r/Edmonton • u/Zestyy-Gold • 9d ago

Question Why does everyone say “skip Edmonton” when visiting AB?

I’ve seen a lot online where tourists will ask for a Alberta itinerary, which I understand they are excited to see mountains…but people would add the extra “skip Edmonton” line even as if there’s nothing to embrace here. I have never been to Edmonton, but as the capital of Alberta, is there really nothing to see as a traveller? I read that there is an interesting food scene, cool museums (Reynolds, Telus World of Science, Royal Alberta Museum, etc), chill neighborhoods like Whyte Ave, and a big ass shopping mall? Do people say this just so the city wouldnt be clustered with tourists or is the city really that skippable? I don’t think anyone expects it to be a Vancouver, Montreal, or Toronto…but I’m sure it still has it’s charm?

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u/LUXOR54 9d ago

Unless you fly in to Edmonton you'd be hard pressed to justify making the drive to get here when you can get pretty much everything Edmonton offers in Calgary which is closer to the mountains, Drumheller, and a lot of recreational areas.

You can drive 3 hours to see a big mall if that's your kinda thing.

-4

u/Odd_Department_421 9d ago

Edmonton is hardly “just a mall”.

14

u/LUXOR54 9d ago

I know that much, I live here.

Imagine you're flying to Alberta for a vacation, not to visit family, for a vacation.

Would you rather fly into Edmonton, or fly into Calgary?

-2

u/ChaiAndNaan 9d ago

Edmonton, hands down