I’m working on a flight plan for the Alaska trip, leaving on Wednesday of next week, and I’m thinking about stopping in Winnipeg and Moose Jaw (because I have never been to those provinces), Edmonton for an oil change, Yellowknife, and Inuvik if the weather is favorable so that I can see the midnight sun. Anyone have sightseeing tips for those places? How long should one plan to spend in Winnipeg and Moose Jaw?
10 thoughts on “Sightseeing Opportunities in Winnipeg, Moose Jaw, Edmonton, Yellowknife, and Inuvik?”
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I’m a software developer (and private pilot) who lives in Edmonton.
While not a tourist attraction per se, you may wish to take a stroll through the River Valley – perfect for stretching the legs and walking the dog. The High Level bridge is worth a quick look and isn’t out of the way – on Canada Day (July 1) they run a waterfall off it (http://www.discoveredmonton.com/Edmonton/Photos/Bridges/10-398.html). The most interesting area of the city is Whyte Ave in Old Strathcona – just across the river from the downtown. Other attractions include the Legislature (actually not that interesting) and the Mutart Conservatory. i wouldn’t bother with the Mall. Nothing on your web site suggests that you play golf, but Edmonton has many fine courses.
If you are planning to visit the city, try to arrange to have your oil changed at the Edmonton Municipal airport (YXD) inside the city, instead of the International (YEG), which is half an hour south of the downtown. Depending on your and my schedules, I might be able to show you around a bit (perhaps in exchange for letting my sit in your groovy new Cirrus – I’ve only been in 30 year old Cessnas 🙂 )
Are you set on Edmonton? It’s a pretty dreary place. Of course I’m biased, but Calgary is the place to be. Just an hour drive and you can be in Banff National Park. I could even tour guide ya!
Oh well, if you don’t want to change, here is what I have on Edmonton. Keep in mind I mostly do things my kids will enjoy these days:
– haven’t been yet, looks interesting.
Took the family here, nice place to walk around.
I suppose everybody should see this monstrosity before the die…
Standard museum link I’ve never been.
The nicest part of the city though being from New England, you’ll likely be underwhelmed…
My wife says this is a nice place, I’ve never been.
If I have a better idea of how much time you have in Edmonton and what kinds of things you like to see, I can ask my brother, he lives up there now. Damn, no preview, I hope all my links work!
If you’re flight planning and want to overfly places rather than aviation waypoints, for sightseeing or general good ol’ VFR pilotage (not likely in your new all glass plane) then give http://fly.dsc.net/u/Plan a try. It’s a text based flight planner with a huge database of waypoints. It’s great for “what’s the closest airfield to this small town?” or “how long will it take to get from this town to that city” answers in a matter of seconds.
I had to spend a week in Edmonton two years ago, and was largely disapponted. The only good thing that I encountered there was Whyte Ave– there’s a really excellent second-story greek restaurant on it (sorry, don’t remember more particulars!), with some of the best lamb I’ve ever eaten. However, I didn’t find out about Whyte Ave until my next-to-last day in Edmonton, and everywhere else I went was pretty dull. For a city of nearly a million, the place is vacant, and even the West Edmonton Mall (indoor hockey rink, pirate ship, indoor faux-chinatown, and many many tacky shops!) is crap.
Had I a car or more free time, I’d have gone to Calgary or the mountains instead.
Philip, I have to agree, skip Edmonton, go to Banff or Canmore (20 min apart by car). The Rockies are so gorgeous. Of course, I saw Canmore in winter – it’s a bit less “discovered” than Banff and so more…real. I loved, loved, loved it. Calgary is good, too, if you like cowboy wind-up toys.
If you are going to Alaska, could you please throw a poor PhD in Physics from your plane? (I’m going skydiving in Wasilla.) 🙂
For Moose Jaw, this lists just about everything available: http://www.citymoosejaw.com/tourism/attraction/index.shtml. I’ll briefly mention the ones I’m familar with.
Temple Gardens Mineral Spa is a very nice mineral water spa as well as the best hotel in the area, although it can be pricey for a room. (Of course, the CDN $ being what it is it’s probably still cheap for your US $). Book ahead for a room or any special spa treatments, or just walk in and take the elevator up to the mineral spa for a soak in the main pool and hot tub.
I haven’t been to the Western Development Museum in almost 20 years but remember it being fairly interesting and I believe it has a section dedicated to the Snowbirds, Canada’s military acrobatic airplane team. The museum is one of four, with the one in Moose Jaw being focused on transportation history.
I’ve heard good things about the Tunnels of Moose Jaw tours. These tunnels under the city have been used by Al Capone during the bootlegging days and also by illegal Chinese immigrants.
The Murals of Moose Jaw are murals on the buildings of the downtown and provide a nice walk around the downtown area.
The Sukanen Village and Museum looks interesting from the pictures on their website (http://www.sukanenmuseum.ca/) but I’ve never been.
I wouldn’t think more than a day or two is really required in Moose Jaw. Of course I live in Regina so anyone in Moose Jaw would claim I have an automatic bias… 🙂
Funny that the nearby provincial park has a better short description of Moose Jaw’s attractions: http://www.se.gov.sk.ca/saskparks/ParkInfo/parks/attractions.asp?park=Buffalo%20Pound. Finally, Nicolle Flats at Buffalo Pound park is supposed to be quite good; see photos at http://www.se.gov.sk.ca/saskparks/ParkInfo/parks/photos.asp?park=Buffalo%20Pound.
Enjoy your trip.
Got some Winnepeg (aka Winterpeg) infor for you (sorry, no links):
The Forks (where the rivers meet) is a nice market-type area downtown, there are some paddleboat tours on the Red River from there, lots of nice restaurants. The Canadian Mint is in the city, and unlike the U.S. Mint you can just show up and get a tour. The provincial gov’t buildings are very nice and recently restored, there is a big art gallery very close by. If you like baseball, the Goldeyes might be playing in their nice new stadium. Birds Hill Park is a short drive from the city and a nice place to hike around.