How Not to Lose 48 Hours in the City of Champions

Posted by TravelKorner on February 14, 2015 in Destination - Canada, English | 1 Comment

By Rod Raycroft

Call it The Big E, Festival City, River City, or Edmonchuck—Alberta’s capital has several nicknames. Its official slogan is “City of Champions,” but a British journalist dubbed it “Deadmonton” during the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. However, there’s nothing boring about this metropolis. Here’s a guide to what awaits in Edmonton.

THE FIRST DAY

The international airport is situated 29 kilometers from the city centre, there are a number of transportation options to get you downtown: taxi ride ($55), the Skyshuttle ($30 for round trip a savings of $6 on two one-ways), or rental car. Accommodations can range from a luxury stay at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald (from $232/night) or the Varscona Hotel on Whyte (from $120/night). Those more budget-minded can look into booking a private room at the HI-Edmonton Hostel ($63/night).

Start the day off by grabbing brunch at the Urban Diner. Order the frittata ($11.50) or quiche of the day ($12); for something on the lighter side try the banana bread ($7.50) with a cup of coffee. For the afternoon its time to experience why Edmonton is known as Alberta’s festival city, as every weekend there something happening. Take July 4 when the city seems to celebrate Canada’s unofficial national meat, when restaurants will offer tasty treats in a city wide BaconFest! August is the perfect time to wear your tye-dye shirt, while experiencing the Folk Music Festival or this year wave the flag at the Under 20 FIFA Women’s World Cup. While early September be prepared to two step when the Canadian Country Music awards come to town.

Start your first night out with an aperitif at LUX Steakhouse + Bar. Perhaps a glass of Pasqua Prosecco ($9.50), or try their Incredible Hulk cocktail ($10), a mixture of Hpnotiq liqueur and Hennessy VS Cognac served on the rocks.

For the main course head to Strathcona’s trendy Three Boars Eatery, where the menu is based on seasonally fresh ingredients. Try the Alberta Lamb Kofta served with red lentils, cabbage, cilantro, curry cream, and goat yogurt ($17). Top off your evening’s dining experience at Cavern, a stylish wine bar and café. Order their cavern+jacek inspired chocolate and cheese pairing ($11) with wine served by the glass on an enomatic machine, a state-of-the-art wine preserving system.

Blues on Whyte has become a legendary spot for lovers of swinging Chicago or deep Mississippi Delta music. If you’re looking for more of a country cowboy kind of night, then two-step around the corner to the Cook County Saloon. And for those still in the mood to dance into the wee hours, Y Afterhours opens at 1 a.m., with DJs on all three floors performing until 8 a.m.

SECOND DAY

Get your day started with brunch at Culina Muttart at the famous four-glass pyramids of the Muttart Conservatory, in the North Saskatchewan River valley. The menu offers classics, but be sure to sample the Brioche French Toast ($13).

After brunch, stroll through the Muttart Conservatory greenhouses and public gardens, displaying plant species found across three biomes and a seasonal exhibit. This is just one of the highlights of the river valley, which is North America’s largest urban park system. It is 22 times larger than New York’s Central Park, boasting 150 km of trails.

 

 

Visitors in late summer or early fall will see why Edmonton is known as one of Canada’s top sun cities. It has an average of 321 sunny days per year. As the Edmonton Oilers got an early start on the links this summer, golfers might consider looking for them at Twin Willows Golf Club or any of the more than 70 golf courses in the region. Twin Willows is located in northwest Edmonton and a regulation-length, 18-hole course. Booking a tee-time in advance is recommended; nines holes will cost $30 for green fees, $7 for clubs, and $3 for pull cart or $22 for a power cart.

Missed the summer rodeos, then saddle-up to Edmonton’s Wild West at the Northlands November 11-15, 2015, for the Canadian Finals Rodeo Championships. Guaranteed to fill y’er boots with broncos, buckles and Stetsons.

Don’t forget to visit the province’s top tourist attraction: West Edmonton Mall. It has over 800 stores, more than 100 restaurants, and attractions to entertain all ages. After the shopping frenzy, visit the EvelineCharles spa in the mall. The Beauty Facial ($100 and up) includes cleansing, exfoliation, steaming, extraction, and a deep-tissue massage to face and neck, plus a soothing mask.

Next, there’s no need to leave the mall for a unique dining experience. It’s a business casual atmosphere at The Red Piano, which received a Wine Spectator Award for its extensive wine list. Expect swank cuisine inspired by global flavours, as well as live entertainment and duelling piano shows. (Advance booking recommended.) After dinner, try your luck at the mall’s Palace Casino, open from 9 a.m. until 3 a.m.

Canada never won a metal during the 2001 World Championships in Athletics, and while Edmonton Oilers will not compete for the Stanley Cup in 2014, local sport enthusiasts will begin cheering on the Edmonton Eskimos to nabbed this year’s CFL title. Whether the city’s  ports teams win or lose in hockey or football, it doesn’t make Edmonton’s moniker any less true — with so many great attractions, restaurants, and experiences, this city is certainly full of champions.

INFO BOX: 

TRANSPORTATION: Airport Taxi Service P (780) 890-7070; Edmonton Skyshuttle Advance booking required, P (780) 465-8515, http://www.edmontonskyshuttle.com

 ACCOMMODATIONS: Fairmont Hotel MacDonald P (780) 424-5181, http://www.fairmont.com/macdonald-edmonton; Varscona Hotel on Whyte P (780) 434-6111, http://www.varscona.com; HI-Edmonton Hostel P (780) 988-6836, http://www.hihostels.ca

ENTERTAINMENT: Blues On Whyte P (780) 439-3981, http://www.bluesonwhyte.ca; Cook County Saloon P (780) 432-2665, http://www.cookcountysaloon.com; Y Afterhours P (780) 421-8446; http://www.yafterhours.com; EvelineCharles Spa P (780) 424-5666; http://www.evelinecharles.com; Palace Casino P (780) 444-2112; http://www.palacecasino.com

RESTAURANTS: LUX Steakhouse + Bar P (780) 424-0400; Three Boars Eatery P (780) 757-2600, http://www.threeboars.ca; Cavern P (780) 455-1336, http://www.thecavern.ca; Culina Muttart P (780) 466-1181; http://www.calinafamily.com; The Red Piano P (780) 486-7722, http://www.theredpiano.ca; Urban Diner P (780) 488-7274; http://www.urbandiner.com

ATTRACTIONS: Muttart Conservatory P (780) 496-8755; Twin Willows Gold Club P (780) 447-2934, http://www.twinwillowsgolf.com; West Edmonton Mall P (780) 444-5321, http://www.wem.ca; Canadian Finals Rodeo, http://www.cfr.ca