River City Writer

I think that Edmonton is a great city. That’s a large part of why I created River City Writer. I’m an evangelist for Edmonton. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of 5 reasons why Edmonton rocks in the summer.

1. Festivals: Edmonton is nicknamed “Festival City” for a reason. River City summers are packed full of more festivals than any one person can possibly attend. The good thing means that there is a lot of choice. If you like jazz, you can check out the Edmonton International Jazz Festival; if you’re a huge theatre fan, the Fringe will be perfect for you; the Heritage Festival is perfect for those with a fondness for international culture and cuisine. Whatever you’re into, Edmonton has a summer festival that’s perfect for you.
2. Warm weather: Edmonton has great weather in the summer. It may not be as warm as Hawaii, or Jamaica, but it’s warm. We may have ass-chilling winters, but there are few things better than a hot prairie summer. In Edmonton, hot weather means “swimming” in the fountain at City Hall, or the wading pool at the Leg Grounds. It means hitting the patios for cold beers and iced coffee. Really, warm weather in Edmonton results in typical warm weather activities. But, the fact that our winters are 9 months long means that we appreciate those summer moments a lot more than other people do.
3. River valley parks: Edmonton’s river valley parks system is the longest continuous urban green space in North America. According to Wikipedia, “The river valley is also 22 times larger than New York City’s Central Park [via].” This massive system of parks is one of the best things about Edmonton. If you ever feel like you need to escape from the hurried pace of urban life, but can’t get away to the mountains, just head down to the river valley. It’s hard to be stressed when you’re in Hawrelak, tossing a Frisbee™, or getting lost on one of the walking trails. Sometimes, you’ll forget that you’re even inside the city.
4. Iced coffee: Okay, so iced coffee isn’t really unique to Edmonton, but it’s still one of the best things about summer in the city. Whether you’re sitting on a patio, or walking around the downtown core, nothing beats a cool iced cappuccino or iced mocha. Like good old fashioned, hot coffee, iced coffee is best served with a good friend and conversation.
5. Whyte Avenue: Would a list of awesome things about Edmonton really be complete without including Whyte Avenue? Whyte Ave is the hub of the city. It’s the collective watering hole–literally, in some respects–and it’s the best place to people watch on a summer day. Find a patch of pavement, or a good seat on a patio, and you can entertain yourself for free all day long. A summer afternoon spent on Whyte gives you a glimpse into almost every aspect of Edmonton life. From the down-on-his-luck homeless guy, to the Chachi rich kids, to the hardcore punkers, Whyte Ave has it all. Plus, for a young single guy, it’s a great place to watch the ladies flash their summer skin.

Why do you think that Edmonton rocks in the summer? Add to the list in the comments, or with a post on your own blog. Keep the conversation going!