7 Kid-Friendly Things To Do In Edmonton This Weekend

Alberta is well-known for its natural beauty, rich history rooted in the oil and cattle industries, and vibrant professional sports culture. It's also one of the warmest provinces in the country. In fact, the Edmonton community, Alberta's capital, is often referred to as "The Sunshine City" because it receives more sunlight than many other Canadian cities.

With so much industry, spectacular nature, and mild weather, it's no surprise that Alberta attracts many families. Whether you live in Edmonton or plan to vacation in this buzzing city, you'll find heaps of kid-friendly activities in any season. Keep reading to learn about some of the best things to do with kids in Edmonton.

TELUS World of Science

There's fun for everyone at the TELUS World of Science in Coronation Park. At this newly revamped science centre, there's a Health Zone where visitors can test their flexibility and even extract their own DNA — great for biology lovers! There are often live science experiments on the Science Stage.

Budding astronauts can take a trip to the moon at the S.P.A.C.E Gallery, where they'll see a real moon rock and even get behind the wheel of a lunar lander. Meanwhile, the Zeidler Dome Theatre takes guests on a journey across galaxies and into the core of an atom.

A favourite exhibition here is CuriousCITY, where many of Edmonton's most famous landmarks are replicated as interactive treehouses. It's suitable for even children under six years.

Edmonton Valley Zoo

This 18-hectare zoo is one of the most popular activities in Edmonton, home to over 350 animals. Here, you'll find:

• Zebras
• Camels
• Tigers
• Red pandas
• Seals
• Arctic wolves
• ...and many others

The zoo has state-of-the-art research facilities and unique animal enclosures that enable guests to get close to the animals. In fact, animal interactions are actively encouraged at Edmonton Valley Zoo. Trained staff regularly carry out meet-and-greets between visitors and animals, including wolves, snakes, and snowy owls.

Some of the most popular animal enclosures include the red panda and the large carnivores' section, home to arctic wolves, Amur tigers, and snow leopards. Of course, the elephant enclosure is also quite popular, where you can see these giant, majestic creatures up close.

Also on-site at Edmonton Valley Zoo are an excellent cafe, a play area, an amphitheatre, and a gift shop. The zoo is open every day except Christmas and opening hours vary by season.

Jurassic Forest

About a 45-minute drive from downtown Edmonton in the Gibbons neighbourhood is Jurassic Forest, one of the coolest kid-friendly attractions in Canada. At this 16-hectare space, you can get up close to life-size replicas of dinosaurs like Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Step back in time thousands of years to when these amazing prehistoric creatures roamed the earth and learn about the different species of dinosaurs while wandering through a beautiful old-growth forest on a 2-kilometre walkway. Bonus: it's stroller-friendly.

A great way to get the kids involved in the fun is to have them take part in the park's scavenger hunt. There are two options: one for children aged 4-7 and one for kids 8-12. On the search, they must find all the dinosaurs in the forest and answer some dino-related trivia questions.

There's also a cafe on-site, along with an 18-hole mini-golf course.

Castle Downs Park

Conveniently located just 15 minutes from downtown is Castle Downs Park. When the weather's nice, there is no better destination for a fun and free day spent outside. Castle Downs Park has a playground, skatepark, spray park, and baseball diamond, plus an outdoor ice skating rink open in the winter. There are also several picnic sites, so it's the ideal place to have a delicious picnic and let the kids run free.

The playground at Castle Downs is one of the biggest in Edmonton, boasting two ship-themed climbers, a sand area for toddlers with preschool climbers, several swing sets, and rock climbers. It's a favourite among local families because it's suitable for all ages — including adults.

Games at The Rec Room

A truly unique way to have fun is at the exciting Games at The Rec Room, part of the West Edmonton Mall. Here, visitors enjoy arcade and virtual reality games and live entertainment. The space is massive (over 54,000 sq. ft.), so you can easily spend a few hours here. Games at The Rec Room is the ideal rainy day activity for kids in Edmonton.

The food is focused around a Canadian-inspired menu with items like poutine and mac & cheese. Adults can sit back, relax, and enjoy an alcoholic beverage if they wish while their little ones run around and play.

Games at The Rec Room is open from 12:00 to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

West Edmonton Mall: Galaxyland

Galaxyland Amusement Park is one of the biggest indoor amusement parks in the world — and it's located right here in the West Edmonton Mall.

At Galaxyland, there are several space-themed rides suitable for every age. Older kids love the 14-story Mindbender, the largest indoor triple-loop rollercoaster in the world. Another adrenaline-pumping ride is the Space Shot, a 36-metre spinning rollercoaster that imitates an astronaut launching into space and is the largest indoor tower ride ever built.

For younger children, there's the Galaxy Kids Playpark with slides, caves, and even a ball crawl to keep them entertained. Other fun activities at Galaxyland include bumper cars, go-karts, and a rock-climbing wall. If you're feeling lucky, adults and kids alike can try their luck on the many arcade machines.

West Edmonton Mall: World Waterpark

Another wonderful kid-friendly attraction within the West Edmonton Mall is the vast World Waterpark. Get wet on one of 17 thrilling waterslides, or check out the large wave pool, all helping to make this spot one of the best places for water activities in Edmonton.

Something unique about World Waterpark is the 137-metre zipline that runs the entire length of the waterpark. Fly high above the wave pool and get your heart racing as you race across the high-speed ziplines. Please note that the ziplines are only suitable for children weighing more than 20 kg.

There are also plenty of relaxing things to do at World Waterpark. For example, there's a giant indoor beach and three hot tubs for winding down after all that adventure. Or, why not splurge and book a private beach cabana? Thankfully, visitors don't have to venture far for food, as the Coconut Grove concession is highly-rated and offers a variety of food and drink options.

Have a Kid-Friendly Time in Edmonton

There are many fun and exciting things to do in Edmonton, including plenty with kids. Families are spoiled for choice when it comes to excellent, hands-on activities in the Sunshine City, no matter the weather. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities in Edmonton — for the youngest children and those grown-up kids at heart.