Overview
The natural beauty
of Edmonton is prominently displayed in the deep, wide North Saskatchewan River
Valley that winds through the city center. Edmonton's downtown overlooks the
north bank of this picture-perfect river. Its stately Old Strathcona historic, shopping, and
entertainment district and the University of Alberta overlook the south
bank.
Edmonton is a
bustling metropolitan center that is home to about 800,000 people.
As Edmonton has grown, it has
remained a place of beauty and prosperity. Unlike some other oil boomtowns,
Edmonton has never allowed uncontrolled development. Now known as “Canada’s
Festival City,” Edmonton has developed an amazing park system, world-class
sporting facilities, and a cultural ambience that attracts major annual events
of the highest caliber.
The city is well
known as the home of the West Edmonton Mall, the largest shopping and
entertainment complex in the world, with over 800 stores and services. The Mall
is located in the city's west end, and all freeways seem to lead directly to
it. The Mall has the world's largest parking lot, an indoor wave pool, indoor
waterslide, and an indoor rollercoaster.
To make a visit to this exciting megaplex even more enjoyable,
there is a hotel in the Mall, as
well as an area featuring its own nightlife district (Bourbon Street), complete with
a Las Vegas-style casino.
Other major
Edmonton attractions are
the Muttart Conservatory and
the Alberta Legislature Building, both noted for their architectural design, and
Fort Edmonton Park, considered to be Canada's largest living history museum.
Edmonton has turned its greatest
natural resource, the North Saskatchewan River valley, into a 17 mile greenbelt
of parks and recreational facilities. As the seat of the provincial government,
the city has an unusually sophisticated atmosphere that has generated many fine
restaurants and a thriving arts community.
Summer activities include golf,
bicycling, swimming, jogging, racquetball, squash, and spectator sports.
Edmonton is home to three professional sports teams. The Oilers play hockey
from September to April; the Trappers excel at baseball in the summer months,
and the Eskimos play football from June to November. In the winter there is
cross-country skiing, ice skating, dog sledding, and snowshoeing.
For visitors who prefer the
indoors, there is an extensive system of underground and overhead “pedways” in
the downtown area that make it possible to travel in comfort regardless of the
weather outside. For ease of access, phenomenal natural beauty, and a wide
variety of year round activities for the entire family, Edmonton is unsurpassed.
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