The West Edmonton Mall
The West Edmonton Mall has the distinction of being the largest mall in North America. It is the second most visited mall in Canada, with Toronto’s Eaton Centre being the first. It opened in 1981 and has grown, today it houses more than 800 stores and services and receives over 30 million visitors a year. A few of the major stores include; Hudson’s Bay, London Drugs, the Brick, and Homesense/Winners. It is home to two hotels and over 100 dining venues.
Until 2004, it was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest shopping mall in the world. WEM or the West Edmonton Mall has earned the title of World’s record also for many other features, including; the World’s largest triple loop indoor roller coaster named the Mindbender, the World’s largest indoor amusement park called Galaxyland, World’s largest indoor lake known as Deep Sea Adventure Lake, the World’s largest indoor water park called World Waterpark and the World’s largest parking lot with over 20,000 spaces.
Galaxyland is a space-themed indoor amusement park with over24 rides and attractions. It has something for everyone with over eight beginner rides, nine intermediate rides, and seven thrill rides, including the Mindbender, Lazer Vault, Quirks in the Works, Zero Gravity, and the Haunted Castle. In 2019 the park partnered with the Hasbro Company, and the park has been redesigned with Hasbro-themed toys.
Mayfield Toyota Ice Palace is an ice rink located in the centre of the mall. At one time, the Edmonton Oilers held practices at the rink; it is used for various hockey tournaments, other sporting events, and visitors wanting to have a skate. Play a round at Professor WEM’s Adventure Golf, an 18 hole miniature golf course or The Dragon’s Tale offers a black-lit,glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course. After a round of minigolf, take aim and practice your marksman skills at the Wild West Shooting Centre.
Take a break from shopping to explore some marine life at Sealife Caverns. It is an underground aquarium that houses more than 100 aquatic life species from; sharks, fish, sea turtles, reptiles to penguins.
Another unexpected feature in the mall is a large-scale model of the Santa Maria, one of Christopher Columbus’s ships that sailed to America in 1492. The ship’s deck can be rented for private functions. Sea Lion Rock is home to four California sea lions who like to put on a show for visitors.
Take the plunge and visit World Water Park, the second-largest indoor water park in North America. It features the world’s largest indoor wave pool and lake with beachfront or poolside cabanas to rent for the day. The park has a splash pad, dolphin kiddie pool, and Caribean Cruiser for the youngest visitors. There are advanced rides like the Cyclone. It stands 26 feet and has a near 360 -degree loop that can send you flying down the slide at up to 64 kilometres/hour. The lake offers the chance to try surfing or a flow rider. Visitors will have a hard time choosing what to try first.
Guests don’t have to leave the mall when the mall closes; they can check into either the Fantasyland Hotel or the West Edmonton Mall hotel. When hunger strikes, there are over one-hundred dining venues to choose from. The mall is the first Canadian location for Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. What do BRBN ST., Europa, and Chinatown have in common? They are all themed streets, each designed with its own unique atmosphere. BRBN ST. is dimly lit to create a night-time atmosphere, and Europa feels like a European streetscape.
A place to shop, stay and play, The West Edmonton Mall is the size of a small city. The Urban Bazaars of Persia inspired the over 5.3 million square feet mall. Boasting over 800 shops and services and countless attractions, WEM offers something fun for everyone. With over 30 million visitors each year, it is Alberta’s number one tourist attraction.
Check out the Edmonton Royal Alberta Museum which is in Edmonton AB too.
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