Les meilleurs hôtels à Edmonton

For years Wayne Gretzky and the West Edmonton Mall were Edmonton's principal claims to international fame. The hockey superstar was traded in 1988 and the mega-mall - with its waterslides, rollercoasters and theme hotel rooms - doesn't generate quite the same buzz these days. That said, there's much more to Alberta's capital than hockey and a temple to consumerism. In summer, this town positively blossoms with festivals - its jazz, folk and fringe theatre events are world renowned. Klondike Days, an annual exhibition that commemorates Edmonton's past as a jumpoff point for aspiring prospectors during the 1897 gold rush, provides other summer entertainment. People seeking quieter open-air recreation head for the North Saskatchewan River valley, which bisects the city and is crammed with public parks and paths for walking and cycling. In winter, hockey is king, though downhill skiers often make the three-hour drive west to Jasper and the Rocky Mountains. Finally, remember that Edmonton's favorite year-round sport is Calgary-bashing - tell an Edmontonian a thigh-slapper about her civic rival to the south, and you've got a friend for life.