Edmonton, Alberta

From Canmore we headed to Red Deer. We wanted to have a look at the place because this was where I had originally been matched for an exchange in 2008. It is in the middle of the Alberta praries. It has a population of around 90,000 and is surrounded by farms. We stopped at the Information Centre, which was at The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

We then headed north towards Edmonton, calling in at the small town of Lacombe, which has, in recent years, been getting the walls of the central business district painted with murals depicting the history of the area. You can see, read about, and listen to a podcast about the murals here.

From Lacombe we again headed towards Edmonton, passing the town of Leduc, which was the site of Alberta's first oil strike in 1947. We decided to head for Elk Island National Park to camp for the night. On the drive into the park we saw a small herd of bison near the road. We set up camp in the Astotin Lake camping area and walked to the lake to watch the sunset. The next day I went for a walk to the Beaver Ponds. I should have used the insect repellant before I left. I didn't see any signs of moose, or beavers, although I did see several lodges in the lakes and ponds.

We packed up our tent and went for another walk in a search for bison, but with no signs of them within an hour of walking we left the Park and headed for Edmonton. We found a campground very close to Fort Edmonton, which we planned to visit the next day. It was in a valley just off Whitemud Drive, and it was right next to a ski club. The local Snow Valley Ski Club has a lodge and 2 chair lifts on the nearby slopes. This is only minutes away from West Edmonton Mall, Fort Edmonton Park, and not far from the centre of the city. We camped next to a teacher from Red Deer, who said that there have been quite a few teachers from Red Deer exchanging to Australia over the years, and he thinks that the teacher I was matched with last year, is in Australia now.

The next day we packed our tent and headed for Fort Edmonton. It was a nice sunny day and we got quite warm walking around. Once in the Park, we boarded a steam train for the journey back in time to the fur trading and the Hudson Bay Company. The fort has been built to original plans and gives you an idea of what life would have been like in those times. The docents (the people who act in period costume) tell you what it was like and answer questions as if they were living in those times. Just outside the fort is a First Nation settlement with a couple of tepees. From the fort you walk around a corner and are greeted with a vista of an 1885 Edmonton street, with a variety of shops and houses. Further on, and around another corner you find a 1905 street with electric lights and a tram car running down the street. You continue around another corner to the 1920's. It was very good value for $13.50 per adult. We spent most of the day there.

We then wanted to see West Edmonton Mall and it's nine attractions:

• Galaxyland - the world's largest indoor amusement park
• World Waterpark - five acre indoor waterpark
• Professor Wem's Adventure Golf
• Putt 'n' Glow
• Ice Palace - National Hockey League sized ice skating rink
• Sea Life Caverns
• Sea Lions' Rock
• Deep Sea Derby
• Ed's Rec Room

There are also over 800 shops in the mall. When you park your car you need to take note of the door that you enter the mall through, so that you can remember where to get out. There are 58 entrances. Click here for some Mall trivia.