Sights in Edmonton
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The Edmonton Space & Science Centre
The Edmonton Space & Science Centre is a great place for kids. With an emphasis on interactive displays, there are a million things to discover, all under one roof. Fight crime with the latest technology, see what living on a spacecraft is all about, go on a dinosaur dig and explore what makes the human body tick. Young and old will have a blast and maybe even learn something at the same time.
For the ultimate souvenir, you can buy the naming rights of an actual star: the more you spend, the brighter it is.
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Fort Edmonton Park
Originally built by the Hudson Bay Company in 1795, Fort Edmonton was moved several times before being finally dismantled in 1915. This newer riverside reconstruction began life in the 1960s and captures the fort at its 1846 apex. On-site are mock-ups of Edmonton's city streets at three points of their historical trajectory: 1885, 1905 and 1920. A vintage steam train and streetcar link all the exhibits, and costumed guides are there to answer questions and add some flavor.
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Alberta Railway Museum
This museum, on the northeast edge of the city, has a collection of more than 50 railcars, including steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock, built and used between 1877 and 1950. It also has a collection of railway equipment, old train stations and related buildings. On weekends, volunteers fire up some of the old engines and you can ride along for $4 (the diesel locomotives run every Sunday in season; the 1913 steam locomotive gets going only on holiday weekends). To get there, drive north on 97th St (Hwy 28) to Hwy 37, turn right and go east for 7km to 34th St, then turn right and go south about 2km.
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Royal Alberta Museum
Exhibits in Edmonton’s leading museum include sections on insects and diamonds, and a lauded display of Alberta’s First Nations’ culture. The highlight, however, is the ‘Wild Alberta’ gallery which splits the province into different geographical zones and displays plants and animals from each. The museum – in operation since 1967 – is situated high on a bluff to the west of downtown in a modern granite building that was visited and renamed by Queen Elizabeth II during Alberta’s centenary in 2005.
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Alberta Legislature
Home to politicians, debate and some surprisingly good art is the Alberta Legislature. Where Fort Edmonton once stood, the Leg is a grand old building. With its iconic dome and marble interiors, it has grown to become a local landmark. There are free 45-minute tours (every hour) to take you behind the scenes and the grounds themselves are a splendid place to spend a warm day. To hook up with a tour, head to the interpretive center/gift shop in the pedway at 10820 98th Ave.
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Muttart Conservatory
Looking like some sort of pyramid-shaped, glass bomb shelter, the Muttart Conservatory is actually a botanical garden that sits south of the river off James MacDonald Bridge. Each of the four pyramids holds a different climate region and corresponding foliage. It's an interesting place to wander about, especially for gardeners, plant fans and those in the mood for something low-key.
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Alberta Government House
When you finish exploring the Royal Alberta Museum head next door (Sundays and holidays only) to Government House, an opulent mansion and the former residence of the lieutenant governor. Steeped in history and tirelessly preserved, you'd never guess that it's nearing its centennial birthday (in 2013). The artwork alone is worth visiting – the walls are lined with stunning works by Alberta artists.
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Valley Zoo
The Valley Zoo, with more than 100 exotic, endangered and native animals, is a good option for children. Kids will enjoy the petting zoo, camel and pony rides, miniature train, carousel and paddleboats. If you want to brave the zoo in the frigid winter, admission costs are reduced.
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Edmonton Art Gallery
The Edmonton Art Gallery is going through some growing pains at the moment. With a new purpose-built structure set to be unveiled in 2009, its temporary location feels a bit, well, temporary. The art is fantastic, however, and definitely deserves attention.
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Art Gallery of Alberta
With the opening of this fantastic new art gallery in January 2010, Edmonton at last gained a modern signature building to emulate any great city and doubled the display space of its less-exalted predecessor, the Edmonton Art Gallery. Looking like a giant glass and metal space helmet, the new futuristic structure in Churchill Sq is an exhibit in its own right that houses over 6000 historical and contemporary works of art, many of which have a strong Canadian bias. Additional plush facilities include a 150-seat theater, shop and restaurant.
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West Edmonton Mall
A kitsch lover who is tired of Vegas could still have a field day in West Edmonton Mall. Not content to simply be a shopping mall, this urban behemoth has the world's largest waterslides, an equipped indoor wave pool, a full-sized amusement park, a skating rink, two, yes, two minigolf courses, a fake reef with real seals swimming around, a petting zoo, a hotel and 800 stores thrown in as a bonus. Stroll through Chinatown, grab a meal on the delightfully unauthentic Bourbon St, or go for a skate or bungee jump. Then dive into the sea of chain retail shops.
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Ukrainian Museum of Canada
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Ukrainian Heritage Sites
With a huge Ukrainian population and a long history of immigration, there are a few places around town to learn about the culture of the old country and its transplantation in Canada. These sites are found north of downtown and can be combined into a single outing: St Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral,Ukrainian Canadian Archives & Museum of Alberta, and Ukrainian Museum of Canada.
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Telus World of Science
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Sir Winston Churchill Square
The subject of a controversial facelift designed to tie in with the city's 2005 centennial, this public space is a Europeanlike plaza where people can meet, hang out and relax (outside temperature permitting). The square's former green areas have been replaced with a small amphitheater, a fountain and a cafe. Around the perimeter is a quadrangle of important buildings, including the City Hall, the Provincial Court and the impressive new Art Gallery of Alberta.
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North Saskatchewan River Valley
Edmonton has more designated urban parkland than any other city in North America, most of it contained within an interconnected riverside green belt that effectively cuts the metropolis in half. The green zone is flecked with lakes, bridges, wild areas, golf courses, ravines and approximately 160km worth of cycling and walking trails. It is easily accessed from downtown.
A fine way to get a glimpse of the downtown core from the river is to take a ride on the Edmonton Queen. This modern stern-wheeler will take you for an hour-long cruise up- or downriver, depending on the mood of the captain. There is often onboard live entertainment to keep the mood festive.
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