Edmontonians know how make the best of winter. In fact, frosty frolicking is taken so seriously here that City Hall’s penned a Winter City strategy intended to help visitors finagle the most fun out of the year’s snowiest months—in other words, the Big E is the ideal icy destination for a weekend-full of winter wanderlust.
eat: On a quiet street in hip, heritage ‘hood, the Sugarbowl is best known for breakfast, beer and its (sold-out-by-noon) cinnamon buns—the perfect fuel for a pre-winter wander. At the end of the day, head to Meat—an uber-cool BBQ and bourbon joint where diners share platters of smokehouse meat chased down by bourbon from the 20-bottle list. There’s even gooey-good mac-n-cheese and a daily not-meat sandwich for veggies.
shop: While most shoppers head to one of Edmonton’s macro malls, a micro retail experience is possible if you stay central. The 124 Street fashion and arts district is a newly revived downtown area with a cadre of must-visit galleries, patisseries and clothing shops. Here, fashion boutiques like Shades of Grey and Black and Bold will satisfy the fashionista in your group while foodies will find baker’s heaven at Provisions by Duchess. And any artiste will love poking into the district’s numerous galleries, showcasing everything from First Nations art to photography, modern and Canadiana. www.124street.ca
explore: Load into a sturdy vehicle and travel an hour east of "The Chuck" for a winter safari. Elk Island National Park, 48 kilometres from downtown Edmonton, is home to bison, deer, moose, beaver, porcupine and, yup, elk (entrance fees: $7.80 per adult; $19.60 per family/group). Spot animals from the warmth of your car or head down one of the many snowshoe and ski trails that trace the park. Pack a thermos of hot cocoa and a take-out lunch from Elm Cafe for this half-day trip. Elk Island National Park, Highway 16 East (Yellowhead), www.pc.gc.ca
stay: Accommodation fit for a winter princess exists at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, perched high on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River and boasting fabulous city views, bejewelled chandeliers and softer-than-soft beds. Sidle up to the horseshoe-shaped Confederation Lounge bar for a sunset cocktail and, on Sunday, gussy up for the royal high-tea service, complete with a tour of the hotel (reservations required). Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, 10065 100 St., Edmonton, 1-866-540-4468, www.fairmont.com
Who said Old Man Winter wasn’t any fun? —Miranda Post
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