Downtown Edmonton, Edmonton

The Royal Alberta Museum is actually pretty good...if you come from any larger cities that have spectacular museums (i.e. New York, Toronto, Vancouver), it might not be anything special, but Edmontonians or anybody who has some free time should pop by and see the exhibits we have. The most recent one was a lego and Bob the Builder wing, but my favourites were the wildlife of Alberta on the bottom floor. The Aboriginal gallery on the top is phenomenal, and merits something.

There are also some shows playing occasionally, as there is a theatre on the right of the entrance. If that's not enough to get you interested, then perhaps the Japanese shrine and small building will that overlook the Edmonton River Valley will...gosh, what a breathtaking view!

A bonus: they're open everyday of the year except Christmas Eve and Day, 9-5!

Okay, to be honest, i couldn't do this tour, but I REALLY wanted to! I did get a personalized walking tour of Downtown by local VTer DavidKeeling ... so that sufficed for this trip :)

The Downtown Business Association offers a free one hour guided waling tour of Downtown focusing on the Arts District and River Valley every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 from July through August. If you have a group of 6 or more, you can arrange special times and days. You meet up with the guides at 10121 Jasper, the Associations office and look for the folks in the bright red uniforms :)

It looks like something from an Alan Parson's song. Dotting the Edmonton landscape are 4 glass pyramids at the Muttart Conservatory.

Inside these glass behemoths there are plants from the Four Corners of the World:
Arid, which highlights plants from dry, inhospitable lands.
Tropical: Lush foliage from tropical rain forests
Temperate: Seasonal changing plants which undergo dormancy and active growth each year
Show: Features flowering plant displays that change seasonally

This is a must see in Edmonton, it is so beautiful weddings and special events are often held there.

There is a cafe and giftshop.

Open year round (closed Christmas Day)
Mon - Fri: 9am to 5:30 pm
Weekends/Holidays: 11am to 5:30 pm

Chinatown meets downtown at the Harbin Gate at 102nd Avenue and 97th Street. This gate symbolizes the friendship between Edmonton and its sister city, Harbin. The old Chinatown ran for three blocks on 97th Street, between 105th and 108th Avenues. The construction of government buildings and the LRT forced Chinatown to move east to 95th Street, between 102nd and Jasper Avenues. This is where Edmonton's Asian immigrants buy fresh produce and specialty items, or eat at great Chinese restaurants.

The Alberta Legislature, home of the provincial government, is a dignified building of yellow sandstone, fronted with a columned portico and capped with a stately dome. Built between 1907 and 1912, it occupies the site of the original Fort Edmonton, overlooking the river and surrounded with fountains, pools, formal gardens and lawns.

Just go there. It's very nice in the summer. People are swimming and having a little dip in the pool infront of the CIty Centre. I bet you'll like it.