Dates can be exciting but also stressful. The decisions to make are never easy. Where should you go? What should you wear? How much should you spend? Go into your next date stress-free with these free (or cheap) date ideas in Edmonton that are sure to bring you memories to remember.
Picnic on Queen Elizabeth Hill or at Hawrelak Park
Picnics can never go wrong when you’re on a budget. You can bring as much or as little as you desire! Queen Elizabeth Hill, located in Queen Elizabeth Park, offers a beautiful view of downtown Edmonton and the stunning Walterdale Bridge. It is a popular spot for picnickers, so prepare to share the space. After your picnic, you can take a stroll with your special someone down one of the many river valley paths. If you’re looking for a quieter experience, Hawrelak Park might be for you. There will be lots of space to get away from the chatter of others while still having a view of downtown.
High Level Bridge Streetcar
Take a ride in a refurbished streetcar that dates back to the early 1900s. The route takes you along the former Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) trackage, from Old Strathcona, through the only tunnel built on a CPR mainline in Alberta, and across the High Level Bridge into Downtown. For just a $7 round trip (or $4 one way), you and your special someone can take in stunning views of the city, not to mention a unique memory to remember.
Photo courtesy Cat Cafe on Whyte
Explore Old Strathcona & Whyte Ave
Old Strathcona is rich with arts, culture, and fun. Aside from the many bars, restaurants, and dessert places, you and your special someone can stroll down Whyte Avenue to do some window shopping or look at the many art murals on the sides of the buildings. Browse book stores like the Wee Book Inn and vintage shops like the Junque Cellar, or pop into the Cat Café to get a serotonin boost from your furry friends. If you want to take your window shopping to the next level, just South of Whyte Avenue are the Old Strathcona and Rocky Mountain Antique Malls. You will transport back to the past as you wander around these massive time capsules.
Watch the sunset at Constable Ezio Faraone Park
The city offers many memorable sunset-watching spots. But watching day turn into night at Constable Ezio Faraone Park is a one-of-a-kind experience. This small park located at the Northern end of the High Level Bridge sits in the perfect place for a Southwest view of the sky. You’ll have the sounds of downtown behind you and the serene view of the North Saskatchewan River in front of you. While this park is small, it is also lively. In the spring and summer months, you’ll often find people doing yoga or practicing kickboxing. If you’re lucky, there will even be some musicians strumming and humming away, which will make for the perfect sunset-watching date ambience. So, bring your blanket to sit on, a book to read, and some sky-watching snacks. Maybe don’t forget your special someone either.
Take a walk in the River Valley
You may have heard that Edmonton’s River Valley is about 22 times the size of New York City’s Central Park. It’s huge, to say the least, which makes for the perfect date experience. There is a lot to discover and explore. You can access the River Valley at various points in the city. If you want to spice things up from a walk, try rollerskating or biking down the many trails. The City of Edmonton River Valley Trail Map is an excellent resource to plan your route. Remember, many trails in the River Valley are unpaved.
