TELUS Spark Science Centre in Calgary is world class! The first purpose-built science centre in Canada in 25 years, the new location opened in 2011 and is a massive upgrade from the building I grew up visiting.
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.
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!
I’m going to come right out and say it: Canadian Energy is a controversial topic. And I LOVE that the Canadian Energy Museum owns that fact. There is a newer film to watch – I strongly recommend doing it as the first thing after paying for admission – that covers a lot of the information in the museum and gets you ready for what you’ll be seeing. I found it very helpful to guide conversations with the kids about the exhibits before I’d had a chance to do any reading.
Often shortened to just Reynolds Museum, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum is the perfect destination for fans of vintage cars and aviation. Centrally located in Wetaskiwin, Alberta this museum is dedicated to preserving the transportation history of the province. (And remember, “Cars cost less in Wetaskiwin!”.)
We visited on a Sunday in June and spent about three hours to explore the three main galleries, take in a show in the theatre, and visit the playground, mining exhibit, and airplane hangar. I didn’t get to read all the signs, but machines and their history aren’t really my thing (and I read a lot of similar info at Remington Carriage Museum last summer). If Hubs had been with us there would have been a lot more reading happening, and the visit taken longer!
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.
In the small hamlet of Torrington, situated on 1st Street is the world-famous Gopher Hole Museum.
What is the Gopher Hole Museum?
Started in 1996, when they set up permanent residence, the Gopher Hole Museum has been delighting visitors with their anthropomorphic, mostly Albertan, dioramas.
If you’re coming to Edmonton, or live in Edmonton and haven’t been yet, you need to make a visit to the Royal Alberta Museum. For many, the old location and museum was a fixture of their childhood … seeing the dioramas and visiting the many rocks and precious gems. If you loved those old features, good news! They’re in the new museum too!
Updated May 10, 2023
By Kathryn Wright
What does every 4 year old know way more about than most adults? Dinosaurs, of course!
I found myself alone with 4 kids aged 1, 4, 7, and 11 for two full days last week and wanted to find an activity that was age appropriate and interesting for all of them. I decided that a day trip to Drumheller and the Royal Tyrrell Museum would be a great way to spend one of our days together.
