I woke up on Saturday morning in Chicagoland, contemplating my plans for the day. Initially, I had intended to travel to Seattle and Miami to complete my status challenge with Alaska Airlines and secure my MVP status. You might recall from a previous post that I am also trying to maintain Gold status on American Airlines, so this trip was quite important to me, but I decided to move those plans back to another weekend.
Settling into my comfortable recliner drinking some water, I opened Google Flights to explore potential destinations within North America that I could reach for “cheap”—ideally, around $300 round trip or even less. To my surprise, I discovered that Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, emerged as the most affordable option. Basic economy tickets were priced around $260 round trip, while regular economy tickets were just $60 more. Intrigued, I quickly checked the weather and was delighted to see that it was forecasted to be over 80 degrees in Edmonton, a stark contrast to the unseasonably cool 62 degrees in Chicago that morning.
Gazing over at my mom, I exclaimed, “Well, I’m going to Canada today!”
My excitement bubbled over as I swiftly booked the round-trip flight. The planned itinerary seemed straightforward—ideal for a spontaneous adventure. However, I chose to add a layer of community insight by consulting Reddit for recommendations on what to do while in Edmonton. Within 15 minutes, a poster humorously noted that everyone was still asleep in Edmonton, given the time difference—it was around 6:30 a.m. in Chicago, and Edmonton is an hour behind. As more comments poured in, I made a mental note of the suggestions: visiting the giant West Edmonton Mall, exploring the picturesque river valley, and checking out the vibrant Whyte Avenue, among other attractions.
I was particularly thrilled about my flight, a nonstop route departing Chicago at 1:20 p.m., which had no other passengers on the first-class waitlist except for me! Having never flown first class on United Airlines before (only on American and Alaska), I considered this a rare treat.
After a brief wait, I received the much-anticipated text notifying me that I had been upgraded to first class! My travel experience was shaping up to be exceptional.
As I rushed to O’Hare International Airport, I encountered an unexpected hiccup— the economy parking lot was completely full. Thankfully, the parking attendant was distributing coupon cards that allowed us to park in the main parking garage at a rate equivalent to the economy price, which is roughly half the usual cost.
Just as I thought everything was falling into place, I noticed a slight pang of panic as I approached the security line. While placing my phone and wallet in my backpack, I suddenly realized that I had left my personal cell phone in the car lying on the passenger seat! Yikes! Should I turn back to retrieve it? Boarding was only 20 minutes away, and I had to navigate all the way to the C gates in Terminal 1. Ultimately, I decided to proceed without it and boarded the flight.
Once settled into my seat, I found myself next to a friendly gentleman who engaged me in conversation. He shared insights about his job that involved international travel and enriching stories about the places he had visited, which made the flight even more enjoyable.
The flight progressed smoothly, and to my surprise, we were served a meal. I opted for the blackened chicken breast—it was decent, although in another post, I’ll delve deeper into the food experience; let’s just say it could have used a bit more seasoning, but it was still a pleasant option for a complimentary meal. Just as I was finishing up, the captain’s voice echoed through the cabin, informing us that we needed to make an unscheduled landing in Minneapolis to refuel. This was a new experience for me, and not one I had anticipated.
We landed in Edmonton nearly two hours later than scheduled because of this diversion. This delay seriously limited my time to explore the city. The situation was made even more stressful by the looming thunderstorms nearby, and I was eager to enjoy any outdoor activities before the rain cut my plans short. Nevertheless, once we touched down, I picked up my rental car. I encountered a deluge of rain and fierce winds that swept across the area.
While processing my rental car, the attendant shared some insights about Edmonton’s rich diversity and enthusiastically recommended that I try the Cactus Club Café on Jasper Avenue in the downtown City Centre. Her glowing description of the restaurant’s ambiance and menu piqued my interest. In another post, I will elaborate on my dining experience there—spoiler alert: it was absolutely amazing!
Even though I had a rental car at my disposal, I opted to take an Uber to and from the restaurant. This way, I could avoid the hassle of parking, and, to be honest, I was feeling quite tired after a long day. Once again, my visit to Cactus Club Café on Jasper Avenue was fantastic; the lively atmosphere and delicious food made for a memorable evening! After dinner, I hopped back into another Uber and made my way to the hotel, eager to get some much-needed rest. I had plans to wake up early the next morning to explore the beauty of nature in the river valley before my flight.
I woke up bright and early at 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, quickly got dressed, and drove downtown. As I approached the river valley, I saw a breathtaking sight. The sun was just beginning to rise. It cast a warm golden glow over the landscape. The vibrant greenery of the trees stood out vividly. Expansive grassy areas flourished on the hillside. They provided a striking contrast to the urban skyline of the city below. The view was simply stunning; it was a scene like no other I had encountered. The serene beauty of the valley was captivating. The gentle sounds of nature waking up enhanced this experience. Together, they made the early morning adventure truly unforgettable.
Edmonton is a beautiful city that boasts a rich culture and a wonderful balance between nature and urban living. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the city, I had an amazing time. I’m already planning my next trip back! Be sure to check out my other posts about Edmonton!
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