West Edmonton Mall is a superb year-round family destination
West Edmonton Mall is quite well known for its immense size and scope. This is a massive shopping experience, one that rivals if not dwarfs similar facilities around the world. But there’s more to the WEM than hitting the shops.
This building has almost every conceivable feature and attraction, not to mention hotel facilities and seemingly endless dining options. West Edmonton Mall is a vacation the whole family can get into and create a lifetime of memories.
Shopping in West Edmonton Mall
The main reason why people go to West Edmonton Mall is the shopping, which should come as no surprise to anyone. It is the 23rd largest mall in the world and is the second-largest in North America, after the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
As you might imagine, WEM has a lot of shopportunities. I apologize for using the word “shopportunities” but it’s honestly accurate in this situation as there are hundreds of stores in this mall to choose from.
In fact, the selection is constantly evolving and it seems like there are rarely any long-term vacancies. On top of that, there are several stores in West Edmonton Mall that are exclusive to it, like SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.
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But not everyone is looking for brands like that. Electronics. Toys. Collectibles. Cookware. Sportswear and gear. Whatever you can think of, you will most likely find it here. You might even find something you didn’t know you were looking for.
The attractions and features
But you have shopped in malls before. West Edmonton Mall is unique because of the attractions it has, which are particularly important in Canada. Most other waterparks and amusement parks are outdoors and have to close because of winter weather. That’s not the case, here.
World Waterpark is a huge draw for WEM. It has several waterslides, each one designed with different difficulty levels in mind. On top of that, there’s ziplining, surfing, slide boarding, and numerous ways to just relax by one of the pools. It’s a wonderful place to go in winter.
Galaxyland is also a popular year-round experience. It features numerous rides and attractions, each one suited to different types of people. If you’re into rollercoasters, this has something for you. And if you just like to watch people on rollercoasters, there are some great concessions.
In addition to that, there are the Marine Life exhibits and experiences featuring animals like Nurse Sharks, African Penguins, California Sea Lions, and Green Sea Turtles. Not enough? You can also go mini-golfing, ice skating, and bowling.
Planning an adventure
At this point, it should be clear that there’s no shortage of things to do in West Edmonton Mall. But it’s not just a destination for a trip, it’s a full-on vacation experience. And the first step is booking your accommodations.
The West Edmonton Mall Inn is just steps away from the WEM and has excellent rooms. But Fantasyland Hotel is the star of the show. It is in the WEM and features 355 rooms and suites as well as various theme rooms. Want to sleep in a spaceship room? You have that option.
The food options here are unreal, too. There are more than 100 restaurants in the WEM. That ranges from fast food to family restaurants to fine dining. And that includes an array of food styles, some of which are completely expected and others that are kind of surprising.
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West Edmonton Mall isn’t for everyone. Unless they work there or have family in town, most locals generally steer clear of it as a general rule. But for visitors to the Edmonton area who are looking for a fun experience, particularly for families, WEM is a fantastic choice.