Surroundings, Edmonton

A few minutes drive east of Elk Island National Park along the Yellowhead Highway is the Ukrainian Heritage Village. Established in the 1970s, this open-air museum preserves the cultural heritage of the many immigrants from Bukovina and the Ukraine who settled in what is now Alberta in the 1890s. An interesting display in the Visitor Center provides information about the reasons behind these migrations and the years of hardship experienced in the new homeland. The latest Ukrainian settlements in Alberta are also featured.Various historic buildings have been reconstructed on the site, the pale onion dome of a Ukrainian church being visible from afar. "Living History' is presented in an old school, a traditional farmstead, an old smithy and an old-fashioned general store. Museum staff in traditional costume people the houses and demonstrate old crafts. Folk-dances from back home are also sometimes performed.

One hour by car south of Downtown Edmonton is the friendly little town of Wetaskiwin. Here the main attraction is the Reynolds Alberta Museum, dedicated to everything to do with aircraft and vehicle construction. There are open-air displays of old agricultural machinery and tools, including some real dinosaurs - steam tractors, threshing machines, caterpillar tractors and trucks, also veteran aircraft. In the new main hall the history of vehicle production is presented in all its facets. Machinery and tools now long out of service can be seen in use in old films on various topics such as cereal harvesting. A second large hall reveals the glorious history of Canadian military and civil aviation, with the opportunity to inspect at close quarters some historic planes.One of the newer highlights of the Reynolds Alberta Museum is the Life & Times of the Motorcycle featuring over 150 motorcycles, and of course, the history of the motorcycle.

Various historical buildings make up the Peter T. Ream Historic Park. It was formerly called the Fort Saskatchewan Museum and Historic Site but renamed as a tribute to this man. On the property are the Fort Saskatchewan Museum, a courthouse built in 1909, an early 20th Century pioneer house once the home of Dr T.W.E. Henry, the Castle schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and the Soda Lake church.Contained within the courthouse is interesting information on the North West Mounted Police, the precursor to today's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). On display visitors will find clothing along with other items of historical interest.In the Saskatchewan Heritage Museum, car buffs will be impressed by the antique fire truck along with several other interesting and well preserved vehicles.

The town of St Albert is a drive of only minutes north-west from Downtown Edmonton. Situated on the Sturgeon River, it is today all but continuous with the Albertan capital. The original settlement of St Albert evolved from a mission station founded in 1861 by Father Albert Lacombe, around which swiftly grew up the largest Métis community in the Canadian west. It acquired civic status in 1904, and until 1912 was the seat of a Catholic bishop. The best views of the town are from the simple whitewashed wooden chapel built by Father Lacombe (open Victoria Day-Labor Day daily l0am-6pm). The former cathedral stands next to it, and the history of the town is documented in the St Albert Heritage Museum, a few paces downhill.

The town of Stony Plain is proud of their heritage, so proud in fact, that in 1983 the town painted history related murals on several of its buildings. Throughout the years and especially from the mid 1980's to the early 1990's the town continued to have artists paint murals. Now the total number of buildings painted with murals stands at 24.Each mural tells a story and the stories are for the most part quite fascinating including the one mural that explains the pastime of "rubbernecking". Other than the murals, and the friendly people, there is not too much to hold the visitor in Stony Plain as it is primarily a town whose main function is to service the surrounding agricultural region.

The Canadian Petroleum Interpretive Centre provides insight into the workings of the oil industry, Visitors will also discover facts on local history, including the history of Leduc #1, the well that led to Canada's oil boom, and Canada's rise to becoming an important self-sufficient producer of oil. Exhibits include geological displays, photos, scale models and interactive energy displays. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits to explore.The staff at the Canadian Petroleum Interpretive Centre are very informed on the subject, some of them having worked in the industry, and are very helpful and informative.

About 45 km (28 mi.) north, Highway 28 reaches Biggson, a rapidly expanding settlement on the Sturgeon River. Biggson was the starting point of the Athabasca Landing Trail, which was an overland route linking the Sturgeon to the North Saskatchewan River. Up until the early 20th c. the trail was the principal communications route for opening up the Canadian north.

The Lacombe Corn Maze is 15 acres of family fun that can be explored during the day or at night. Other activities include mini-mazes, a picnic area, a corn cannon, a goat walk, a hay jump and the only jumping pillow in Canada.Some of the newer attractions include mini golf and gemstone mining.