Sustainable Travel in Edmonton

Edmonton is making strides to become one of Canada's leaders in sustainability, with many businesses and organizations across the city making a difference! Edmonton is home to Canada's largest rooftop solar installation, an urban park 22 times the size of New York City's Central Park (with over 160 kilometers of trails), and one of the first fully carbon neutral upcoming neighborhoods in Canada. Not only is Edmonton a great place to visit for festivals and fun, but it's also a great destination for those looking to make their travel experience an eco-friendly one!

Here we have our local recommendations for:

• Sustainable Eats
• Sustainable Shopping
• Sustainable Activities
• Sustainable Transportation
• Sustainable Hotel Stays

Locally Grown, Raised, & Run

Edmonton's sustainable culinary scene flourishes and offers a diverse range of delicious and responsible food options. Plan your next meal at one of these great spots:

• RGE RD - local meat butchered in-house
• Bernadette's - elegant Indigenous sharing plates
• Darling - excellent selection of wines
• Felice Café - attached to a cute artisan shop
• The Old Red Barn - farm to table meal, located just outside Edmonton in Leduc
  
  

You can also check out the new restaurants on the Edmonton scene, many of whom keep their menu fresh with local ingredients!

Vegetarian & Vegan

Edmonton's plant-based options continue to grow, with vegan restaurants popping up all over town.

• Padmanadi - a longstanding local favourite, try their "ginger beef"
• Cafe Mosaics - great for brunch
• The Buckingham - vegan pub food and live entertainment
• DIE PIE - specializes in pizza
  
• Benaras - great for lunch, dinner, or take-out
• Moth Cafe - tasty bowls and fresh meals

Consignment/Thrift Stores

For shops that do a great job of curating once-loved items, you've got to check out:

• Mod Consignment - luxury brand names for a fraction of the price
• Wrinkled - stay trendy with this Whyte ave consignment store
  
• More than a Fad - over 10,000 sq. ft. of second-hand treasures
  
• Junque Cellar - quirky, fun, and packed with surprise finds
• From Another - vintage streetwear and kicks
• Nifty Thrifty - cute neighbourhood thrift shop
• Wee Book Inn - used book store (be sure to say hello to the kitties in shop)

Beauty, Health, & Lifestyle

Integrate eco-friendly products and practices in your everyday life! See these great spots for day-to-day needs:

• Re:Plenish - zero-waste refillery and lifestyle products
• Carbon Boutique - zero-waste refillery and lifestyle products
• Weekly - green-circle certified hair salon
• find. - great furniture and house goods thrift store

Grocery Stores

Nothing better than making a delicious meal with fresh ingredients! Get locally sourced groceries at:

• Earth's General Store - fresh local meat and produce, also offers a refillery
• Blush Lane Organics - organic produce from their BC own orchard and local grocery products
• Sunterra - local Albertan grocery store with fresh, healthy food
• Farmers Markets - a list of seasonal or year-round farmers markets in Edmonton
• Community Natural Foods - local Albertan grocery store with fresh, healthy food
  

Fashion

Keep with the latest looks and update your wardrobe with eco-friendly products from:

• OKAKIE - minimalist fashion
• I.A.M Collective - Indigenous pop-up shop
• Poppy Barley - quality leather shoes
• Unbelts - size inclusive, recycled belts
• Mobilize - Indigenous-owned skate-wear

Explore Edmonton's Backyard

Did you know Edmonton contains over 160 kilometres of trails? Go explore the trails with incredible experiences Edmonton provides every season:

• Summer & Spring Outdoor Activities - cycling, running, trails, canoeing, tours, and more
• Autumn Outdoor Activities - corn maze, hiking, tours, Halloween experiences and more
• Winter Outdoor Activities - skating, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and more

Gardens and Nature

Alberta has some of the most hard-working gardeners because with a short growing season, they need to be super-efficient to nurture those bumble bee paradises! Here are some spots to take in the fresh air of beautiful plants grown locally:

• Front Yards In Bloom - local gardening competition for Edmontonian front lawns, including a native species category (summer only)
• Muttart Conservatory - greenhouse that features more than 700 species of plants, 3 climate-regulated biomes, and many educational workshops on nature and the environment
• University of Alberta Botanic Garden - award-winning garden featuring 240 acres of stunning property (closed during winter & early spring)
• Edmonton Urban Farm - local community garden that hosts educational experiences
• John Janzen Nature Centre - a nature-discovery exhibit with educational workshops about the environment

Indigenous Experiences

Experience workshops, events, or experiences led by Indigenous community members who are some of the best caregivers of our environment.

• Métis Crossing - deepen your understanding of the Métis story through immersive, guided experiences
• Indigenous Landmarks - connect with the city's past, present and future while taking in everything from outdoor art installations to beautiful, serene gardens
• Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park - explore First Nations' and Métis peoples' histories, experiences, and perspectives, local to Indigenous life in the Beaver Hills region
• Grow Centre - creative classes, art workshops, teachings and community gatherings
  

Public Transit

It's easy to experience the best of Edmonton using public transportation! Edmonton Transit Services (ETS) provides public transportation via the light rail transit (LRT) and busses.

Light Rail Transit

The Capital Line, Metro Line, and Valley Line LRT routes connect many of Edmonton's top venues such as Rogers Place, Commonwealth Stadium, the Edmonton EXPO Centre, and the Edmonton Convention Centre. With plans to extend the LRT lines to the Quarters and West Edmonton Mall, getting around our city has never been easier!

Bus Transit

With routes all over town, you can get around to all corners of the city. Either use one of the regular routes and schedules or use the On Demand Transit service for those harder-to-reach spots. For those who are unable to use regular transit, you can use the Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS).

ARC Card

Edmonton Transit Services (ETS) uses a pay-as-you-go system, so you will need an ARC Card to use the busses and LRTs.

How the ARC card works:

• Purchase an ARC card at one of the several locations around the city, or order to get it mailed to you.
• Register your account online (optional).
• Add money to your account either online or in-person
• When boarding a bus, tap the card on the card reader as you get on. When leaving a bus, tap the card on the card reader as you step off.
• When boarding an LRT, tap the card on the card reader at the station before you get on. When leaving, tap the card reader at the station you got off at.
  

That's it! Skip the headache of parking fees and driving through traffic and go take in all the city has to offer!

Cycling and E-Scooters

With more than 160 km of river valley trails and numerous bike lanes across the city (and more planned to be installed over the next few years), commuting in Edmonton by bike is easier than ever. Shared, pay-per-minute bicycles and e-scooters can be found in most parts of the city with companies such as Lime, Bird, and Neuron. For longer rides, you can rent all sorts of bikes from River Valley Adventure Co.. Make sure to follow the city's cycling laws on your ride to ensure everyone stays safe!

New to cycling as a form of commuting? Bike Edmonton is a non-profit organization that has been educating the community on cycling in Edmonton for over 40 years. Attend a winter cycling workshop, get second-hand parts for your bike, or bring your bike in to learn how to repair and maintain your bike!