I was just wondering if any of you could recommend some of the places to visit in Edmonton, or around Edmonton - day trips rather than overnighters.

We've checked out the zoo and we've got a pass for the Telus World of Science, but I was wondering about places like Elk Island etc. Are they any good?

Our kids are 19, 13, 11 and just about to turn 9, so basically a car full of raging stroppy hormones

We want to drive over to Jasper soon, but were just wondering about the best places nearer home, to visit on the weekends, say within an hour or two of Edmonton.

Cheers

http://www1.travelalberta.com/en-ab/...eid=227&id=320

Thanks GavinR, I've got loads of tourist brochures, I was just wondering which places are actually good, and worth the entrance money, and being trapped in the car with the kids for any length of time.

Any trip out is expensive with four kids to it's good to know which places people really enjoyed.

how about calgary

rgds scotty

Is Drumheller too far?

I think it's well worth a trip with teenagers. There's the badlands/hoodoos, the Royal Tyrell Dinosaur museum, and don't forget to visit the reptile exhibition in town!

http://www.traveldrumheller.com/maps-and-guides.html

Hi Snorkmaiden - missed your post - that's a mad range of ages to keep occupied!

We've been recommended to go to the Ukranian village just the other side of Sherwood Park. They apparently reenact settler's lives by dressing up and acting out the roles, get you to join in making stuff etc. Along the same lines is Fort Edmonton Park just off the Whitemud I think - that's the same sort of thing but we've been told a few times that the first place is better.

There's Elk Island Park - again on the East side beyond Sherwood Park - you can spot buffalo, elk, moose etc - we keep meaning to fit this one in and may do it in Sept if we get a chance. That one has also been recommended to us a few times.

It'll we be easier when the snow comes to occupy everyone cos that whole age range will probably be into snow-boarding, skiing, skating etc.

If you've got ATVs Brazeau Dam is a good place to go and let off a bit of steam with them - that's probably about 2 hours from you west (and a little south).

Thanks for the suggestions, hubby and the kids wish we had ATV's, and I'm sure they will all want to do all the snow stuff, I can just imagine the frequent trips to the hospital which will no doubt accompany all of these activities

The Dinosaur Museum would definitely be a winner with our boys, particularly the youngest, so that is definitely being added to the list of possibilities.

We're just going to shove everyone into the car, if we can drag them out of bed, and head off somewhere for the day, but can't quite decide where yet

Your kids are older than mine, but here are the things we have really liked doing.................
Elk Island. In summer its nice for picnicking, kayaking on the lake, walking, wildlife spotting. In winter, there are some good toboggan hills, ski trails.

Royal Alberta museum. A really great museum if thats your thing !

Telus Centre.

Fort Edmonton park is a good day out. They have a great steam train, and old vintage cars to ride in, aswell as pony rides, wagon rides, and the streets depicting different era's.

Explore the River Valley. You can hire canoes and ride the river from Devon to the city. Cycle the trails, or roller blade. Ski the trails in winter.

Ice skating outdoors in places like Victoria Park.

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra hold an annual outdoor concert. (This weekend actually) at Hawrelak Park and its superb. We are going tonight !

Strathcona wilderness centre is fab in the winter for X-country skiing. You can hire everything, and they do lessons.

Whitemud creek offers lovely walks and they do downhill skiing at Rainbow Valley there too. Sunridge also offer downhill skiing.

West Ed Mall, for Sealion shows, ice skating, crazy golf, roller coaster rides, dinosaur exhibits, bumper boats, swimming..............and of cousre, SHOPPING.

Millenium Place here in Sherwood has fab facilities, and family day passes are very reasonable. For that, you can use all the facilities for the whole day.

Ride the street car, and shop at Old Strathcona.

The Legislature building, has beautiful fountains in the summer and lovely grounds. Walk from there onto High level bridge. At Christmas the Legislature is a MUST. Choirs singing, bands playing, free hot chocolate, ice sculptures....................lurverly !

I'm sure theres more...........................but Jasper is a must for sure. Tons to do there and Sooooooooooo beautiful, bet you can't wait to get out there !

We've been to Elk Island a couple of times and didn't think much to it. This may have been of course that we didn't see any animals either time we went! If they're not about there's not much to entertain there.

I can't believe that no one has suggested a visit to Glendon, AB:

Thanks for all the great ideas. I am excited to start exploring now we've started to settle in.

Yesterday we ended up thinking, sod the distance, and we headed down towards Jasper National Park. Originally we intended to go to Miette Hot Springs, but when we got to the road you turn off on to get there, we couldnt stand the thought of not going a bit further into the mountains, so we kept driving down towards Jasper.

We didn't go all the way, we stopped at a lake, a lot of people were wading in the water so as everyone had swim stuff we all went for a wade, it was pretty amazing for our first trip down there, particularly as we know we've only scratched the surface. The kids loved wading across the lake, the water was lovely and warm on the edges and then bloody freezing the further you got in.

We're going to go back down in a few weeks and stay overnight this time so we can go further.

Hot wasabi, that fork can barely compare to the delight that is the lamb banana in my home town

http://www.superlambbanana.com/home.php?/home