Vintage cars, aircraft and machinery, plus hands-on galleries that hold kids' attention longer than you would expect.
The big news this summer: admission is free for everyone 17 and under, and half price for ages 18 to 24, through September 7 as part of the Canada Strong Pass. One catch worth knowing: the discount is not available online. You have to claim it at the admissions desk.
Fort Edmonton Park (about 40 minutes)
158 acres of living history, a steam train, four distinct eras and the Indigenous Peoples Experience. Open daily from 10 a.m. through to September 20, and they have knocked 10% off daily admission for the 2026 season.
If you can time it, their Capitol Theatre runs family movie mornings in a restored 1929 cinema.
fortedmontonpark.ca
“Had a wonderful experience at Fort Edmonton Park! The park is beautiful, well maintained, and full of fun and educational experiences. The historical exhibits and interactive activities made the visit enjoyable and memorable. Staff were welcoming and created a great atmosphere for visitors of all ages. It’s a perfect place to spend quality time with family and friends while learning about local history. Highly recommend visiting — definitely a place worth coming back to!”
Pigeon Lake Provincial Park and Ma-Me-O Beach (about 45 minutes)
Beautiful sand, a playground for the kids, designated swimming area, camping, and more than 12 km of trails to enjoy. There is a lifejacket loaner station at the day use boat launch, which is handy, because there are no lifeguards.
Please check current conditions before you swim. Blue-green algae has been identified in the water this season, and the advice is to avoid all contact with visible blooms and to keep pets out of them too. The trails and beach are still a lovely afternoon either way.
albertaparks.ca
Elk Island National Park (about an hour)
Plains and wood bison, more than 250 bird species, and one of the best dark sky preserves in the country. Bison tend to be most active through July and August, so this is the right time of year for it. Just remember that they are large and unpredictable, so be sure to respect their space.
The best part: admission is free for everyone until September 7 under the Canada Strong Pass. Youth 6 to 17 get in free year-round regardless.
Jurassic Forest, Gibbons (a bit over an hour)
Life-sized animatronic dinosaurs along forested walking trails, open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through the season. Adults $18, youth and seniors $15, kids 3 to 12 are $12, under 2 free, and a family of four is $60. Mini golf is $8 extra. It runs seasonally from May to October, so it is worth going before the weather turns.
Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm, Bon Accord (a bit over an hour)
Source: prairiegardens.org
A working family farm and tree nursery about 25 km north of Edmonton, growing 35 acres of heirloom and specialty vegetables. There is a petting farm, u-pick strawberries and a run of hands-on farm experiences through the season. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with u-pick starting at 9:30 a.m.
Their Fairy Berry Festival runs August 1 to 3, which makes the long weekend the best time to go, and the Hidden Harvest Experience follows on August 9. Admission is ticketed, so buy before you drive out.
One practical tip: call 780-921-2272 first to check picking conditions, because u-pick depends entirely on the crop and it is a long way to go for picked-over rows.