Edmonton (Winter)

Winter in Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta, can be long and cold. Thankfully, the city offers a huge range of activities — both indoors and out — to temper the harsh climate. This is peak season at West Edmonton Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping malls, which boasts over 800 shops, the world’s biggest indoor amusement park and a massive indoor waterpark complete with bungee jumping, waves, and palm trees. Outside, Edmonton Ski Club is only a small ski resort, but is unique in that it overlooks the high-rises of a major city. The resort also links to a maze of cross-country ski trails lining the North Saskatchewan River. For ...

Winter in Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta, can be long and cold. Thankfully, the city offers a huge range of activities — both indoors and out — to temper the harsh climate. This is peak season at West Edmonton Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping malls, which boasts over 800 shops, the world’s biggest indoor amusement park and a massive indoor waterpark complete with bungee jumping, waves, and palm trees. Outside, Edmonton Ski Club is only a small ski resort, but is unique in that it overlooks the high-rises of a major city. The resort also links to a maze of cross-country ski trails lining the North Saskatchewan River. For nature lovers, one of the winter highlights of Edmonton is a trip to Elk Island National Park, a short drive east of the city limits. The park protects a remnant of the aspen parkland that once covered the entire northern flank of the prairie and is one of the best places in Canada for wildlife watching, especially in winter, when its easy to spot larger mammals like elk, moose, and bison.

About the Expert

Over the last 20 years, Andrew Hempstead has authored and updated more than 60 guidebooks for Avalon Travel, Frommer’s, Michelin, Odyssey, Dorling Kindersley, Michelin, and Sasquatch Books, including many books on Canada.