Travel Canada: Free and Cheap Things To Do in Edmonton
FREE AND CHEAP ACTIVITIES – EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA
Elk Island. Half an hour away from “the city” is Elk Island National Park. Protecting one of the most endangered habitats in Canada, Elk Island is filled with birds and wildlife — a nature enthusiast’s paradise. Hike, ski, or snowshoe one of the many hiking trails. See if you can spot bison, moose, prarie dogs, beavers, deer, or elk. Learn about ecology at programs and exhibits in the Information Centre. After dark, enjoy Elk Island’s status as a dark sky preserve.
Northern Lights. See the sky come to life with dancing lights of many colours! The Aurora Borealis can be see on nights with a good amount of geomagnetic activity. Around midnight is a good time, but on very active nights, the Aurora can be seen even before the sky becomes fully dark. Leave city lights behind for a darker sky to get a good view. Click here to check the likelihoood of an aurora tonight.
River Valley. Take a walk, bike ride, ski, or snowshoe along the parkland on the banks of the north Saskatchewan River. 22 times as large as New York’s Central Park, the River Valley is comprised of a wide area, from fully serviced urban parks to pieces of wilderness in the city, inter-connected by paths and trails. Once, people skated the frozen river in the winter, though in recent years, it has not been cold enough to create a sufficiently thick layer of ice.
Legislature Building and Grounds. On any day you might want to take a stroll outside in Edmonton, the Legislature grounds are a beautiful place for it. Well-tended flowers and greenery in summer, frosted, snow covered limbs in winter, this surely the place to be. Young children (and older children!) will enjoy splashing in the wading pools and fountains.
Outdoor Skating. Ponds and lakes freeze over in the winter in Edmonton. Bring a pair of ice skates (to a pond that has been deemed safe to skate upon) and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine as you glide on ice.
Kinsmen Sports Centre. For the sporty types, Kinsmen Sports Centre has it all, or at least as much as you might imagine. Olympic-sized swimming pool, indoor track, outdoor track, fitness rooms, indoor and outdoor children’s playgrounds, badminton, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, all for the cost of a simple recreation pass.
Festivals. Edmonton calls itself the Festival City, and with good reason. Over the course of a year, Edmonton plays host to over thirty festivals around town. Check out Ice on Whyte, the amazing ice sculpture festival, in February, or Heritage Festival in August, full of food and culture from all over the world. Click here for a full listing of events.
Aviation Museum. Just north of downtown is the Aviation Museum, which houses displays on over 100 years of air travel. Within the museum, visitors can view the different aircraft, climb aboard a six-seater, read about history, and watch restoration in action.
John Walter Museum. Adjacent to the Kinsmen Sports Centre lies the John Walter Museum. If you happen to be in Edmonton from September to December, enjoy a Sunday afternoon at this free museum. Three houses are set up to allow visitors a view of times past (1875, 1884, and 1905) and share John Walter’s own story.
Ski at Snow Valley. Like to ski but haven’t the time to go out to a large mountain? Or just want to try it out for a day? For anywhere from $10 per person, ages 4 and up, on Friday evenings (or $5 with a food donation) to $30 for a full day Adult Pass, plus rental equipment, hit the slopes right in the city.
Ghost Tour. Take this spooky outdoor walking tour to hear true stories of supernatural encounters in Edmonton’s Old Stratchcona. Runs Mon. – Thurs. from 7:00 pm. Tour is about an hour and a half, beginning in front of the Rescuer Statue next to the Walterdale Playhouse.
Interested in more ways to enjoy Edmonton? Look out for articles featuring major attractions, coming soon!
Happy travelling!
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