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Fort McMurray

Jackpot! Save Big On History With THIS Alberta Pass

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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.

What Is the ‘Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass’?

The Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass is a special pass that gives visitors access to some of Alberta’s most prominent heritage sites and museums. With this pass, you can explore iconic sites such as the Royal Alberta Museum, the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the Remington Carriage Museum, and many others.

The pass is valid for one year from the date of purchase, and it allows you to visit each site as many times as you’d like during that year (we visited the Tyrrell two days in a row!).

The best part? It only costs $125 for a family ($55/adult, $40/senior, and $30/youth).

What Sites Are Included with the Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass?

The Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass allows you to visit some of the most important and fascinating heritage sites in Alberta. From north to south, admission to these sites are included with the pass:

Oil Sands Discovery Centre

Family Admission: $29

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray is an interactive exhibit of the history, science, and technology behind Alberta’s oil sands. Don’t forget to visit the Big Machines behind the building to gain a better understanding of the scale oil recovery in Alberta runs.

For more ideas on what to do in Fort McMurray when you visit the Discovery Centre, check out these things to do in Fort McMurray.

Victoria Settlement

Family Admission: $14

Located south of Smoky Lake, the Victoria Settlement has two restored buildings where you can watch a documentary about the local settlers and go on a guided tour of with a costumed interpreter. Take a glimpse into the past in this family-friendly experience.

Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village

Thatch roof house in the Ukrainian Village

Family Admission: $40

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village outside Edmonton is a living museum that showcases the rich history and culture of Alberta’s Ukrainian community. You can explore authentic Ukrainian farmsteads, churches, and other buildings, and learn more about the traditions and customs of this vibrant community that continues to have a major impact on the Capital Region today.

Read more about the Village in these related posts:

Royal Tyrrell Museum

Royal Tyrrell Museum dinousaurs

Family Admission: $50

The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller is one of the most iconic museums in Alberta, and it’s a must-visit destination for anyone interested in dinosaurs and prehistoric life. The museum has an incredible collection of fossils, including some of the largest and most complete dinosaur skeletons ever discovered.

Read more about the museum in these related posts:

Remington Carriage Museum

Surrey with the fringe on top at Remmington Carriage Museum
Surrey with the Fringe on Top (IYKYK – sorry for the ear worm!)

Family Admission: $40

The Remington Carriage Museum is home to one of the largest collections of horse-drawn vehicles in North America. Visitors can explore more than 300 carriages, sleighs, and wagons, and learn more about the role that these vehicles played in Alberta’s history.

The Complete List of Included Attractions:

Attractions with admissions:

The following attractions are “Included” with the pass, but don’t actually charge admission (not sure what the province is trying to pull here!):

What Are the Benefits of the Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass?

The “Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass” has many benefits, including:

Unlimited Visits

With the Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass, you can visit each attraction as many times as you like during the year. This means that you can take your time and explore each site at your own pace, without feeling rushed or pressured to see everything in one visit (I won’t promise the kids won’t pressure you to move on before you’re done!).

Cost Savings

Visiting each attraction included in the Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass adds up quickly. With several costing $40 per family, per visit you’ll have recovered the cost on your forth visit, making it an excellent value for anyone who wants to explore Alberta’s rich heritage without breaking the bank.

Encouraged Exploring

You’ve already made the investment – admission is now free. Get all the bang for your buck you can and go out, explore, and learn!

How Do I Buy an Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass?

Purchasing an Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass is easy. On your first visit to one of the sites, ask to buy the “Experience Alberta” pass instead of regular admission. Be sure to double check the list of sites selling the pass (top right on desktop), and watch the process. It can take a bit longer than just buying admission, so I highly recommend having a second adult to entertain the kids during this part.

How Do I Use my Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass?

Simply present your pass to the admission desk to use it! They will record the pass number and continue with the rest of their admission process. I found the largest locations (like Tyrrell) take a couple extra minutes for admission, but it’s typically it’s faster to get in than paying with a credit card. And, oh, does it ever feel nice to not hear “$40, please” at all these places!

Conclusion

The Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass is the perfect way to explore Alberta’s rich and fascinating history. With unlimited visits to some of the province’s most iconic heritage sites and museums, the pass offers an excellent value for anyone interested in Alberta’s past. So why wait? Pick up your pass today and start exploring!

Unpopular Opinion – I Let My Kids Stay Home From School When They’re Not Sick

My kids are 8 & 11 and are in Grade 3 & 6. Just like us sometimes they need a break. So I let them stay home from school even when they’re not sick.

We don’t over schedule (as much as we can with two active kids) but sometimes life piles up. Big family changes, busy weekends, changes in school, and growth spurts sometimes all pile up in one messy ball of emotion and they get to a point where they just cannot function.

So they get to stay home. No questions asked.

I will say that this does not happen often. We trust them to make a judgement call when they need it and this power has yet to be abused. So far in this school year the youngest has taken one day and the oldest has taken two. They are rarely sick (knock on wood) and although we travel occasionally they don’t often have to miss a ton of school.

I can usually tell as soon as they wake up that they are going to use the “free pass” that day. Sometimes they will wake up, start playing into it and talking about staying home but 99% of the time they perk up, eat their breakfast and continue on with their day. But the other 1%? They tell me they just need a day.

A day to stay in bed. Read. Build Lego while listening to their podcasts. Watch their favourite cartoons. Cuddle.

I know the privilege I have to be able to work from home and adjust to their needs. I am grateful I have kids who do not take advantage of this. I get that this will not work for every family.

But for us this works. And as they grow up and become adults I hope that they learn that it’s OK to take a day to recharge.

 

 

Box Social Event Planning

Deanne Ferguson is the owner of Box Social Event Planning. When she is not planning fun, family, friendly events she is finding the yummiest food for the Edmonton Home and Garden Show Food Stage. She loves her #cocktailMonday dates with her husband and chasing around her two boys. You can find her at @DeanneFerguson on Instagram and @BoxSocialYEG on Twitter

 

 

 

 

What To Look For When Choosing Activities for Your Child

Choosing activities for your children can not only be overwhelming but frustrating as well. There are SO many options out there now. And when your child is young it is impossible to tell what they’re interested in besides listening to Baby Shark on repeat and asking to watch Paw Patrol for the 10000000000000th time.

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10 Questions with Sarah Wallace

Each month, we play 10 questions with one of  Alberta’s most interesting mamas. This month we hear from maternal support practitioner Sarah Wallace. Sarah is a mama to four kids between the ages of three and eight, and since battling postpartum depression, has become passionate about helping other moms navigate the fourth trimester. Currently, she serves the areas of Edmonton, Leduc, and surrounding communities. Connect with Sarah on instagram @sarahwallacedoula, or by visiting her website sarahwallacedoula.com

1. You’ve been very open about your own struggles with postpartum depression. What made you decide to share this experience with others?

When I was first going through postpartum depression, I felt so much shame about it. I didn’t actually realize that I had postpartum depression and just thought I was failing at being a mom. Hearing other’s stories led me to make an appointment where I got diagnosed and that was a game changer for me. I wasn’t failing as a mom – I just needed some help! I share my story in hopes that another parent who is suffering will see that they are not alone and will reach out for help. I also share it because I want to take some of that stigma away so that those struggling don’t feel so much shame for needing some help.

2. Why were you inspired to offer both birth doula support and postpartum doula support?

I have been supporting families for a long time now. Through my work with Momstown as well as my own personal experience, I saw how a positive postpartum experience can really set a family up to succeed. After I had my 2nd and 3rd sons, I found myself floundering and struggling through because I didn’t know how to ask for help and my support network wasn’t always able to help when I did. I knew that I wanted to help families get through the hard bits in the postpartum so that they could feel more confident. I love birth work and seeing folks birth their babies into this world, but there is something special about the relief a new parent feels when you come in and ease some of their burdens for a few hours.

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Free Litter Pick Up Kits in Edmonton & Calgary

Group walking through the woods with garbage bags for litter clean up.

Now that most of the snow is gone, you have to admit, the amount of garbage around our fine cities is pretty upsetting. BUT, there is a way to help keep Alberta beautiful and our cities are trying to make it as easy as possible with free litter pick up kits!

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Tips For Parents Of Picky Eaters

The meal time struggle is real.

No matter what you make, bake, cook, or blend there is always someone at the table that is less than impressed with what is for supper. And for some reason it is always supper at our house that is the struggle. The boys go through phases of picky eating and being more adventurous it seems which also throws me for a loop. One day they just want plain noodles and chicken fingers and the next they are shocking you and eating a plate of fish (after 10 years of me coaxing, offering, trying, fighting, bribing… you get the idea) and liking it.

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The Birthday Tradition I Accidentally Started

I used to go BIG for birthdays. That is actually one of the things Box Social Event Planning did when I started the business. We planned parties for parents that wanted that “Pinterest” party but didn’t have time. We would do such elaborate parties that one time we brought 8-foot trees into a play place to create a perfect Woodland Theme.

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Risky Play in Your Own Backyard

Risky Play has been one of those terms parenting experts have been throwing around a lot lately. I think we have all seen the video of the playground in New York where it looks like the kids are playing in a junkyard and no parents are around. The fun that the kids are having is apparent in their faces but we have yet to find a park like that in Alberta and realistically no one wants all that junk in the backyard.

A few weeks ago we posted on Instagram (If you aren’t already following us on Instagram you can do that here) a few videos of Deanne’s kids playing in the backyard with tree stumps and boards. We had so many questions about it that we decided to write a “how to” for you to bring more risky play into your backyard without it looking like a junkyard.

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Simple Ways to Curate Lasting Memories

Simple Ways to Curate Lasting Memories

At the centre of my childhood were simple experiences rich with texture and wrought with meaning.  It wasn’t until I was an adult that I was able to appreciate the beauty in the simple togetherness my mom wove into the fabric of our family.  Our family didn’t have a lot of money so my mom got creative.  I find myself using many of her ideas with my own children and I enjoy coming up with my own.  Time is the precious gift our children want above all.  Here are some of my favorite memory makers!  I would love to hear about yours.

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5 Ways to Save This Summer

After what has seemed like a never-ending winter, summer has finally arrived! After being stuck inside all winter, Albertans definitely know how to take advantage of our short summer months. Along with longer days come festivals, food trucks, day trips and weekends exploring our beautiful province. The downside? All of these things can be financially draining for a family.

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