Our Godson has a hockey tournament in Edmonton the week after Christmas and we've been invited to fly up and watch and spend time with his parents, who are our best friends. I have cousins in the area that we will visit and we are the kind of people who can have fun anywhere. We will be traveling with three small children (6, 4, and 1) and I know it will be bitterly cold outdoors.

So, is there enough to keep us busy for a week? Is there a childrens museum? Are the museums kid friendly? I presume there are indoor skating rinks etc... I guess I'm trying to get a feel for how I could keep them from climbing the walls!

Should I stay should I go?

Here is the website for the West Edmonton Mall. Kids can spend forever there. Just click on the "Play" tab and you can see everything they have to do there. If you are not staying with your friends there a lots of hotels in the area of the mall that are reasonably priced.

http://www.westedmall.com

It may or may not be bitterly cold the week after Christmas, it's so hard to predict this far in advance. We've had a couple of "brown" Christmases in the past decade.

Other then West Edmonton Mall - which is a zoo between Christmas and New Years - what with Boxing Day sales and kids being off school - here are some other suggestions:

If it is wintery and "nice" (sunny not windy and above minus 5C (20F), and there is snow, skating outdoors is a lot of fun. There's usually skating in Victoria Park. Or you could even go for a walk (baby on a sleigh or in a stroller) in our river valley parks, there are trails everywhere.

I almost wrote about skating in Hawrelak Park, but I just remembered there is a usually a Christmas Light show there for all of December, and I believe that pedestrian traffic is not allowed (due to power lines everywhere) - but this is something to do in the evening - drive through to see the fanciful decorations (while sipping hot cocoa in the warmth of your car!!).

Walk Candy Cane Lane - this is a neighbourhood in Edmonton that takes Christmas seriously and the houses are all fantastically decorated with lights - on an evening that isn't cold it makes for a very pleasant walk (you can also drive through but there's usually a huge traffic jam of cars trying to do the same thing).

The Telus World of Science (Odyssium, formerly the Space and Science Centre) has hands-on interactive displays for kids of all ages, and there's always a nature movie going on at the Imax theatre, although not all of the movies will be suitable for 6 and 4 year olds (however, during Christmas week they usually have attractions especially for kids).

The Valley Zoo is a great place for small children, and is open in the mid-afternoon during Christmas week.

There is also the Royal Alberta Museum with fantastic diorama-like displays that your 4 and 6 year old will enjoy (plus a 'bug" gallery that kids like but I don't !!)

Thanks so much! Now I have one more questions... I understand there is some kind of an "underground walkway" that goes through much of downtown. Is that right? Would it be best to get a connecting hotel there and plan on walking most of the time or would we need to rent a car?

Also, I would love to see Banff and Jasper. Is it driveable that time of year or is there a way to do it?(Railway? Tour Bus?)

Thanks.

I wouldn't stay downtown if I were you. Although many of the buildings are connected by walkways (underground and above ground), there is not very much to do in downtown Edmonton and most of the connected buildings are office buildings for the most part. There is a big hockey tournament at West Edmonton Mall the week after Christmas - I'm assuming this might be the one your godson is playing in. I would recommend booking a room at the Fantasyland Hotel, which is part of the Mall. They have theme rooms available which your children would really like. There are enough things to do at the Mall to keep your children busy for a few days. They have a huge waterpark, skating rink, mini golf, animals, bowling alley, movie theaters, etc. As Borealis said though, the Mall will be very busy on Boxing Day. I second his suggestion of the Science Center and the Museum.
I would recommend renting a car to get around, although if you do stay at the Mall, you might not need it the whole time. The drive to Jasper is about 3 1/2 hours and should be fine, unless there is a blizzard. Check the weather before you go and it should be fine.

Thanks so much,Cathy61, that is exactly what I needed to know!You're making this seem doable!

I agree with Cathy61 - although the major downtown hotels are all connected underground (and that includes the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, the Union Bank Inn, The Westin, Sutton Place Hotel and Delta Edmonton Centre Suite), and to the City Centre shopping, it'll probably be much more fun and "child-friendly" to stay at the Fantasyland Hotel at West Edmonton Mall.
The downtown hotels are within easy walking distance of the theatre, the art gallery and the Winspear Centre (concert hall), plus many restaurants, but the only child friendly place that I can think of is the main library (which has a large children's section).

By the way Cathy61 - I'm a "she" not a "he" !!

Forgot to reply about Jasper/Banff!!

If you have two spare days, and the weather is good (meaning no blizzard or freezing rain or anything like that), yes, go to Banff or Jasper. With a 4 and 6 year old, it would probably be better to drive to Banff, mainly because it's a bigger town and it will be easier to occupy your kids there than in Jasper.
Note that Christmas week is a very busy time in the Rockies - many local skiers and snowboarders head there right after Christmas Day - and the rates for accommodation are almost as high as in the summer tourist season. So book early if that's what you plan to do.
Banff is again a better choice than Jasper when it comes to hotels etc., because there are more of them, and also because you have an alternative in Canmore, where there is more accommodation (including suites with kitchens that would be perfect for a family), and Canmore is only a 10 to 15 minute drive from Banff townsite.

I'm not sure where you are from moneygirl - you may already know this - in Edmonton at Christmas the sun doesn't rise till almost 9 am and sets not long after 4 pm - this means that days are very short. That's why I would recommend driving to the mountains on one day and coming back the next.
Depending on the weather and road conditions, the Icefield Parkway between Banff and Jasper may not be open. It is possible to see both Banff and Jasper if you decide to drive back to Edmonton via Jasper, but it would be a very long driving day, 3 hours straight driving the Icefield Parkway and another 3.5 to 4 hours to Edmonton.

Enjoy your stay in Edmonton!!

if you can afford it, i would agree that staying at the fantasy land hotel in west edmonton mall is the way to go. it is expensive especially at christmas. they do have a non-theme room that has a queen size bed and bunk beds (double on the bottom, single on top) that can sleep 5 people.
the kids would have a blast at galaxy land the the water park is great. the advantage to staying at this hotel is if some of the family wants to continue having fun in the mall and others are tired and want to go home, you don't need to worry about driving. the food in the waterpark is very expensive - they allow you to bring in your own drinks and food if you want.
the river valley is beautiful to walk through. if we have lots of snow, cross country skiing is a good experience too. elk island park, 45 minutes away is a good place to do it.
skating at hawrelak park is fun and their night time light show during that week is fun to drive through.
have a good time.

My apologies to Borealis - sorry for the assumption.

Thanks to each of you... I've printed out this thread and about to start making reservations. I will post a report when we return!

The trip advisor reviews are awful on the Fantasyland Hotel. How about the Mac or the Westin? Have any of you actually stayed at any of these properties? Other recommendations appreciated! Thanks

We stayed at the West Edmonton Mall Inn
http://www.weminn.com/home/default.asp

It was right across the street from the mall and a lot cheaper than the Fantasyland Hotel. It was very comfortable and clean. They gave us tickets to go to a restaurant in the mall for a full breakfast. I am afraid that at that time of year and when there is a tournament on you may have trouble getting reservations close to the mall so maybe you should book something asap. Good luck with that and good luck to your God son in the tournament.

Hi moneygirl - although we live in Edmonton we have stayed at the Hotel MacDonald - it's a Fairmont Hotel so as you can imagine it is very nice (even though it is one of the smaller Fairmonts), the service is good, and if you get a room facing south-east, you'll have a view of the pretty river valley (which in winter will probably be mostly snowy & white!!).

The Westin is another downtown hotel - and if I'm not mistaken the Queen (Elizabeth II) has stayed at both the Westin and the MacDonald on her various visits to the city.

The "downside" to both of these hotels is that they are right downtown, so there won't be very much at either one to keep little children entertained (and there aren't very many children-friendly restaurants close by).

I did took a look at the tripadvisor reviews to see the comments about Fantasyland Hotel, and it semed to me that people either loved it or hated it (& there seemed to be an even split between the two groups). So I guess it depends on what you are looking for and what you are used to when it comes to accommodation.

If I had three small kids, and I was coming to Edmonton in winter, I would not hesitate to stay at the Fantasyland. You won't have to struggle with snowsuits and boots and mitts and hats etc., just get the kids dressed to go somewhere. At Fantasyland you will be inside all the time. Within a few steps of the lobby you're in the Mall with access to Galaxyland (lots of rides the little ones will love), a Silver City cineplex, an indoor skating rink, a wave pool and waterslide, lots of restaurants - none are haute cuisine but with three small children that's probably not what you would be looking for anyway. In addition to the normal mall food courts and Macdonalds there are places such as Earl's (if you are familiar with that franchise) and Old Spaghetti Factory.

I must admit that although I have been in the hotel and have seen some of the rooms, I have not actually stayed there. I do think that some of the "themes" are "cheesy" (as some of the critics of Fantasyland mentioned), but "cheesy" for adults can be loads of fun for pre-school children.

Here's a suggestion for you - since your friends live in Edmonton, why not get them to check out the hotel(s) that you are interested in?? They know you and your tastes best and will be able to give you some truly personalized advice.

Good luck and enjoy your stay in Edmonton!!!

borealis, thanks so much for helping! Actually, our friends, whom we are meeting in Edmonton live in Homer, Alaska! (That's where we were supposed to travel the day after Christmas and now we are meeting them in Edmonton because of the tournament!) I wasn't so worried about the hotel being cheesy... more about not being so clean. I'll let you know where we end up!

We have stayed at the Fantasyland Hotel several times, as well as the Westin and Hotel MacDonald. I haven't ever had any problems with cleanliness at the Fantasyland. Some of the theme rooms are starting to show their age (rugs slightly worn, etc.), but I believe the Hotel has been updating many of the rooms. We have always had a room with a jacuzzi and they have always been very clean. The last time we stayed there we were upgraded from an executive room (basic hotel room with a jacuzzi) to a very nice corner suite because we had requested bunk beds and they didn't have any rooms with bunk beds available.
The Westin and the Hotel Macdonald, while very nice hotels, are not very child friendly and the restaurant in the hotel is quite expensive. It would have been about $50 for the four of us to have breakfast.
I agree with Borealis that is so much easier not to have to get the winter gear on and go out somewhere else to do things. When we stay at the Fantasyland Hotel, we usually don't go outside for four days. Whatever you decide, hope you have fun.

Thanks so much... I'm booking the Fantasyland right now for four nights and starting another thread for recommendations about the rest of trip entitled "Flying into Edmonton and Out of Calgary". Please check it and continue the great advice!

When I called last night to book the Fantasyland they were all out of theme rooms for my dates...and I didn't want to pay $185.00 for a "regular room." So I booked the West Edmonton Mall Inn regular room for $79.00! and am using the extra money I'm saving to spend another luxurious night in Banff or Canmore! How's that for priorities?

I am continuing on the other thread I mentioned... 'cause now I'm all set for Edmonton!

Thanks to each of you!