Senior Travel

Edmonton is a great place to explore history, enjoy the great outdoors, or shop. With a thriving downtown arts district, a lively art, music and theatre scene, it’s no wonder Edmonton was named Canada’s Cultural Capital for 2007. Edmonton offers a diverse range of attractions and experiences for travelers to enjoy.

PLACES OF INTEREST

The Alberta Aviation Museum: Discover a time of “Iron Men” (and women) and see how they built our heritage on the back of silvered wings, making Edmonton The Gateway to the North. Taste the world of the “Knights of the Air” in WW1, WW2 and the Cold War. Journey through the culture of flight, from the days of wood and fabric to the Jet Age of today. There are 30 aircraft on display, over 40 display cabinets and exhibits to explore, a flight simulator to try and you can even experience what it was like to be in a cockpit of a Cold War fighter jet.

Telephone: 780.451.1175
Website: www.albertaaviationmuseum.com  

Alberta Craft Council Gallery and Shop: Crafts are an integral and unique part of our cultural heritage. Throughout the year, over 200 Alberta Craft Council members present their work at the Alberta Craft Gallery and Shop. It is the largest Craft Council in Western Canada and Alberta’s only gallery dedicated entirely to fine crafts.

Telephone: 780.488.5900
Website: www.albertacraft.ab.ca  

Alberta Legislature: The heart of Alberta's political life is located near the heart of Edmonton, the provincial capital. Enjoy a picnic on the Legislature Grounds. Or take one of the free tours of the Legislature Building starting at the Interpretive Centre and Gift Shop just north of the fountains. The Centre's displays and artifacts bring Alberta's history and parliamentary traditions to life and provide new insight into the importance of the political process in our lives.

Learn more about the Alberta Legislature through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.

Telephone: 780.427.7362
Website: www.assembly.ab.ca/visitor  

Alberta Railway Museum and Archives: Ride the rails at this unique, industrial, iron horse venue located on the Northeast edge of Edmonton. This Collection focuses on railway equipment from the Canadian National Railway and Northern Alberta Railways. Displays include steam and diesel locomotive technology, passenger, work and freight cars, and various pieces of machinery and buildings. Over 60 pieces of rolling stock are available for inspection. Train rides and a special display and interpretation of Morse Telegraphy are offered on long weekends depending on availability of volunteers. Track motor car (speeder) rides are available. The tour takes about 90 minutes. Or, enjoy a self-guided tour with museum notes and a map.

Telephone: 780.472.6229
Website: www.railwaymuseum.ab.ca  

Fort Edmonton Park: It's living history at its best! Join the costumed historical interpreters and try your hand at living life as an early pioneer. Visitors experience life as it was at the 1846 fort and on the streets of 1885, 1905 and 1920. There are activities for all ages - antique vehicle rides, pioneer children's games, learning to bead, playing pool, darts and horseshoes, taking aim at the shooting gallery, and even 1920s style miniature golf. Take time to visit one of the many food service outlets and period retail shops. All-you-can-ride steam train and street car rides are included in the admission.

Overnight it at the Park! The historic Hotel Selkirk is located in the centre of historical Fort Edmonton Park with rooms decorated in the 1920 style but with modern comforts like wireless internet.

Telephone: 780.442.5311 (General information); 780.496.7227 (Hotel Selkirk); 780.496.8771 (Media inquiries only)
Website: www.fortedmontonpark.ca and www.hotelselkirk.com  

Multicultural Heritage Centre and Oppertshauser House: The Multicultural Centre in Stony Plain, built in 1925, originally served as the region's first high school. Now designated as a Provincial Historic Site, over 80,000 visitors annually enjoy the museum displays, gift shop, art gallery, restaurant and historic library & archives. Oppertshauser House, built in 1910, is located on the same site. The facilities are situated on one acre of award-winning grounds and are open seven days a week. Admission is free. The Parkland County Demonstration Farm, developed on an adjacent 5-acre site, showcases the agricultural past, present and future of this region.

Telephone: 780.963.2777
Website: www.multicentre.org  

Old Strathcona: Smokey blues or sultry jazz? Improv or Shakespeare? Fresh vegetables, French baking, great chocolate or cheese? The Old Strathcona Historic area, voted one of the Top 10 Coolest Neighbourhoods in Canada and also recently named a Provincial Historic Area, is home to more than 100 eateries and pubs offering the city's largest variety of jazz, blues, country, folk, alternative rock and dance. Also known as the Old Strathcona Theatre District, the area is home to eight theatres and is one of the largest concentrations of live theatre in Edmonton, bringing theatre to life with new works and new takes on classic material, and improvisation. Discover one-of-a kind offerings, from locally made crafts to treasures from afar. Amid many historic buildings , businesses are 90 per cent owner-operated , offering art and antiques, sports and wellness, bold and daring fashions, music supplies, home accessories, fair trade and organic products and more.

Telephone: 780.437.4182
Website: www.oldstrathcona.ca  

Reynolds-Alberta Museum: The Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin interprets the impact of technological change in transportation, aviation, agriculture and industry from the 1890s to the present. Visitors will see a wide variety of vintage automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, stationary engines, tractors, agricultural implements, aircraft and industrial equipment.

Telephone: 780.361.1351
Website: www.machinemuseum.net  

Royal Alberta Museum: The Royal Alberta Museum, one of Canada’s most popular museums, offers a range of exhibitions and activities for every age level and interest. Behind the scenes, 13 curatorial programs are responsible for building and making accessible some of the finest cultural and natural history collections in the country. Enjoy the Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture, examine minerals, gems and rocks in the Natural History Gallery, meet unusual insects from around the world in The Bug Room or explore Wild Alberta and learn about animals and fossils. Special feature exhibitions often include art and photography.

Telephone: 780.453.9100
Website: www.royalalbertamuseum.ca  

Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site: Rutherford House was built in 1911 for Alexander Cameron Rutherford – Alberta's first premier – his wife Mattie and their children. Located on the University of Alberta campus, this family home entertained friends, relatives and influential Edmontonians for more than a generation. Today, this restored and furnished post Edwardian style home maintains the Rutherford tradition of hospitality and offers visitors a glimpse into the past with costumed historical interpreters, guided tours and special events. Within this house is a cozy lunch and afternoon tea haven called the Arbour Restaurant. The intimate and historical atmosphere is perfect for enjoying afternoon tea.

Telephone: 780.427.3995
Website: http://culture.alberta.ca/museums/historicsiteslisting/rutherfordhouse/default.aspx  

Telephone Historical Centre: The Telephone Historical Centre is the largest of its type in North America and perfect for all ages. Opened to the public in 1987, the Telephone Historical Centre was founded by a group of ED TEL retirees who were dedicated to preserving the history of the telephone in the Edmonton area. The Telephone Historical Centre boasts an extensive collection of antique telephones and telecommunications technology, a multi-media presentation featuring Xeldon, a talking robot and great historical footage of Edmonton. Telephone artifacts and replicas in the collection trace Edmonton’s telephone history as it evolved from manual to automatic switching.

Telephone: 780.433.1010
Website: www.telephonehistoricalcentre.com  

Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village: Catch a glimpse of what life was like for Ukrainian immigrants between 1892 and the 1930s at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. Just 25 minutes east of Edmonton along Highway 16, the village was established in 1971. Costumed role-players re-create the lives of pioneers and bring history alive on a site that includes more than 30 restored heritage buildings including three churches of Eastern Byzantine Rite, a fully-functioning grain elevator, blacksmith shop and burdei (sod hut). Have some fun and interact with the costumed interpreters, they’re “real” characters!

Telephone: 780.662.3640
Website: www.ukrainianvillage.ca  

FUN THINGS TO DO

The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald Royal Tea and Tour: The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald has been a much-beloved destination for members of the British Royal Family since 1915. From King Edward VIII, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (better known as The Queen Mum), to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald has been honoured to host very special guests. Enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea, with delicious finger sandwiches, scones with Jersey cream and fresh fruit compote, fruit salad, pastries and naturally, a fine selection of teas made in the 'proper' fashion fit for a Queen (or a Prince)! To crown the experience, you will be escorted on a tour of Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. Learn about the hidden treasures, interesting history, and fun facts of the crown jewel of the Edmonton skyline.

Learn more about the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.

Telephone: 780.424.5181; 780.429.6424 (Reservations)
Website: www.fairmont.com/macdonald  

Highlevel Bridge Streetcar: Service over the High Level Bridge began in 1913. From the heart of Old Strathcona to downtown and back, across the top of the High Level Bridge - 46 metres (152 feet) above the North Saskatchewan River, the highest river crossing by streetcar in the world - the Edmonton Radial Railway Society takes passengers on a trip back in time. As the streetcar edges onto the top deck of the bridge there is a collective holding of breath. The view, unobstructed in every direction, is truly breathtaking.

Telephone: 780.437.7721
Website: www.edmonton-radial-railway.ab.ca  

DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT

Art Gallery of Alberta: The new Art Gallery of Alberta (open since January 31, 2010) is an 85,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility and a premiere presentation venue for international, Canadian and Aboriginal art, education and scholarship.  Designed by Randall Stout Architects, Inc. of Los Angeles, the building is itself a work of art. Located in the heart of Edmonton’s Downtown Arts District on Sir Winston Churchill Square, the gallery secures Edmonton’s reputation as a world class city and centre for visual art. 

Telephone: 780.422.6223
Website: www.youraga.ca   

The Citadel Theatre: The Citadel houses five performing spaces. The theatre is home to the Eldon and Anne Foote Theatre School which offers theatre classes, workshops and camps for children, teens and adults. The Theatre has invested in the creation of new works and has committed to developing and premiering new Canadian plays.

Telephone: 780.425.1820
Website: www.citadeltheatre.com  

The Francis Winspear Centre for Music: The Francis Winspear Centre for Music is home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The intimate surroundings of the Winspear Centre offer an up-close musical experience like no other. The incredible acoustics of the hall allow music to be performed 'unplugged' and are equal to the great concert halls of the world. The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s current roster includes over 50 musicians from Canada and around the world, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from the great classical masterworks to pops and children's concerts.

The Francis Winspear Centre for Music is home to the largest concert organ in Canada: the magnificent Davis Concert Organ. This beautiful creation in wood and metal was built by Orgues Létourneau Limitée of St. Hyacinthe, Québec and features 96 stops, 122 ranks, and 6,551 pipes – a stunning aural as well as visual delight.

Telephone: 780.429.1992 (Winspear Centre); 780.428.1108 (ESO)
Website: www.winspearcentre.com and www.edmontonsymphony.com  

BACK TO NATURE

Devonian Botanic Garden: With 190 acres to explore, the University of Alberta Devonian Botanic Garden has something to appeal to plant enthusiasts, nature-lovers, families and anyone seeking to spend a few idyllic hours in beautiful natural surroundings. The Devonian Botanic Garden features 80 acres of display gardens and 110 additional acres of natural areas and ecological preserves. Visit the indoor display greenhouses, a butterfly house, outdoor displays of annuals and perennials, the Kurimoto Japanese Garden, rose, lilac and peony collections, herb gardens, a native peoples’ garden, extensive alpine garden, sensory and healing garden and more. Services include a gift shop, unique and unusual plants for sale, natural handmade creations at the Crafters Workshop, homemade food at the Buttercup Bistro, and guided tram tours.

Telephone: 780.987.3054
Website: www.devonian.ualberta.ca  

North Saskatchewan River Valley: One of Edmonton’s greatest attractions, the North Saskatchewan River Valley park system provides a natural corridor for all-season recreation and relaxation. The river valley is the longest expanse of urban parkland in North America at 7,400 hectares – 22 times the size of New York’s Central Park – with golf courses, 22 major parks and over 160 kilometres of maintained multi-use trails for walking, cross-country skiing, cycling, and more. A number of festivals take place in the parks along the North Saskatchewan River, including the Folk and Heritage Festivals; and several attractions are located along the river valley including Fort Edmonton Park, the Valley Zoo, and the Muttart Conservatory.

Website: www.edmonton.ca/attractions_recreation/parks-river-valley.aspx  

Learn more about the North Saskatchewan River Valley through the stories of people who've experience it at www.edmontonstories.ca.

Elk Island National Park of Canada: Located less than an hour away from Edmonton, Elk Island National Park protects the wilderness of the Aspen Parkland, one of the most endangered habitats in Canada. Second only to Africa’s famed Serengeti for wildlife viewing opportunities; Elk Island is a beautiful oasis home to herds of free roaming plains bison, wood bison, moose, deer, and elk. Also boasting over 250 species of birds, the park is a bird watcher's paradise. Be it for wildlife viewing, hiking, cross-country skiing, golf, picnicking or overnight camping, there is something for everyone.

Telephone: 780.992.2950
Website: www.pc.gc.ca/elkisland  

Muttart Conservatory: Set in Edmonton’s lush river valley, the four pyramids of the Muttart Conservatory shimmer in the sun. Home to thousands of species of plants, both domestic and exotic, the four pyramids offer views of tropical, temperate and arid plants. In the centre courtyard, take time to enjoy the “Great Cycle of Life” depicted in the mural that surrounds the perimeter of the atrium space. The mural is the work of native artist Alex Janvier. 

Telephone: 780.442.5311 (General information); 780.496.8771 (Media inquiries only)
Website: www.muttartconservatory.ca  

Stay to Golf: Edmonton is fast gaining a reputation as a premier golf destination in North America. With over 80 courses to choose from in the Edmonton region, every golfer, at every skill level, will find a suitable and appealing course to play. Whether you’re looking to challenge yourself at top-rated courses or play a tranquil game at a serene and secluded riverside course, the choices are vast and abundant.

Website: www.staytogolf.com  

Learn more about golf through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.

SHOPPING

If shopping is a passion, Edmonton is your destination. Both Old Strathcona and West Edmonton Mall are excellent shopping meccas with great selections of exclusive and one-of-a-kind stores. Other local gems are the High Street area (minutes from the downtown core) where you'll find distinctive jewellery, giftware, home decor and fashion items. Other hot spots include downtown where Edmonton City Centre transforms three city blocks into a retail destination of more than 170 stores and services. For shoppers who savour the big-box store experience – from fashion to electronics and more – Edmonton rolls out another North American retail milestone. South Edmonton Common weighs in as North America’s largest open-air retail development.

Website: www.edmonton.com  


FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 

Kelly Bertoncini
Travel Media Relations Manager, External Relations
780.969.0481
kbertoncini@edmonton.com

Bin Lau
Director of Communications, External Relations
780.969.0463
blau@edmonton.com

Jenifer Christenson
Executive Director, External Relations
780.917.7890
jchristenson@edmonton.com