Day 3 of a 4-Day Trip in Edmonton
Another warm summer day in Edmonton. It felt a little cooler than the other days, but still fairly warm.
Day 3
Edmonton
We started our day by heading to Banh Mi Nhon Hoa for Vietnamese sandwiches. We visited their location in Chinatown (it opens at 10am compared to the other locations, which open at 11am). I ordered one of the cold cut and one of the satay beef sandwiches. The sandwiches were delicious, but the area was not the greatest as it bordered a homeless shelter.
Next stop, Muttart Conservatory. The Muttart Conservatory is one of Canada’s largest indoor botanical collections.
There are 4 pyramids (temperate, arid, tropical, and a feature which changes time to time), each with a different ecosystem. Each area was beautiful and well-taken care of. My favourite pyramid was tropical due to the exotic plants. Also in the tropical pyramid is the corpse flower (apparently smells like rotting flesh and death when in bloom). It was not the season for it to bloom during our visit however.
After the Conservatory, we walked around the park for a bit before heading to lunch at Tokiwa Ramen. Tokiwa Ramen is located in the Edmonton Brewery District. Despite its name, there aren’t any breweries in the area.
There was a wait for Tokiwa Ramen, so we put our name down and headed to The Alley (a few shops down) for bubble tea.
Shortly after, we were called for a table at Tokiwa Ramen. Tokiwa Ramen has options for pork, chicken, or vegetable based soups. My boyfriend ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen (shoyu) and I ordered the Black Garlic (shoyu with black garlic). The ramen was good, but Santouka Ramen (in Vancouver) still stands as our favourite ramen spot.
After lunch, we headed to the Alberta Legislature Building for our tour reservations at 2pm. We were early to our tour, so we walked around River Valley Park (near the Alberta Legislature Building). The view atop the Royal Glenora Stairs was nice.
The exterior of the building was under renovations during our visit, but the inside of the building looked pristine due to the marble floors and white walls. The tours at the Alberta Legislature Building are completely free and the tour guides are very knowledgeable. The walls of the building are lined with portraits of Alberta’s many Lieutenant Governors. The most interesting spot for me was the Legislative Assembly. No events were happening at the time of our visit, but visitors can sit in on the Assembly when it is in progress.
Next stop, West Edmonton Mall. West Edmonton Mall is the largest mall in North America. It is home to 800 shops, an ice rink, an amusement park (Galaxyland), a water park, and a pirate themed exhibition. It is a great spot for a family trip without needing to leave the mall. It is also extremely busy!
After the mall, we headed to dinner at Turquaz Kebab House. There was a 40 minute waitlist, so we promptly put our name on the list. The Turkish and Lebanese restaurant is a counter serve spot offering great food. It was recommended by our friends who used to live in Edmonton. We ordered the lentil soup and the trio kebab plate to share. The meal also came with freshly baked pita bread. Portions were big and the food was delicious! Yum!
After dinner, we headed back to our hotel. We were exhausting from the summer heat.
Complete Day 3 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.
10:00am: Pick up Vietnamese sandwiches at Banh Mi Nhon Hoa.
11:00am: Visit the Muttart Conservatory (20 minute drive from Banh Mi Nhon Hoa).
12:00pm: Have lunch at Tokiwa Ramen (13 minute drive from the Muttart Conservatory).
1:00pm: Have bubble tea at the Alley (1 minute walk from Tokiwa Ramen).
2:00pm: Visit the Alberta Legislature Building (9 minute drive from the Alley). Book a tour.
3:00pm: Wander the River Valley Park (9 minute walk from the Alberta Legislature Building). Visit the Royal Glenora Stairs.
4:00pm: Visit the West Edmonton Mall (19 minute drive from River Valley Park). Go shopping!
6:00pm: Have dinner at Turquaz Kebab House (19 minute drive from West Edmonton Mall)
4-Day Edmonton Itinerary
Click “Download” below for an excel version of my 4-Day Edmonton Itinerary. Feel free to use the excel file as a planning template for your own trip in Edmonton!
Travels with Carolyne 