Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
How about a nice surf after a long shopping trip? Yes. It’s actually possible if you’re at the West Edmonton Mall.
My stay at Edmonton was short as it was for business and to top that off, I had become ill. When you travel so much for business, you find yourself catching colds and flu more often as planes seem to be a hotbed for germs. My first stop after work was at the Muttart Conservatory after which I went home to get some much-needed rest. I kept thinking “I HAVE to see the West Edmonton Mall” and so I finally mustered the strength to catch a cab and walk around the mall. I only had 30 minutes which means I barely saw the mall - I severely underestimated its size but I was glad to have seen some of it. :)
Attractions & Food
Muttart Conservatory - A popular city attraction, inside each of the four glass pyramids, are biomes both arid and tropical. It’s amazing to feel the impact of each botanical garden as you experience varying levels of humidity as you explore them one by one.
Culina Café - Partnering with the conservatory and the city to offer local produce, this place has the most quaint decor (it reminded me of my own home). Aside from the beautiful ambiance, the food was delicious! I ordered a hearty soup and indulged in their sweets with tea to finish off the meal.
West Edmonton Mall - If you think you can explore the mall in half an hour, you are mistaken. I would recommend dedicating an entire day to this mall as there’s just so much happening, you’ll want to plan a little as it can save you a lot of time. From rollercoasters to pirate ships and surfers, you won’t know how to spend your time as the options are endless. It can be a pretty family-friendly and fun place to spend the day, especially in winter as you are indoors. I happened to be wearing very old boots at the time so I remember walking into a store and purchasing my first dark blue suede pair of booties. It was the fastest shopping I had ever done as I wanted to walk around the mall as much as possible. I remember taking the shoes, putting them on at the store, and then running out with my old pair in my hand, with the quirkiest smile as I threw them in the garbage. I still have those booties - what a great purchase! :) 3 years strong.
The 100 Street Funicular - A fairly recent addition to the city (late 2017), the funicular (or a cable car) allows cyclists and pedestrians access to the River Valley (North Saskatchewan River Valley) from downtown. This 48 second glass walled ride along the bank will allow you to walk across the promenade or the lookout point and take all the selfies that your heart desires. It’s right by the Fairmont Hotel so if you can’t find it, that should be a good landmark to help.
Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel - This was the hotel I was staying at and I must say, it was very clean and the service was exceptional. What I liked most about this hotel was the small “traditional Japanese touches” that it boasts. It had the best bidets/washlets I’ve ever experienced and if you don’t know what I am talking about, I suggest further reading on the subject - it’s a life changer! It’s basically a fancy bidet toilet that has dryer settings as well - so no toilet paper required!
What I liked about the city
I loved the conservatory as there was something so calm and serene about it. If you like nature, you’ll love this place and it looks very beautiful at dusk and at night as the glass pyramids light up. I feel like I barely had any time to explore the city but what I did see, I found very calming, quiet, and beautiful. Maybe it was my luck but I appreciated the lack of crowds in the city. As you’ve already noticed, I loved the toilets at the Coast Plaza Hotel. Yes I am including that in my liked list as hygiene is of the utmost importance to me.
What I found odd/disliked
The fact that I had to fall ill and spent the better part of my limited time resting in bed - that’s mainly my fault but honestly I don’t think I had enough time to even warrant any complains. I do wish the West Edmonton Mall had a better layout for visitors so they can know what they are doing and make the best of their time. I am sure they exist, but I am requesting for more as I couldn’t find any.
