Strong & Free

Everyone knows how much I love Canada and for the longest time, I wanted to showcase Canada on my blog. So, I've decided  to ask Canadian bloggers to answer 5 questions about their province.

This week, Jennifer from The Deliberate Mom, is answering questions about Alberta. 

1. Where are you from:
I was born, raised, and live in Edmonton, Alberta. I am a prairie girl... anyone who follows me on Instagram is probably tired of my frequent postings of Canola fields.

2. Favourite thing about your province:
I love my province because of the diversity of the terrain. From the Rocky Mountains, to the lush river valley along the North Saskatchewan River, to the desert-like badlands near Drumheller... we have it all!

3. What is your region (province and/or city) known for:
My city is well known for West Edmonton Mall, the largest shopping mall in North America and the tenth largest in the world (it is the equivalent of 48 city blocks). I must say I take it for granted and rarely venture there as I hate crowds and I don't really like malls. However, it is nice to have a place like this to go to in the winter. It has an indoor waterpark, skating rink, undersea caverns, amusement park, and miniature golf course.

However, my city is also amazing for the amount of festivals it holds! We have a jazz festival, the Works (art) festival, Klondike Days, Street Performers festival, Taste of Edmonton (food festival), Dragon Boat Festival, Heritage Days (world culture festival), Folk Fest (music festival), the Fringe (theatre and performing arts festival), Cariwest (Caribbean Arts Festival), the Edmonton International Film festival, and many more!

4. Where to:

a) Stay:

You need to stay at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. While it is pricey, it is worth every penny (just make sure to request a river view room). The scenery is gorgeous and it's located in the heart of downtown Edmonton. I've stayed there once and it was the experience of a lifetime... you truly get treated like royalty.

b) Eat:

The place you MUST eat at is a bit of a drive from your hotel but it's really worth it! Head to west Edmonton and enjoy Edmonton's best Indian cuisine (yes... I LOVE Indian food and you will too after you eat here). The atmosphere is modern-chic and the food is truly amazing (make sure to order the Guru Fish Moilee).

c) Go/what to do:

You have got to come here for a summer July-August trip and partake in all the festivals. It is an awesome experience. Although if you're travelling to Alberta, you should also make sure to take in the beauty of our Rocky Mountains. Do some shopping in Banff, soak in the Banff Hot Springs, and have dinner at The Grizzly House (a fondue restaurant) on the main street of Banff.

5. A "must know" about your province: 

Edmonton's North Saskatchewan River Valley is the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America.

Thanks Jennifer for taking the time to answer these questions!

For more information on Alberta, visit Travel Alberta.