Local Travel
Thinking of travelling to Edmonton or Calgary this year? Here are some popular and hidden-gem sites, events, restaurants and bars.
Edmonton
PLACES
ALBERTA LEGISLATURE
assembly.ab.ca
The second session of the 31st Legislature ends May 14. Free guided tours illuminating the legislative process and the building’s architecture are available year-round. Canada Day celebrations include live music and dance, street performers and games.
ART GALLERY OF ALBERTA
www.youraga.ca
For over 100 years the AGA has been exhibiting Albertan and international artists. John Will: Born in the U.F.O., a major retrospective exhibition of the celebrated Alberta artist’s often humorous, absurd and incisive work, is on until August 9.
HOTEL MACDONALD
www.fairmont.com/hotel-macdonald
This historic luxury hotel was opened in 1915 as accommodations for rail travellers. The French Renaissance-inspired building has a colourful history that includes housing CBC Radio’s first local office and studio in an eighth-floor attic and seeing a six-foot- long icicle crash through the roof of the Harvest Room restaurant. The hotel is home to at least four distinct ghost stories.
KEILLOR POINT
www.edmonton.ca/keillor-point
Once known as “The End of the World,” a communal secret for adventurous Edmontonians, this natural vantage point was created when a landslide took out the road and trail system. It has been officially renamed and now has stairs and safety railings.
KINNAIRD RAVINE
encf.org/kinnaird-ravine-park
The KinnArt Ravine Mural Project is comprised of 62 murals installed on retaining walls, painted by community members, including at-risk youth, who learn through the organization how to design, prepare and paint their works.
MACTAGGART SANCTUARY
encf.org/sandy-mactaggart-sanctuary
A lesser-known but equally worthwhile hiking spot as those found in the river valley, Mactaggart Sanctuary feels far more secluded than its proximity to 23rd Ave might suggest. Wildflowers, old-growth trees, berries and beavers can be spotted from the walking trail that leads to a curved, white bridge over a creek and under Anthony Henday Drive.
MUTTART CONSERVATORY
www.edmonton.ca/muttart-conservatory
The four striking glass pyramids and neighbouring greenhouses hold one of Canada’s largest indoor plant collections. They display over 700 different species across three climate-regulated biomes: arid, temperate and tropical.
NEON SIGN MUSEUM
www.edmonton.ca/neon-sign-museum
Said to be the first of its kind in Canada, this free, 24/7 outdoor museum at 104 St and 104 Ave is a collection of historical Edmonton signage. The array includes one from Darling’s Drug Store, originally installed in 1928, representing the first neon sign in Edmonton.
OLD STRATHCONA ANTIQUE MALL
www.oldstrathconamall.com
Western Canada’s largest vintage and antique mall includes over 130 vendors in its more than 27,000 ft2.
ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM (RAM)
royalalbertamuseum.ca
The feature exhibition, on until September 7, is Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery, originally from the Field Museum in Chicago. Among the over 100 objects and specimens on display is a “whale fall” diorama depicting how the death of a single whale can nurture an entire ecosystem.
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA BOTANIC GARDENS
www.ualberta.ca/botanic-garden
The Kurimoto Japanese and the Aga Khan are just two of the many gardens making up Alberta’s largest botanical garden. Pathways: Art | Music | Culture, a series including food, performances, storytelling and art focusing on Indigenous culture, will run in spring 2026.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
EDMONTON FOLK FESTIVAL
edmontonfolkfest.org
Aug 6–9
In recent years this annual festival has featured impressive headliners, including The Roots and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. The lineup for the 2026 edition will be announced in May.
EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS BASEBALL
riverhawksbaseball.com
May 29–Aug 5
The collegiate summer baseball team set a West Coast League single-season attendance record of 131,966 in 2025.
INTERNATIONAL FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL
www.fringetheatre.ca
Aug 13–23
Each year, more than 800,000 people attend this oldest and largest theatre festival in North America, which features some 220 productions in 40 venues.
NASCAR WEEK
www.edmontonraceway.com
Jul 19–25
Racing enthusiasts congregate at the Edmonton International Raceway for Thunder Car, Pure Stock and Future Stock races, car shows and fireworks.
RIVER VALLEY BIKE RIDE
www.edmonton.ca/trail-system
Over 160 km of multi-use and bike trails for casual cyclists and avid mountain bikers alike are found within Canada’s largest urban park system.
SYMPHONY UNDER THE SKY
www.winspearcentre.com/symphony-under-the-sky
Sep 3–6
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra returns to Hawrelak Park for a series of outdoor performances that will include classical works, pop, Bollywood and music from films.
UNDERDOG COMEDY AT BLACKDOG FREEHOUSE
www.instagram.com/comedyunderdog
The longest-running free comedy show in Canada is held in the basement of this neighbourhood dive bar. Performers at this comedy institution have included Juno- nominated Faris Hytiaa, and Chris Locke from CBC’s Run the Burbs.
WHYTE AVENUE ART WALK
art-walk.ca
Jul 10–12
More than 450 artists line the streets of Old Strathcona to demonstrate their processes and sell their works. Art Walk is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year.
FOOD AND DRINK
BISTRO PRAHA
bistropraha.com
This Czech restaurant has served its schnitzel, goulash and smažený sýr (fried cheese) to Joni Mitchell and Kirk Douglas and counts Oilers player Leon Draisaitl as a regular. The New York Times recently profiled the bistro, bringing new attention to the nearly 50-year-old establishment.
COMMODORE RESTAURANT
commodorerestaurant.com
Chosen by the Food Network as one of the 12 best greasy spoons in Canada, this family-run diner and oldest restaurant in Edmonton has been serving simple, unpretentious food since 1942. Diners can still order a simple bowl of Campbell’s soup.
DADEO
dadeo.ca
Authentic cajun cuisine, including po’ boys, jambalaya and gumbo, is served in this kitschy diner with retro tableside jukeboxes.
DUCHESS BAKE SHOP
duchessbakeshop.com
This gourmet French bakery specializing in macarons, croissants, tarts, cakes and éclairs was once called “arguably the best bakery in Canada” in a Buzzfeed article. Duchess is known for its refusal to use mixes, preservatives or shortcuts of any kind.
FU’S REPAIR SHOP
www.fusrepairshop.ca
An entryway that looks like a pawn shop overflowing with retro tech leads to the dining room, washed in red from the lanterns suspended from the ceiling. Classic dim sum and Chinese fusion dishes are paired with pan-Asian cocktails in this “Best Overall Restaurant” per Edify.
HAPPY BEER STREET
www.happybeerstreet.com
This 22-block span along 99 St features 10 local craft breweries, including Omen Brewing, known for its darker, richer beers, Southbound Brewing, a newer venue tipping its hat to a beloved Irish classic rock band (Thin Lizzy), and Edmonton’s beloved Alley Kat Brewing.
THE LINGNAN
thelingnan.com
The second-oldest restaurant in Edmonton, the Lingnan, opened in 1947. It caters to Western tastes and serves authentic Chinese cuisine, including peaches and cream shrimp. The impressively ornate red-and-gold dining room prominently features a large aquarium.
NOODLE FEAST
www.noodlefeast.ca
This favourite of locals is found in a nondescript strip mall. It prepares authentic northern Chinese dishes including liang pi (cold noodles) and rou jia mo (pork burgers).
SPILT ZERO PROOF
www.spilt.ca
Alberta’s first dedicated mocktail bar attempts to change the association of alcohol-free beverages from no-jitos to full- flavoured, layered drinks. Alcohol-free beers and wines are also served.
Calgary
AVATAMSAKA MONASTERY
www.avatamsaka.ca
Following the Mahayana tradition that anyone can work towards awakening, this Buddhist monastery welcomes all into the space. Nearly 12,000 small Buddhist statues, each containing handwritten scrolls, are on display in the Great Prayer Hall.
CALGARY CENTRAL LIBRARY
www.calgarylibrary.ca/central-library
This four-storey building with over 600,000 books and other items is an impressive sight, with the giant oculus skylight illuminating the winding wood staircases. Film screenings, cultural celebrations and candlelight concerts are also held here.
INGLEWOOD BIRD SANCTUARY
www.calgary.ca/inglewood-bird-sanctuary
This 36-hectare wildlife reserve, with two kilometres of trails through grasslands and forests, provides habitat for over 270 species of birds. The sanctuary is one of the outings highlighted in Lori Beattie’s Calgary’s Best Walks, a guide book featuring 95 urban and nature strolls.
KIYOOKA OHE SCULPTURE GARDEN
www.koartscentre.org/sculpture-park
The home and studios of Alberta artists Harry Kiyooka and Katie Ohe stand amid western Canada’s largest outdoor sculpture park. The art-in-nature destination offers private tours featuring 26 sculptures installed in the 20-acre botanic park by artists including Ohe, Ray Arnatt, Alex Caldwell and Roy Leadbeater.
NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
www.studiobell.ca
The Backstage Pass guided tour offers a close-up look at many of the most impressive instruments and artifacts in the NMC’s collection, which the public otherwise rarely gets to see. The 16th century Trasuntino harpsichord, the Wurlitzer SideMan—the first commercially available drum machine—and the impressive TONTO synthesizer are presented with demonstrations and stories.
READER ROCK GARDEN HISTORIC PARK
www.calgary.ca/reader-rock-garden
Designated a National Historic Site in 2018, this hillside garden, located just steps from the Stampede grounds, is internationally renowned for having trialled over 4,000 different plant species since it was created in 1913. In 2025 the garden became the first Canadian recipient of the Green Flag Award, an international accreditation given to publicly accessible and open park spaces.
VINYLCENTRIC GALLERY AND ARCHIVE
www.vinylcentric.ca
Located in Bankers Hall, this newly opened Canadian Museum of Recorded Music and Culture collects, preserves and exhibits original musical artifacts and ephemera including records, posters, photos and music equipment. The inaugural exhibit, PhonoSphere: A Brief History of the Record Player in Canadian Homes 1948– 1978, features dozens of record players, all made in Canada.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
A QUEER MAP TOUR
arts.ucalgary.ca/calgary-atlas-project
The map for this tour can be purchased at local bookstores and from the Lougheed House. A part of the Calgary Atlas Project, this map traces the history of Calgary’s underdocumented LGBTQ+ community hubs, bars and organizations.
BOW AND ELBOW RIVER FLOAT
www.calgary.ca/river-floating
In the summer months, residents choose between the fast-moving Bow River or the shallower and calmer Elbow for multi-hour urban floats. Floatable vessels can be rented at multiple locations across the city.
BUMP MURAL TOUR
yycbump.ca/mural-tours
The Beltline Urban Mural Project has transformed Calgary’s cityscape, creating over 160 murals across the city. Public and private tours can be booked.
CALGARY STAMPEDE
www.calgarystampede.com
Jul 3–12
More than a rodeo, midway and nightly fireworks display, the 2026 edition will feature musical headliners including CanCon icon Alanis Morissette and hip hop artist A$AP Rocky.
CALGARY SURGE BASKETBALL
www.calgarysurge.ca
May 12–Aug 3
Joining the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2023, the Surge are one of just two professional basketball teams in Alberta.
LOOSE MOOSE THEATRE’S SECRET IMPRO SHOW
www.loosemoose.com
Every Saturday night
A live improvised show at the birthplace of Gorilla Theatre, where performers direct scenes and are awarded bananas (points) by the audience. Features a variety of formats, including Maestro improv.
OAK LEAF STEAM AND MASSAGE
oakleafsauna.com
The first commercial banya (traditional Russian bathhouse) in western Canada. Its venik treatment involves being massaged with soaked birch, oak or eucalyptus branches.
OLD TROUT PUPPET WORKSHOP
www.theoldtrouts.org
This innovative puppet theatre company’s work has toured the world and was featured in the TV adaptation of Fargo. This June the Trouts will debut The End, an original show.
REAL CANADIAN WRESTLING AT LEGION NO. 1
www.instagram.com/realcanadianwrestling
Alberta’s wrestling history has been written about extensively, owing greatly to the Hart family legacy. But lesser-known amateur events shouldn’t be overlooked. Septuagenarian barbacks and top-rope acrobatics inhibited by a low ceiling offer a different atmosphere than sold-out stadiums.
SHOW JUMPING AT SPRUCE MEADOWS
www.sprucemeadows.com
May 7–Sep 13
The season of six tournaments culminates in the Masters, the richest team show jumping event in the world.
SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS
Sled Island Music & Arts Festival (multi-genre), Jun 17–21
JazzYYC Summer Festival, Jun 23–28;
Calgary Folk Music Festival, Jul 23–26;
Terminus Festival (electronic), Jul 23–26;
Calgary International Bluesfest, Jul 30–Aug 2
FOOD AND DRINK
BLACKFOOT DINER
theblackfootdiner.com
This iconic diner, offering flapper pie served so high it seems to defy gravity, and featuring model trains circling overhead, has been open for more than 70 years.
CAESAR’S STEAKHOUSE
www.caesarssteakhouse.com
Opened in 1972 and feeling frozen-in- time over 50 years later. An open flame grill and laborious tableside Caesar salad preparation have continued to make the legendary restaurant a destination.
GOOD CHEER
www.goodcheer.beer
One of the city’s more than 40 breweries, Good Cheer takes a unique approach by recreating historical beer recipes. Highlights include a raw, unboiled beer recipe believed to have been around since 1000 CE and an 1850s grisette that was popular with coal miners in northern France.
MAJOR TOM BAR
www.majortombar.ca
Located on the 40th floor of an otherwise nondescript office building, the restaurant offers a view of downtown that is as much a part of the experience as the upscale food and cocktails.
PAPER LANTERN AND PROSPERITY BAR
paperlantern.ca
prosperitybar.ca
Chinatown houses two hidden gem bars operated by the same owners. Paper Lantern, hidden behind a sewing shop façade, is a tropical-themed cocktail bar with Vietnamese food. Prosperity is a tiki bar that excludes the culturally insensitive depictions of tiki culture.
PFANNTASTIC PANNENKOEK HAUS
dutchpancakes.ca
Pannenkoeken are large sweet and/or savoury Dutch pancakes. Try one of 40 varieties or build your own.
SCOZZAFAVA’S DELI
www.scozzafavasdeli.com
Before its permanent location opened, Scozzafava’s hosted a series of pop-up sandwich events so popular that hungry Calgarians would wait in line for up to three hours for their order. Its cold and hot Italian sandwiches remain popular enough that sellouts routinely occur before the dinner rush is over.
SHIKI MENYA
shikimenya.ca
Each day, father–son duo Koki and Tsukasa Aihara roll out enough fresh ramen noodles and boil enough pork to serve 150 bowls. People in the know line up as the shop opens to avoid the noon rush and ensure they snag a bowl before they’re all gone.
THE SHIP & ANCHOR PUB
shipandanchor.com
This favourite watering hole for fans of live music, soccer and lively summer patios has been easy to take for granted over its 35- year history. However, with a development plan at city hall threatening major changes to the building and the pub’s future, there’s no time like the present to discover (or re-discover) the Ship.
More Guides
Travel
May 2025
Festivals
July/August 2025
Local Food
June 2025
Albums
January/February 2026
Museums
March 2026
