Yea, it’s spring! Oh wait, we’re back to winter. With our fickle weather, I’m sure I’m not the only one chomping at the bit to say farewell to our longest season. Having kids makes surviving shoulder season particularly troublesome. Unless you fancy spring skiing (which rocks), there’s not a whole lot to occupy the ankle biters at this time of year.
What to do at West Edmonton Mall
The solution, I discovered during spring break is making trip to West Edmonton Mall. Eve and I made the journey up to Edmonton last week. Here’s a glimpse of what we got up to.
Sadly, we didn’t get to stay in one of the theme rooms – though there are over 100 of them. Fortunately, our room was kitted out with this massive jacuzzi hot tub.
One thing I didn’t realize was that all guests of Fantasyland Hotel receive discounts to the mall’s World Waterpark and Galaxyland, an indoor amusement park. Score!
Activities in West Edmonton Mall
Our first order of business was to check out Ropes Quest. Kids over 42″ tall can attempt the courses which ranges in difficulty. Eve’s not a big adrenaline seeker, but she loved it.
We’re also not huge mini-golfers, but Professor Wem’s Adventure Golf proved to be a big hit.
Getting up close and personal with the marine life at Sea Life Caverns is so worth it. There’s an underground aquarium with over 100 species of aquatic life or you can take in a sea lion or penguin performance.
For years I thought this ship smack-dab in the middle of the mall was a pirate ship. Paying the $1 fee to step aboard was well worth it, as we found out it’s an exact replica of the Santa Maria – the vessel Christopher Columbus used on his voyage across the Atlantic in 1492.
My Edmonton mall experience would’ve been better if…
All in all, our trip to West Ed was fantastic, but would’ve been better if not for two things:
- I’m always forgetting something, and this trip I forgot sox. I had to wear the same mangey, white sport sox every day. Yeah, I know I was in a mall and it would’ve been super easy to pick up a pair, but I was forbidden to go into another store after spending far too long at J.Crew our first day. Though I must say, J.Crew was so worth it. I’m now all matchy-matchy for spring.
- We didn’t have enough time. You’d think two days would be enough to cover the mall and all it’s attractions, but it’s not. You either need at least three days or to lower your expectations. Disappointingly, we didn’t make it to the World Waterpark or the Ice Palace. But I’m a fan of saving a few things for the next visit…
Have you ever been to West Edmonton Mall? What’s your favourite activity there?
Thank you Tourism Edmonton, West Edmonton Mall, and Fantasyland Hotel for hosting Eve and I. As always, all opinions are my own.
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