility, located in the heart of historic Old Strathcona. In what was once a depot for city buses and trolley cars, the majestic brick building now houses thousands of small producers and customers every Saturday. “The customers have given us a clear indication of why they like to come to the farmers’ market,” the market manager says. “First is the freshness and the flavour of the food. Number two is the atmosphere.”
While the Old Strathcona market is one of the most successful indoor markets in Canada, the largest outdoor market in Western Canada is located in St. Albert, just north of the city. Thousands visit the market each week in the summer. St. Albert also has two indoor markets before and after the outdoor market season. For more information, call at 458-2833.
The Callingwood, Capilano Approved Farmer’s Market, Leduc, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and the Westmount Approved Farmers’ Markets are also thriving.
Capital Region
Edmonton’s Capital Region is full of exciting and informative attractions, all just beyond the city limits.
Within a short distance of the city centre you’ll find scenic areas where wildlife abounds. A short drive brings you to Canada’s first wildlife sanctuary, Elk Island National Park (50 km east of Edmonton on Hwy. 16) or the Strathcona Wilderness Centre, which offers canoeing, hiking and cross-country skiing. The Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Recreational Area has over 150 km of trails for mountain biking, snowshoeing and horseback riding. You’ll also find historical sites in St. Albert and the community of Fort Saskatchewan that date back to 1875.
Southwest of Edmonton you’ll find Devon, the Budweiser Motorsport Park and Devonian Botanic Garden, which features over 10,000 species of plants. The communities surrounding Edmonton also boast several major performance facilities, including Festival Place in Sherwood Park, Arden Theatre in St. Albert and Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove, which host a variety of concerts, theatrical events and children’s entertainment.
Leduc
Just south of Edmonton, as you head out to the International Airport, you’ll find the thriving communities of Leduc, Nisku, Devon, Calmar and Beaumont. Of special interest is the Leduc No. 1 Discovery Well, the site of the first oil discovery in 1947 that helped put Edmonton on the map as the oil capital of Canada.
World-class facilities and attractions are commonplace in the County of Leduc. In addition to the scenic Devon Golf & Country Club, Coloniale Golf & Country Club and Budweiser Motorsport Park, this area also houses the Nisku Industrial Park, Edmonton International Airport, and numerous stores, restaurants and services. Farmers’ markets and festivals go on throughout the summer months while winter means a day at Rabbit Hill Ski Club.
The attractions in the County of Leduc offer a unique combination of entertainment and education as they delve into the history of the area. Heading south of Leduc, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin explores the mechanization of transportation in Alberta, while the Canadian Petroleum Interpretive Centre & Museum celebrates the discovery of oil at the Leduc No. 1 Oilfield.
Try picnicking, fishing, hiking and canoeing or ice skating and
cross-country skiing in Beaumont’s Four Seasons Park. Horse lovers must
visit Amberlea Meadows, which features over 360 acres of tranquil pastureland, riding rings, stalls and trailer parking. Get back to nature at Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary, or visit one of the many lakes in the area, including Pigeon Lake, Wizard Lake and Joseph Lake.
The County of Leduc offers a wide variety of attractions and natural parks that capture the prairie spirit of Alberta, all just minutes outside of Edmonton.
Parkland
Devonian Botanical Gardens features 10,000 species of plants over 80 acres. |
Picturesque Parkland County just west of Edmonton is home to beautiful lakes and beaches, winding golf courses and outdoor attractions that highlight the area’s natural splendor.
Natural areas abound in this area, from Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, one of Alberta’s most popular beaches for swimming, sailing, water skiing, wind surfing and fishing, to the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary where elevated walkways and lookouts let you experience rare birds and wildlife up close without disturbing nature’s delicate balance. Chickakoo Lake Eco Trail also features self-guided interpretive trails. Another attraction is the Devonian Botanic Garden which features nature trails, ecological and wetland reserves and over 10,000 species of plants showcased over 80 acres. The garden’s unique Kurimoto Japanese Garden is a beautifully manicured complex with plantlife, ponds and waterfalls.
Stony Plain Golf Course is one of several courses in Parkland County. |
Located within the county, the charming city of Spruce Grove is alive with nature, arts and culture. Named for its abundance of mature trees, Spruce Grove is home to the 50-acre Heritage Grove Park with 15 km of multi-use trails and The Links, a world-class 18-hole golf course. It’s also home to the acclaimed Horizon Stage Performing Arts Centre.
Located next to Spruce Grove is the town of Stony Plain. Incorporated in 1908, this agricultural community boasts a rich and diverse heritage. Discover the region’s pioneering history through displays at the Multicultural Heritage Centre, a provincial historical site and living museum that displays artifacts and displays from pioneering days gone by. On site is the Settler’s Cabin, a replica of a typical pioneer home; Homesteader’s Kitchen; the Wild Rose Historical Library and Archives and historic Oppertshauser House. The Heritage Walk of Murals, another town attraction, includes 20 life-sized murals recreating the area’s history on the side of buildings.
Only minutes away from the bright lights of Edmonton, take the time to explore the quiet serenity of the Parkland County area.
Strathcona
Elk Island National Park has 40 species of mammals including mpre than 1,000 plains and wood bison. |
Where can you find seven golf courses within a 15 minute drive, ten recreation facilities, 200 public recreational sites, over 50 km of nature trails and a national park? Strathcona County, just east of Edmonton, is where the wilderness shares space with dynamic facilities to create a refreshing break.
In the heart of Strathcona County is Sherwood Park, one of the world’s largest hamlets. Here you’ll find Festival Place, a convention and exhibit centre, and many local art and gift shops. Sherwood Park is home to the region’s newest multipurpose recreation facility, Millennium Place, featuring a twin ice arena, wave pool and indoor
Soccer pitches.
Festival Place in Sherwood Park is a world-class convention, exhibition and performing arts facility. |
The city of Fort Saskatchewan plays host to many attractions. Dow Chemical Canada, which offers daily site tours in summer, also calls Fort Saskatchewan home. An outdoor Farmers’ Market offers homemade goods and produce throughout the summer months, while the Alberta Railway Museum, Warden’s House, and Fort Saskatchewan Museum all offer a taste of history.
Strathcona County is known for its wide open spaces and ample opportunities to enjoy birdwatching and a wide variety of wildlife viewing. Perfect spots for these activities include Elk Island National Park, Cooking Lake Blackfoot Recreation Area and the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. Learn about the area’s history at Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, an outdoor museum that chronicles Ukrainian immigrants’ settlement in Alberta. Visit the Strathcona County Museum, or sit back and relax at Half Moon Lake Resort.
Sturgeon
 
Winter or Summer, there's an abundance of outdoor activities in Sturgeon County. |
North of the Edmonton Area is Sturgeon County, a community filled with cities, towns and villages that keep on growing. From St. Albert to Legal, the communities of Sturgeon County offer diverse cultural and recreational activities.
St. Albert, one of the province’s oldest communities, sits on the banks of the Sturgeon River and boasts a number of natural areas such as Red Willow Park with over 34 kilometres of paved trails and five distinct park areas for running, cycling, skating and skiing. The Woodlands Water Play Park combines an interactive waterplay area with beach volleyball courts and skateboard facilities.
A hub of cultural activities, St. Albert is home to the world-class Arden Theatre, the Musée Heritage Museum and, each spring hosts the Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival. St. Albert also stages Western Canada’s largest outdoor farmers’ market, which typically attracts 10,000 people each Saturday in the summer.
Morinville, 30 km north of Edmonton is also a great place to explore. Here you’ll find historic St. Jean Baptiste Church and the Morinville Historical Centre, which houses a teahouse, museum and art gallery. A weekly farmers’ market, numerous arts and craft fairs and other recreational activities and special events round out this appealing community.
Stop in Gibbons, also located on the Sturgeon River, for a taste of
small-town Alberta. The Sturgeon Historical Society Museum has a collection of historic buildings from the town’s settlement including an original log home, settler’s home and the McLean Brothers Store.
The village of Legal is a small, agricultural community that features rolling hills perfect for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Fête Au Village is a popular two-day festival held the last weekend in July to celebrate the French culture of Legal’s pioneers.
