You won’t be short of fun outdoor activities in Elk Island National Park, either. Astotin Lake is surrounded by trees and beaches, and great for canoeing, kayaking and sailing along the calm water. It’s animal-spotting heaven – keep an eye out for birds including the rednecked grebes, common loons, white pelicans and blue herons. In the rest of the park there are hundreds of trails waiting to be explored – whether you’re a beginner or experienced hiker, you’ll find something to suit you.
To up the ante, the park is home to eight geocaches. Each geocache needs to be sought out, and contains a clue and a secret message for you to crack – meaning you can embark on your own real-world, adult treasure hunt in one of Canadas most stunning natural parklands. For a tee-time with a difference, be sure to check out the parks nine-hole golf course, close to Astonin Lake. All equipment can be rented from the shop, and there are plenty of beachside picnic spots to head to after a round.
If all that sounds like too much to squeeze into a single day, then you can stay the night in the park itself. Depending on what camping style you fancy, you can go for a backcountry tent or a fully equipped campsite. Better still, you don’t need to lug any camping and cooking gear with you – it’s all available to rent when you get to the park. When you’re craving a summer city break with some outdoor adventure thrown in, it’s fair to say that Edmonton, Canada, has it covered.
