| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
Edmonton, Alberta's capital, is located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, straddling the deep, lush river valley that has the looks of an oasis in high summer, with its sprawling green spaces. Unlike its southern counterpart, Calgary, Edmonton is a decidedly low-key metropolis, with an earthy sense and little of the flash that is Calgary's hallmark. Where Calgary is corporate, Edmonton, the provincial capital, is a government town. More liberal, it also has a marked no-nonsense, blue-collar feel to it. People are down to earth, unpretentious, and almost alarmingly friendly and hospitable. In many ways, Edmonton feels like a small town that happens to have a million people living in it -- and most residents you encounter would count that as one of its main attractions. Make no mistake, though: Like much of the province, Edmonton is profiting mightily from the unprecedented oil boom, and much can be found for those with a taste for luxury; unlike Calgary, Edmonton just chooses to be a little more demure about its wealth. It's also the gateway to Fort McMurray to the north, where most of the fortunes are being made; so while Calgary reaps the benefits in the abstract, Edmontonians are much more connected to the reality of the resource -- for good or ill. Chief among Edmonton's attractions is likely the almost never-ending plethora of summer festivals that the city plays host to. Chief among them is Edmonton's Fringe Theatre Festival, second only t
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | Boomtown. Perhaps no other term suits Edmonton so well. Although no stranger to hardship, over the course of 200-some years, the city has ridden high on the crest of several economic waves. A community Within Walls: An Unassuming Name In 1795, the Hudson’s Bay Company built a walled fort on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The company perceived the need for, and the value of, a trading post in the rugged prairie of central Alberta, a territory until then mainly inhabited by the Cree. The 20-foot-high walls offered protection from the conflicts that erupted between the Cree and their rivals, the Blackfoot, when they came to trade at the fort. In exchange for rich pelts of otter, muskrat, beaver, mink and fox, these native Canadians obtained European-manufactured goods such as metal cooking utensils, guns, and gunpowder, that would alter their lives dramatically. Stories abound about how Fort Edmonton acquired its name. It was most likely named in honor of Sir James Winter Lake, the deputy governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company at the time. Lake hailed from Edmonton, in Middlesex, England. One can speculate that the original Edmonton was at one time Edmond’s Town—named, in the British tradition, after a townsman, in this case named Edmond. Beyond the Boundaries Life at the fort followed a routine of trading, dispatching brigades to remote outposts, planting food and grain crops in the spring, harvesting them in the fall, and hunting and fishin
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| When To Go (Source: Fodors) | Top | From June through September you're likely to encounter more festivals and the greatest number of open lodgings (some close seasonally). Spring and fall months offer a more tranquil experience for travelers, and September can be particularly rewarding, with a combination of warm weather and some autumn foliage. Although winter can be cold, it's also a magical time to visit, with plenty of fluffy white snow and clear starry night skies that provide good views of the northern lights—visible from mid-August to early April. Winter is also ideal for outdoor sports like skiing, pond skating, or dogsledding.
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There: By Air: Edmonton International Airport ( +1 780 890 8900/ http://www.edmontonairports.com ) is located 18 miles ( 29 km ) from the center of the city and provides direct service and connections to several destinations from the following airlines: Air Canada ( +1 888 247 2262/ http://www.aircanada.ca ) Air North, Yukon's Airline ( +1 800 661 0407/ http://www.flyairnorth.com ) Air Transat ( +1 877 872 6728/ http://www.airtransat.com ) Canadian North ( +1 800 661 1505/ http://www.canadiannorth.com ) Central Mountain Air ( +1 888 865 8585/ http://www.flycma.com ) Continental ( +1 800 231 0856/ http://www.continental.com ) First Air ( +1 800 267 1247/ http://www.firstair.ca ) Horizon Air ( +1 800 547 9308/ http://www.horizonair.com ) Jetsgo ( +1 866 440 0441/ http://www.jetsgo.net ) Northwest ( +1 800 225 2525/ http://www.nwa.com ) Peace Air ( +1 800 563 3060/ http://www.peaceair.com ) Skyservice ( +1 800 701 9448/ http://www.skyserviceairlines.com ) United ( +1 800 241 6522/ http://www.ual.com ) US Airways ( +1 800 428 4322/ http://www.usairways.com ) WestJet ( +1 800 538 5696/ http://www.westjet.com ) Zoom Airlines ( +1 866 359 9666 / http://www.flyzoom.ca ) Sky Shuttle ( +1 888 438 2342/ http://www.edmontonskyshuttle.com ) offers transportation to and from the Edmonton International Airport every 20 minutes on weekdays from 6a-9p. The fol
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Edmonton’s entertainment scene is a reflection of the city’s diverse population and the diverse interests of its citizens. While it plays host to big-name entertainers from around the world, the city also showcases and takes pride in the people, the history and the spirit that are uniquely its own. Festivals It always seems to be festival season in Edmonton, but from May through August, "Canada’s Festival City" really comes alive. Music, visual art, theatre, or just plain fun - there is definitely something for everyone. Late in June, the Yardbird Jazz Festival features jazz and blues artists at various indoor and outdoor venues throughout the city. And, the International Street Performers Festival fills the downtown streets with the antics of clowns, jugglers, magicians, and other performers. The Gold Rush of the 1890’s is revived every July during Capital EX . Kicked off with a parade, and followed by ten days of events that include pancake breakfasts, bathtub races, and a sourdough raft race, this festival makes every corner of the city come alive. Few can resist a night at the midway, shrieking on the rides. Thousands flock to Hawrelak Park for the Heritage Festival , a delightful celebration of ethnic diversity. The 50 pavilions showcase the costume, music, dance, food, and art of a specific culture. Edmonton's Folk Music Festival , held every August at Gallagher Park, is recognized as one of the top folk festivals in North Americ
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| Getting Around (Source: Frommers) | Top | Edmonton Transit (tel. 780/496-1611 ) operates the buses and the LRT (Light Rail Transit). This electric rail service connects downtown with Northlands Park to the north and the University of Alberta to the south. The LRT and buses have the same fares: C$2 for adults and C$1.35 for seniors and children; a day pass goes for C$7. Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm, downtown LRT travel is free between Churchill, Central, Bay, Corona, and Grandin stations. By Car In addition to the following downtown locations, National (10133 100A St. NW; tel. 800/CAR-RENT or 780/422-6097), Budget (10016 106th St. tel. 800/268-8900 or 780/448-2001, 800/527-0700 in the U.S.), and Hertz (10815 Jasper Ave.; tel. 780/423-3431 ) each have a car-rental bureau at the airport. By Taxi Call Co-Op Taxi (tel. 780/425-2525 or 780/425-8310) for a ride in a driver/owner-operated cab. Yellow Cabs is another option (tel. 780/462-3456 ), as is Capital Taxi (tel. 780/423-2425 ). By Bicycle While not as extensive as Calgary's system, Edmonton has a decent bike path network of about 150km (90 miles), including more than 100km (60 miles) worth of paths running through the river valley. This is scenic and lovely, but not terribly practical in terms of actual transportation. If you're willing to take to the city streets, be prepared for the main obstacle to Edmonton city cycling: incredibly long, painfully steep slopes into and out of the deep river valley. If
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