Edmonton | Marijuana Travel Guide

Source: oldstrathcona Instagram Page

Old Strathcona is the historic part of Edmonton, once home to the distinct city of Strathcona that was eventually amalgamated into the modern city of Edmonton in 1912. Nowadays, Strathcona is one of the more bohemian parts of the city. If you’re looking for somewhere to check out the nightlife, Strathcona is probably your best bet: Whyte Avenue is home to many of the city’s nightclubs and hosts many shows as part of the famous Edmonton International Fringe Festival.

Source: Kurt Bauschardt

Oliver is a bit of an anomaly: it’s a residential neighborhood tucked into an urban center and it’s the densest and most diverse part of the city. It’s a neighborhood that has a little bit of everything -- quiet residential streets, condos, boutique shopping at the end of Jasper Avenue and a bunch of great places to eat and drink.

Source: Mack Male

104th Street, or the 4th Street Promenade, is another historic neighborhood in the heart of Edmonton’s downtown Warehouse District. Home to many little shops and restaurants, 104th Street is a great place to settle in for a coffee at one its many cafes or take part in some of the local activities. The neighborhood is home to a close-knit community and the local businesses are also sure to have something going on for everyone.

Source: WinterE229

The North Saskatchewan River Valley parks system is one of Edmonton’s crown jewels and is the longest stretch of connected parkland in North America. Often called the ‘Ribbon of Green,’ the park system is 22 times larger than New York City’s Central Park. In the summer, it’s a must-see in the city, especially if a nice stoned walk is your speed or if you just need somewhere to mellow out in the sun for a day.

Source: West Edmonton Mall Instagram Page

If vibing out in the park at a slower pace isn’t your thing, try something else altogether: the West Edmonton Mall. A lot of things could be said about the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest mall in North America. It has everything: over a hundred restaurants, two hotels, a waterpark, a roller coaster and a gun range, to name only a few. The mall is so big that it has themed streets inside it. It is not to be missed, purely because there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

Source: Bill Burris

To see Edmonton from a bit of a different vantage point, take a ride through the city on the historic High Level Bridge Streetcar. It’s a refurbished trolley that dates back to the turn of the century and it will bring you to views you can’t see anywhere else. The streetcar line has cars from around the world named after the cities like Osaka or Melbourne, where they originated — and will take you through downtown Edmonton and Old Strathcona. The peak of the trip is the crossing of the 100-year-old High Level Bridge, which gives you a unique and unparalleled view of the city’s river valley.

Source: NUMO Cannabis Yelp Page

NUMO Cannabis believes in three things: high quality bud, promoting positive weed culture and doing both things in a way that serves their community. The independent retailer on the north end of Edmonton’s downtown has a carefully selected range of products available from Canada’s legal market. NUMO has a slick, modern look and staff on hand to help make your cannabis experience — whether you’re new to weed or a pro — a smooth and comfortable one. Address: 11733 95 St, Edmonton, AB

Source: Plantlife Cannabis Facebook Page

Stepping into Plantlife Cannabis, a small chain of dispensaries that started in Edmonton but has expanded to there cities in Northern Alberta, looks a bit like stepping into a health food store. The wood-and-grass color palate, the relaxed atmosphere and the commitment to wellness sets the Plantlife experience apart from other dispensaries in the city. It’s a bit further in the south end of the city, so a good place to stop if you happen to be heading out of the city for a day. Address: 14130 28 Ave SW, Edmonton, AB

Source: Nova Cannabis Twitter Page

The most centrally located dispensary to pick up your weed is likely Nova Cannabis, just south of downtown. Nova is a chain that has since spread across the country, including shop in the highly prized Queen West Strip in Toronto but it made its bones in Alberta, where it was one of the first retailers out of the gate. The stores have proven immensely popular since legalization, making Nova Cannabis, which is owned by Edmonton-based Alcanna, a great place to stop to pick up some bud for your trip to the city. Address: 8015 104 St NW, Edmonton, AB

Source: daikoku Facebook Page

One of the newer dispensaries in the city, daikoku is a dispensary with Japanese influences. The store says its vibe is akin to that of a “high-end tea-shop” and draws its inspiration from the fact that nearly 10,000-year-old traces of cannabis have been found on the Oki Islands near Japan. The store has a boutique vibe but a playful one — the shop says it “wants to keep things light and fun” in the store — that makes it a great place to stop and chat with the helpful staff. Address: 9181 25 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB

Source: Ian McKenzie

So much of Edmonton is steeped in history of one sort or another. If you’re out looking to poke around in the historic parts of Strathcona (perhaps after a joint or two), then you should settle on Junque Cellar, a one-of-a-kind antique shop. Junque Cellar has a little bit of everything: golf clubs, clothing, old school furniture, you name it. The shop has been an Edmonton institution for over 25 years and you won’t be disappointed by the array of stuff they have for sale.

Source: Kurt Bauschardt

The largest museum in Western Canada, the Royal Alberta museum features exhibitions touching on Canadian history, geology, Indigenous studies and military history. If you’re looking to do a bit of mental time travelling, it’s a great spot to hit, especially on rainy days. Even better? You get to check out the brand new building, which opened in late 2018.

Source: Royal Bison Instagram Page

The Royal Bison Art & Craft Fair is a twice-a-year festival of local crafts, art and gifts. Over its decade-long history, it has hosted over 400 different vendors, many of them local. In town, it’s known as a place both to explore and window-shop and as a place to get unique gifts and souvenirs. If you happen to miss one of the fairs, never fear — many of the local vendors show up at other pop-ups and sales across the city.

Source: The Grindstone Theatre Instagram Page

One of the things Edmonton is best known for is its theatre scene, which centers to some extent around the International Fringe Festival. But if you’re not in town for that, check out a show at The Grindstone, which specializes in improv, comedy and musical theatre. It even has a restaurant on site, called the Grindstone Comedy Theatre and Bistro, which is situated in a 75-seat comedy theatre that puts on a whopping 14 shows every week.

Source: Biera Instagram Page

Beer and charcoal-grilled meat — is there a better combination? Throw a little weed in the mix ahead of time and you might have the only improvement. Biera first started making waves on the Edmonton food scene in 2017 and still hasn’t let up. It’s definitely a higher-end destination restaurant (with prices to match) but it’s placed on every best-restaurant list since it opened by no accident. If you’re heading to the city for a short time, consider making a reservation ahead of your arrival.

Source: Carlos Duarte Do Nascimento

For years, Canada has been caught in a donair war. Who makes it better: the original Maritime donair from Halifax that features shaved meat with sweet, sticky donair sauce and nothing more than onions and tomatoes — or the Alberta donair that comes with any number of toppings including lettuce (which would be sacrilege on the east coast). Edmonton is firmly in Alberta donair territory so check out this local favorite for a taste of the greener, leafier type. Whichever side you take, it’s sure to quench your munchies.

Source: Route 99 Diner Facebook Page

If you’re rolling out of bed after a night out of drinking and getting stoned, you’re probably hungry and you’re probably hungry for something specific: diner breakfast. If that’s the case, head over to Route 99 Diner, an un-fussy example of 1950s Canadiana. It’s got all the classics, from diner coffee to egg plates to burgers, all served up in a vintage 1950s set-up.