A Wealth of Wonders

As Canada’s sixth-largest metropolitan area, Greater Edmonton is home to more than a million people.

Edmonton offers a unique blend of small-town friendliness and big-city sophistication, a host of diverse and elite meeting spaces. Edmonton is an ideal destination with a warm and friendly energy and lots of interesting thing to see and do.

Well-known for unique shopping, dining and entertainment venues, Edmonton offers wide-ranging choice when it comes to great food, great buys and great arts and culture. A popular area is Whyte Avenue —82nd Avenue — on the south side of the city. Situated in Old Strathcona, this stretch features cafés, pubs, restaurants, live music and more than 300 stores selling everything from clothing and accessories to books, musical instruments and fair-trade merchandise from around the world. Walking tours through this historic district also afford an opportunity to visit its famous farmers’ market or to simply appreciate the early 1900’s architecture.

North of downtown, the Avenue of Nations is lined with shops, services and restaurants inspired by the cultures of China, Vietnam, Italy, Ukraine, Poland and Japan.

West of downtown, the 124th Street area encompasses the Gallery Walk district and specialty stores, fashion boutiques and fabulous eateries. Nearby, the internationally-acclaimed Royal Alberta Museum plays host to fascinating travelling exhibits as well as its own permanent displays such as the Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture — one of North America’s most expansive exhibitions on Aboriginal peoples — and the captivating wildlife exhibit, Wild Alberta.

Needless to say, shopping, dining and entertainment are the name of the game at the world-famous West Edmonton Mall, hailed by many as “The Greatest Indoor Show on Earth.”

This mega-mecca features more than 800 stores and services, upwards of 100 dining establishments as well as nine world-class attractions that include the world’s largest indoor wave pool, an indoor amusement park, an 18-hole miniature golf course and a casino.

All this action resides under one roof that spans the equivalent of 48 city blocks.

If you’re a fan of sports, science, nature and history, then head south of the river to the University of Alberta. Established in 1908, this sprawling centre of advanced education has garnered international acclaim for its advances in the fields of science and medicine. It’s also home to the new Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute — the first of its kind in Canada.

If you’re looking for visitor information check out either of Edmonton Tourism’s Visitor Information Centres. One is located at Gateway Park coming into Edmonton from Highway 2; the other on Jasper Avenue and 99th Street in the World Trade Centre Edmonton building. Canada’s largest living history museum, Fort Edmonton Park, affords glimpses of early life in Edmonton during the fur trading and pioneer eras, while the Telus World of Science™ — Edmonton fascinates with hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations of leading-edge science and technology.

Nature lovers can walk, jog or bike along the famed North Saskatchewan River Valley — the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America — that offers numerous golf courses and an extensive network of trails for outdoor enthusiasts.

Edmonton’s Valley Zoo, located in the city’s west end, houses more than 400 animals. If your passion is plants and flowers, the Muttart Conservatory is a horticultural haven displaying some 700 species of temperate and tropical plants in four glass pyramid structures.

Edmonton is a practiced and polished host to the world. Each year the city welcomes hundreds of thousands of international guests to conferences and athletic competitions. Edmonton has proudly hosted Universiade, World Figure Skating Championships, three Canadian Football League Grey Cups, and much more. The elite racing event — the Rexall Edmonton Indy — which is among the city’s popular draws, will return to Edmonton through 2010.

Named ‘Cultural Capital of Canada’ in 2007 and adopting the moniker Festival City really sums up Edmonton perfectly.

With at least one major annual festival in such fields as music, theatre, visual arts and sports taking place every month, finding something to do is easy!

Likewise, staying in Edmonton is a breeze. More than 13,000 hotel guest rooms make the Edmonton region a highly accommodating centre.

From the majestic Fairmont Hotel Macdonald — one of the city’s best-loved historical landmarks — to a host of suite hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts, Greater Edmonton’s accommodations offer something for every taste and budget.

Making Edmonton a destination of choice is not only smart but effortless too!