Things to do in Edmonton
-
A
Da-De-O
A classic diner restaurant serving Cajun food, Da-De-O competes for the prize of Edmonton's most memorable eating joint. With retro jukeboxes, art-deco lighting and some jazz etchings on the wall, the decor is eye-catching and interesting, while the food – oysters, jambalaya and filling po'boys – is the stuff of Louisiana legend. The perennial highlight is the spice-dusted sweet potato fries. Forget the Big Easy. Save the airfare and eat here.
reviewed
-
B
High Level Diner
Want to catch up with some locals over eggs? This friendly, popular eatery right beside the river is a great way to start the day.
reviewed
-
C
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.
reviewed
-
D
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.
reviewed
-
E
Yianni's
This is a great traditional Greek restaurant with a mint location right on Whyte Ave - big windows open onto the street, making it a prime spot for watching the world go by. There are two levels of eating to double your pleasure - opa!
reviewed
-
F
Café Mosaics
A Strathcona institution, this arty, activist-frequented vegetarian-vegan haunt is a meat-free zone that has taken a page out of San Francisco's book: how to make vegetable dishes both interesting and tasty. The results are invariably good. As a litmus test, check the number of carnivores who take a day off meat to come here. Try the tofu curry, cowgirls' breakfast or Moroccan chickpea soup. There's even a special meat-free kids' menu.
reviewed
-
G
West Edmonton Mall
It's hard to know whether to laugh or cringe at the West Edmonton Mall, which may as well be a different planet orbiting the city. Not content to simply be a shopping mall, it 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. It truly is a sight to see.
The kids will love it and no visit to Edmonton is complete without seeing it - love it or hate it, there's nothing else like West Ed. So go for a stroll through Chinatown, grab a meal on the delightfully unauthentic Bourbon St,…
reviewed
-
H
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.
reviewed
-
I
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.
reviewed
-
J
Hardware Grill
When you really want to impress even yourself, head to this plush oasis high on a bluff above the river in what is traditionally the seedier part of town. The Hardware occupies an old (for Edmonton) redbrick building that has retained its more elegant features and spruced up the rest. Signposts promise an ambitious triumvirate of 'comfort, flavor and panache,' a boast at least partly fulfilled in expertly prepared duck breast, lamb rack and Alberta beef.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
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.
reviewed
-
L
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.
reviewed
-
M
Shumka
You can't come to Edmonton and not tuck into some good Ukrainian food. With a huge Ukrainian population, the city is speckled with authentic options. Shumka is a standout, although your first impression will be, 'I drove all the way out here for this?' Don't let the mini-mall location discourage you; the pierogi and cabbage rolls are topnotch.
reviewed
-
N
Edmonton Queen
A neat way to get a good glimpse of the downtown core is to take a ride on the Edmonton Queen . This modern sternwheeler riverboat 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 and the punters entertained.
reviewed
-
O
The Bank Ultra Lounge
Oozing groovy style, this former bank is as hip as they come. The center bar deposits cocktails to the metrosexual crowd that gathers there for popular post-work drinks. Cruise downstairs to the dark dungeon below; the hidden bar has a different vibe and the shadowy booths are a good place to get more acquainted.
reviewed
-
P
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.
reviewed
-
Q
Black Dog Freehouse
Insanely popular with all types, the Black Dog is essentially a pub with a couple of hidden extras: a rooftop patio, known as the 'wooftop patio,' with heaters (naturally, this is Alberta), a traditional ground-floor bar (normally packed cheek to jowl on weekday nights), and a basement that features live music and occasional parties. The sum of the three parts has become a rollicking Edmonton institution.
reviewed
-
R
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.
reviewed
-
S
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.
reviewed
-
T
Madison's Grill
Located in the Union Bank Inn and continuing the same high standards of service and quality, delicate meats and seafood are prepared here with flair. The dining room is elegant, the service is top-notch and the wine pairing menu goes for a wallet-stretching $50.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
U
Blues on Whyte
This is the sort of place your mother warned you about: dirty, rough, but still somehow cool. It's a great place to check out some live music; blues and rock are the standards here. The small dance floor is a good place to shake a leg.
reviewed
-
V
Princess Theatre
The Princess is a grand old theater that defiantly sticks her finger up at the mall-housed multiplexes that are dominant elsewhere. Dating from the pre-talkie days (1915) it screens first-run, art-house and cult classics.
reviewed
-
W
La Ronde
For a revolving restaurant, this one goes pretty slowly, but that's a good thing. Great views and a romantic setting atop the Crowne Plaza hotel add up to a wonderful experience, but the culinary excellence is the real ride here.
reviewed
-
X
The Urban Dog
For the dog or dog owner who has everything. It gets cold come winter and you wouldn't let your pooch go out wearing any old thing, would you? High fashion for your canine friends - very fun, very tongue in cheek, very camp.
reviewed
-
Y
Upper Crust Café
What was once just plain old home cooking has now been rebranded as 'comfort food,' ie basic, untechnical flavors and an eating experience that reminds you of your mum, gran – or both. Cottoning on to this nostalgic need, Upper Crust, tucked into the front of a nondescript, shabby-looking apartment building, effortlessly serves up such simple concoctions as chili con carne, pan-fried chicken in mushroom sauce (remember that?) and rainbow trout.
reviewed