Day off? Here are eight summer day trips you can take from Edmonton
Summer is short in Edmonton, and if you have a day off this season, it’s best to make the most of it while you can.
From lush gardens to world-famous museums, here are eight day trips you can take from Edmonton on your next day off this summer:
University of Alberta Botanic Garden
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Spend an afternoon wandering through the gardens, including the Kurimoto Japanese Garden, Aga Khan Garden, and Indigenous Peoples Garden. With seasonal displays and plenty of peaceful spots to explore, it’s a spot worth visiting any time of year.
Address:Â 51227 AB-60, Parkland County, Alta.
Check out some giant roadside attractions
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Alberta has plenty of interesting, and maybe even a little bizarre, roadside attractions and landmarks to visit. Whether it’s a giant bee, a massive beaver, the iconic Vegreville Pysanka, or the World’s Largest Sausage in Mundare, there’s no shortage of quirky stops close to Edmonton. If you’re planning a road trip, these stops are well worth the detour!
Where:Â Various locations around Alberta
Elk Island National Park
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Just 35 minutes east of Edmonton, Elk Island National Park is home to rolling hills, tranquil lakes, dark skies and an abundance of wildlife. The park is a favourite among photographers thanks to its free-roaming herds of bison and elk, along with more than 250 bird species that thrive within this protected landscape. It’s also a fantastic destination for hikers, with trails ranging from the short, accessible Living Waters Boardwalk to the more challenging 15.6 km Wood Bison Trail.
Where: 54401 Range Rd. 203, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Centre
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If you’re close to Elk Island National Park, it’s worth making a stop at the nearby Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Centre. Experience history brought to life by costumed interpreters at our open-air museum. Hear the first-hand stories of early settlers to east central Alberta and learn how Ukrainian immigration impacted Alberta’s cultural identity and heritage.
Where: 195041 Hwy. 16 E., Lamont County, Alta.
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Reynolds-Alberta Museum
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With an extensive collection of cars, airplanes, tractors and industrial machines, the museum highlights Alberta’s mechanical history. Explore key galleries like transportation, agriculture and aviation, then climb into a Ford Model T, sit in a 1928 Adams Motor Grader, launch a bottle rocket, or catch a movie at the indoor drive-in. Admission is free for visitors under 17, with 50 per cent off for adults through the Canada Strong Pass.
Where:Â 6426 40th Ave., Wetaskiwin, Alta.
MĂ©tis Crossing
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MĂ©tis Crossing is Alberta’s first major MĂ©tis cultural interpretive destination, created as a place for MĂ©tis people to share their stories and culture. Visitors can take a guided paddling tour, join a MĂ©tis interpreter for a nature walk, or take part in workshops and other programming throughout the year. If you want to make it an overnight trip, there are several accommodation options on site, with the Sage & Spruce Indigenous Spa set to open later this year.
Where: 17339 Victoria Tr., Smoky Lake, Alta.
Royal Tyrell Museum
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It may be a longer drive than the other destinations on this list, but the Royal Tyrrell Museum is one of Alberta’s most iconic attractions, and if you haven’t been, it’s worth adding to the top of your list. Visitors can explore one of the world’s most extensive collections of complete dinosaur skeletons and rare fossils across galleries spanning 3.9 billion years of Earth’s history.
Where:Â 1500 N. Dinosaur Tr., Drumheller, Alta.
Hard Luck Canyon
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Located near Whitecourt, Hard Luck Canyon was carved over thousands of years by Hard Luck Creek through the sandstone layers of the Paskapoo Formation. A footbridge crosses above the waterfall, which is typically flowing the fastest during the spring melt. From the trailhead, the landscape appears relatively flat, but a staircase descends into the canyon, where you’ll find towering rock walls, the rushing creek, and a dramatically different landscape. The hike is short, but the scenery will invite you to stay, making it a fantastic spot to pack a picnic.
Where: Range Road 125A, Woodlands County, Alta.