5 family things to do around Edmonton
What could be more unusual than driving through a herd of wild bison? Surrounded by wilderness, expect to stop your vehicle regularly to let these behemoths pass, as they block the path. Many hiking trails are on hand and a lake sits in the middle of this large park where you can paddle board, kayak or canoe, all of which are available for rent. In winter, trade walking for snowshoeing or even lace up your skates. The site also hosts a national campsite with basic amenities. Equipped tents or oTENTik accommodations are available to rent for campers who want more comfort.
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
This large cultural site a little east of the city, not far from Elk Island, will keep you busy for several hours if you visit the forty buildings open to the public. Go back to the 1930s with actors in historic costumes who tell the story of the first Ukrainians who settled in the area. A horse-drawn cart will help you get around the place. The main building, meanwhile, offers a more modern exhibition, a souvenir shop and a cafeteria. The stroller is suitable for young children.
The Canadian Energy Museum will surprise you with its professionalism. Upon entering the main room, a grand exhibition awaits you with a reproduction of the driller’s cabin, which you can enter, real models, 360-degree videos, the evolution of workers’ costumes, etc. The guide embellishes the visit with sometimes funny, sometimes tragic anecdotes. The museum is very open to the presence of children on the site, and several stations offer the chance to touch and experiment while learning a lot about different kinds of fossils or green energy.
Twenty minutes north of Edmonton it is possible to admire mechanized dinosaurs which grant a unique experience. The natural exhibition offers two loops that take about one hour if walking slowly and examining the animals. Fully immersed in the heart of a dense Canadian forest made up of conifers and deciduous trees, it is easy to imagine the environment in which these dinosaurs could have lived billions of years ago. Two thumbs up for its realism.
This activity and this place is exactly what my mother would call “culinary tourism.” In addition to the classic kiosks selling local products, there is an ice cream vendor, a shop selling local products, a mini-farm, gardens for picking as well as the famous corn maze. Animals are docile and not afraid of humans. Definitely worth the trip!
