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Northern Alberta

The Best Hotel Pool In Fort McMurray (We LOVE It!)

Hotel pool and water slide at Radisson Hotel & Suites Fort McMurray

My husband was born and raised in Fort McMurray, and, while his parents have retired south, several friends still live in the community, including our kids’ godfather. We don’t head up north often, but love the area when we do (the drive is long). There are so many things to do!

A hotel room in Fort Mac is a pretty reasonable price – especially on weekends when not as many people are working – so we treat the kids and stay in one instead of cramming them into a friend’s basement. One of our favourites is the Radisson Hotel and Suites Fort McMurray with their awesome orange waterslide!

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Splash Parks in Fort McMurray

Frank Lacroix Spray Park and playground

We’ve got you covered this summer for free water fun with our list of spray parks in Fort McMurray! Don’t forget the sunscreen, water bottles, and snacks – we’ll let you know about restrooms (if we know!). Get out, have fun, and make memories!

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Oil Sands Discovery Centre Guide

Little boy stretches to touch the hubcap of a WABCO 150 Heavy Hauler at Oil Sands Discovery Center in Fort McMurray

You’ve got questions about oil and gas in Fort Mac? The Oil Sands Discovery Centre has answers! Before bombarding the locals as you try to understand the “tar sands”, stop in at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre for a deep dive into what there is to know about the work happening around Fort McMurray.

Don’t miss: Go behind the building to see the old machinery and see the 10-minute hot water extraction demonstration in the theatre.

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Family Night in Fort McMurray: Visit “The Alley YMM”

Bowling shoes in front of lanes at The Alley in Fort McMurray

Looking for something to do with the kids after 5pm in Fort McMurray? Head to The Alley YMM! This family friendly spot has a bowling alley, arcade, laser tag, and the biggest pizza I’ve ever seen!

Going with your adult friends? Don’t worry, it’s great for you, too! We saw a couple Bachelor/Bachelorette parties starting their night on the town as we were wrapping up ours.

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“Syncrude Giants of Mining” Visitor’s Guide

Giants of Mining panorama

Photos can’t explain how MASSIVE the operations north of Fort McMurray are. In 1999 Syncrude decommissioned several machines and placed two at the side of the highway in an open-air museum to exhibit these giants and share information about what happens at their open-pit oilsands mining operation.

We’re fans of big things at Alberta Mamas. I’ve seen a lot of them. But walking up to these machines that are as big as my first four-story apartment building? You’ve got to see this!

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15+ Family-Friendly Corn Mazes in Alberta (Mapped!)

Corn mazes across Alberta

Updated: September 12, 2023

I don’t when Corn Mazes became such a thing but we are so glad they did! Over the past few years Corn Mazes have popped up everywhere. You can’t go through the Fall season without visiting one with the kids, so we’ve compiled a list of our favourite ones across Alberta!

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Jackpot! Save Big On History With THIS Alberta Pass

RAM

If you’re looking for an exciting adventure that will take you back in time to explore the rich and fascinating history of Alberta, then the Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass is just what you need. Super affordable, this pass is the perfect way to explore some of the most iconic heritage sites and museums in the province, offering a unique chance to immerse yourself in Alberta’s past and learn more about the people, places, and events that shaped our amazing province.

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8 Easy to Grow Flowering Perennials for Zone 3a (Edmonton, AB)

annabelle hydrangeas perennial

These are some of my favourite, easy to grow perennials flowers for zone 3a (Edmonton, Alberta).

Judith is an eco-mom in Edmonton who is passionate about green, toxin-free, healthy living. She shares her journey and experiences on Juicy Green Mom. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

I’ve lived in Edmonton my whole life and grew up with summer memories of sitting in a cherry tree and picking raspberries in my backyard. As an adult, I’ve begun to appreciate the joys of a beautiful garden. Because I’m also a bit of a lazy gardener, I love planting perennials that will come back year after year.

Annabelle Hydrangeas (feature photo)

Hydrangeas are my absolute favourite flowers, I even had them in my wedding bouquets. When I got the opportunity to landscape my backyard from scratch, I knew I wanted some kind of hydrangeas. I had Annabelle hydrangeas put into a raised bed and they have been producing beautiful round white bouquets of blooms for me for 10 years. They do well in sun to part shade with plenty of water. Be careful selecting hydrangeas as some box stores carry varieties that don’t tolerate our cold winters.

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An 12 Year Olds Take On YouthWrite

Hi! My name is Hayden Reeve!

You might recognize my last name as I am the daughter of one of the Mamas! I am going to tell you about my experience at YouthWrite®. For a little introduction, it is a non-profit organization with camps for children who love to write. There is also a separate camp for adults who also enjoy writing! Today though, we are going to be discussing the camp for, well, youth! 

Something that I think is quite important and an absolutely excellent characteristic about YouthWrite is the fact that they have a figuratively speaking, bubble type of deal around them.

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