OK, I spent nine years living here when I was younger, so I might be somewhat biased. Thought I'd mention that up-front.

Anyway, Edmonton is a fine city, although it always seemed to play second-fiddle to Calgary (probably due to Calgary being 300Km closer to the US border). Situated just below the middle of Alberta, Edmonton is located on fairly flat terrain (technically, it's in parklands, not prairie). Most people that have heard of Edmonton know it as the place where Wayne Gretzky had his best years. Those of you who don't know who Gretzky is have probably never even heard of Edmonton.

Things to do in Edmonton:

1) Bicycling. Edmonton is divided by the North Saskatchewan river, which runs through the city in a fairly deep river valley. The valley is broken up into innumerable parks, with an extensive bike path system running throughout the area. Some of these paths go up side ravines (such as Mill Creek ravine), giving you an opportunity to bike for hours without really feeling like you're in a city at all. Highly recommended, even if you're not a bicyclist -- the paths make for nice walks. This river valley completely spoiled me; all other bike paths I've since encountered have paled in comparison. In the winter you'll get truly great sledding for the kids, and cross-country skiiers are everywhere.

2) The High Level Bridge. OK, it's not exactly a wonder of engineering, but it IS a pretty high bridge (it crosses the river valley), and it affords a great view of the valley. When I was here, this bridge was turned into an artificial waterfall on certain holidays in the summer -- water was pumped up to the top of the bridge and released. Weird. I'm told that this isn't done any more, which is kind of a pity.

3) West Edmonton Mall. Biggest mall in the world. This place is VAST. You'll need to see it to believe it -- this mall significantly outclasses the "Mall of America". I consider "West Ed" to be one of the strangest places on Earth. It's kind of hard to describe; it feels like you're actually IN the film "Logan's Run". If you're in Edmonton for more than a few hours you MUST go here.

4) The Muttart Conservatory. If you're in the river valley, you can't miss this place -- big glass pyramids. A fine place as far as conservatories go, and an absolute lifesaver in the winter (being able to stand in a rainforest while surrounded by -30C weather was always pretty nifty).

5) HUB Mall. This is on the grounds of the University, and is actually student housing, not a mall per se. This is a fairly famous piece of architecture -- it's basically a raised street, covered by glass. Given the Freemont Street Experience in Las Vegas, HUB isn't so cutting-edge any more. But this was built decades earlier, so if you're an architecture nut you should probably go.

Aside from the oddities I've listed above, Edmonton has the usual run of art museums, libraries, provincial history museums, government buildings, and so on. In the summer, a re-creation of old Fort Edmonton is open, and you might want to take the kids there (it's rather like every other "re-created old community" found in North America, with fake blacksmith shops, etc.).

The public transit system in Edmonton is excellent, with a mix of buses and a small light-rail system. You can get around pretty easily, and inexpensively. Unfortunately, the transit system isn't very focused on the airport, so you'll need to make your own way into the city if you visit by plane.

In the summer, Edmonton is far enough north that the evenings last forever (but watch out for mosquitoes). In the winter, well, it's freezing cold and dark. In either season you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, which can be pretty cool and will occasionally be absolutely stunning.

All in all, Edmonton is a fine place. I still like it, and I haven't lived there for years. Here's a reason to go: if you're interested in the Rockies, you can drive a circular route from Calgary through the Rockies, then over to Edmonton, and then down back to Calgary. You'll be on major roads the whole way, and you can do it in a weekend if you want (though I'd recommend taking a bit more time in Edmonton and Calgary).

If you're contemplating a visit, be sure to check the local weather conditions first -- it can be WAY below freezing in October, and there have been gigantic snowstorms as late as May. The summer is the best time, and is practically perfect.



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