The redesigned 85,000-square-foot facility, striking with its angular glass windows and steel elements, opened January 31, 2010. Two family-friendly exhibits remain on view through October 11, 2010. One has more than 50 works by M.C. Escher. The second exhibit, the Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons, showcases drawings, paintings, animation cells and other objects from the cartoon company that brought us Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.
The new AGA has increased its family programming. Tours for Tots, geared to kids ages 3 to 5, uses scavenger hunts, stories and crafts to create awareness of the elements that go into a painting or sculpture. On the second Sunday of every month, parents can create museum-oriented art projects with their kids. Through December, architecture is the theme of the BMO World of Creativity, an interactive children's gallery where kids can draw buildings on drafting tables and assemble giant blocks.
Edmonton Attractions
 | Art Gallery of Alberta 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square Edmonton, Canada • 780-422-6223 Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Elk Island National Park Site 4, R.R.#1 Fort Saskatchewan, Canada • 780-922-5790 Add some nature to your city visit at Elk Island National Park, an aspen wilderness that's home to free-roaming herds of bison, moose, deer and elk. Kid-friendly trails include Lakeview and the Beaver Pond. The odd roaring you hear in late summer are the "love calls" of bull bison to potential mates. (Where else are you going to hear that so close to a city?) The park is located 45 minutes east of Edmonton. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12) |
 | Fort Edmonton Park 142 A St. & Laurier Drive. Edmonton, Canada • 780-442-5311 Travel back in time to the late 19th and early 20th centuries at Fort Edmonton Park, Canada's largest living-history park. The 158-acre outdoor living-history museum features more than 75 structures plus costumed interpreters who tell visitors about their lives. Getting around the park by stagecoach, steam locomotive and streetcar can be fun. Originally built by the Hudson Bay Company in 1795, Fort Edmonton served as a trading place between European settlers and the Cree, Blackfoot and other First Nations populations. The settlers traded beaver pelts, which were used to produce top hats for European men. In a log fort surrounded by an impressive palisade fence, kids can see the York boats used for the four-month journey to Hudson Bay, explore barracks outfitted buffalo blankets and watch interpreters use flint to start a fire. On the 1885 street, discover what Edmonton looked like when it was a frontier town that had just a few stores. The 1905 street showcases more buildings plus a round barn. Kids can try on period clothes and play at the Gyro Park, or listen to townsfolk talk about women's suffrage. On the 1920 street, Edmonton is a "modern city" where families can see vintage motorcars at the period Midway, ride the carousel and the Ferris wheel and play mini-golf. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12) |
 | Old Strathcona #202, 10345 Whyte Ave Edmonton, Canada • 780-437-4182 Take shopaholic teens to Whyte Avenue in Old Stathcona, Edmonton's historic district. The attraction was named one of Canada's top 10 shopping districts. The streets bloom with specialty clothing and craft shops, as well as cafes and music clubs. Henry's high-end street wear includes jeans, jackets and shoes; Bamboo Ballroom showcases jeans and trendy dresses; and Head Case -- A Hat Store displays caps, derbies and dress hats that are fun to try on. At the Old Farmer's Market, check out the produce, pastries, meats, cheeses and crafts on display. The market is open on Saturdays year-round. Best For: Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Royal Alberta Museum 12845-102nd Avenue Edmonton, Canada • 780-453-9100 This museum presents the natural and cultural history of the province of Alberta along with a wide range of traveling exhibits. At the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery, look at stone tools, learn about rock art and step into a tepee to hear stories. In Wild Alberta, find out about wetlands and animals, and see a drop of water enlarged 200 times. The Natural History Gallery showcases mounted birds and fossils, and live black widow spiders, tail-less whip scorpions and other insects are on display in the Bug Room. In summer, interpreters tell stories about wildlife, which are geared to kids ages 4 through 10. From October 9 through January 2, 2011, walk into the Wonderful World of OZ, a 3D exhibit with hands-on activities, puppets and favorite Oz characters such as the Woodsman, who -- you guessed it -- teaches kids about hearts. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | TELUS World of Science-Edmonton 11211-- 142 Street Edmonton, Canada • 780-451-3344 The Edmonton branch of the TELUS World of Science museums stands out for its planetarium, which is among the largest in Canada. Edmonton's sky displays create engaging shows with sound and color. In the museum's Health section, colorful carnival-like exhibits, including the kid-favorite Gallery of the Gross!, explain how the human body works. Gallery of the Gross! talks about all those bodily functions that are sure to elicit giggles. Kids ages 2 through 8 get hands-on in Discoveryland, where kids can float boats, build structures and try puzzles. At the Robotics Lab, grade-schoolers work with Lego robots during 45-minute sessions (available weekends and holidays). Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12) |
 | Valley Zoo 13315 Buena Vista Road Edmonton, Canada • 780-442-5311 Not big compared to some urban zoos, the Valley Zoo is manageable and fun for young kids. Among the 350 animals are spider monkeys, red pandas and emus. The Children's Zoo (open May through August) has petting animals. See lemurs at their new habitat, Makira Outpost, and discover Siberian tigers and snow leopards along Carnivore Alley. Addax, peacocks and zebras roam the African Veldt. Young kids will like the miniature train that drops guests at various exhibits, and they'll get a kick out of the pony rides and the carousel. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9) |
 | West Edmonton Mall 1755, 8882 170 Street Edmonton, Mexico • 780-444-5330 I'll admit it: Big malls -- and West Edmonton Mall ranks among the biggest in the world -- give my family headaches, but even we were amazed. You can bring bathing suits and splash at World Waterpark, a five-acre facility with 17 water slides, a bungee tower, a bucket dump and a wave pool. At the amusement park Galaxyland, little ones will love the riding on the carousel and crawling through caves at the Playpark, while older kids will scream in delight as the Mindbender, a roller coaster, flips them three times. The mall also has mini-golf, a bowling alley, an ice skating rink, a small aquarium and performing sea lions. And did we mention the more than 800 shops? Themed streets include Europa Boulevard, an ersatz European Old City with shops and a cafe; Chinatown, complete with koi pond; and Bourbon Street, loosely conjuring New Orleans with shops and eateries, most of which don't really serve New Orleans cuisine. No matter; it's colorful. If you don't want a big chunk of your vacation time swallowed up by this behemoth shopping center, select a few attractions that your kids want to visit and establish a target time to leave. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
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