You can expect to find your happy place when you visit the University of Alberta Botanic Garden! Relaxation, rejuvenation, and enjoyment are only 15 minutes SW of Edmonton. At this garden in a forest, you'll discover how nature ignites your "happy hormones", while you experience a peaceful, beautiful environment. Explore cultural gardens, northern climate-hardy plant collections, and extensive natural areas, all on 240 acres. They have a lineup of special moments to add to your experience, all designed with safety in mind. Set down a blanket and watch the sunset over the ponds and fountains while you enjoy a Twilight Picnic Experience - a generous box of locally sourced charcuterie-style delights. Add a regional craft beer or wine, listen to the sounds of live music, play a lawn game, and let your cares drift away. Or, you can enjoy an ice cream or sandwich at the Patio Cafe. Stroll the Aga Khan Garden, a 4.8-hectare Mughal-inspired contemporary masterpiece. Completed in 2018, the Aga Khan Garden features secluded woodland paths, granite and limestone terraces, still pools that reflect the prairie sky, waterfalls, and streams, along with 25,000 trees, shrubs, and perennial - the northernmost Islamic garden in the world, and the largest on the continent. Other must-see features include the serene Kurimoto Japanese Garden, fascinating Indigenous Garden, alpine garden, rose, peony, lilac, and primula collections, trial beds, fruit and vegetable gardens, and much more. Not just a summer place, the Garden's Luminaria: Winter Tales event is a must-see celebration in December. Experience thousands of real candles in the Japanese Garden and an immersive winter’s journey inspired by the charming atmosphere of European holiday markets, sparkling with a touch of whimsy. In a tranquil, forested wonderland, gather with friends and family for traditional tastes, sights, sounds, and stories of winter. And don't miss the Northern Light Dining Experience in a "village" of dining domes - a three-course fondue dinner in a setting like no other. Your happy place is waiting!
