A visit to TELUS World of Science – Edmonton is always a hit with our family! Since it had been way too long between visits, we were all excited for a fun afternoon of checking out what was new and exciting. From the fun and interactive exhibits to the immersive theatre shows, there are so many great things to explore and discover when you visit.
1) Exciting Feature Exhibits
Our first stop was to check out the latest feature exhibit: James Cameron – Challenging the Deep. Here you are immersed in artifacts and video footage from Cameron’s record-breaking dive into the deep sea. See the actual Deepsea Challenger he helped co-design and co-engineer, and learn more about what drove his passion for ocean science and exploration.
Fans of The Titantic will also enjoy seeing the selection of props and models from the hit film. Whether you are a fan of the movie or not, this exhibit was a fascinating look at what inspires James Cameron as both an explorer and filmmaker.
2) Hands-on Science Fun
Next up, we spent the most time by far in the interactive Science Garage. This main floor exhibit houses all types of hands-on activities and exploration for visitors young and old. My daughter loved figuring out how to make parachutes fly up the wind tube, my son enjoyed building a path down the magnetic marble wall, and we all enjoyed building and testing our own windmills against each other.
We also had fun at all the small hands-on challenges found throughout the hallways and open spaces of the science centre. You don’t need to go more then a few steps to discover something interesting and get those scientific gears going in your head! For those a little leary of all the touch points, rest assured there is always a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby.
3) An Indoor Playground for the Little Ones
Curiouscity is an amazing indoor playspace for the kids aged 6 and under. Sadly my kids have aged out of Curiouscity, but they definitely have enjoyed it on visit’s past. It has moved and expanded over all the years, but some old favorites – like the airplane playhouse and luggage check – have remained. Parents will also appreciate that there is plenty of seating to sit back and relax as you let the kids run of some energy.
4) Lights and Laser Shows
I think MY favourite part of the science center is watching a show in the Zeidler Dome! This unique planetarium theatre immerses you right into the show as 10K resolution projections move on the dome above and all around you. We got quite a laugh when both kids stood up mid-way through and had a discussion on whether the room was actually moving or not. There’s usually a selection of 2-3 show options on the daily schedule, and it is all included in your daily admission ticket – just make your way up to the theatre and grab yourself a spot in one of the comfy recliners!
5) Journey to Infinity and Beyond
It should be no surprise that a big section of the TELUS World of Science is dedicated to space discovery – afterall, at one point the building named the Edmonton Space and Science Centre. There’s all kinds of fun to see and discover including a revolving planet earth, video game rover landing simulation, a fun foam rocket shooting section and the Destination: Moon 3D theatre. Named the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, this spaces houses all things Stars, Planets, Astronauts, Comets, Etc.
6) An Impressive Rock Collection
Do you have a little rock collector in the family? In the Nature Exchange your child can bring in their own found treasures for further research and examination, then trade it in for points. Once they’ve made enough trades and accumulated enough points, they can then shop from the selection of unique items in the Trading Centre and bring home a treasure like an amethyst rock or piece of meteorite!
Even if you are not there to trade, there are all kinds of great artifacts and natural items to discover in the field station! Learn more by examining items under the microscope, or spend some time observing real animals like sugar gliders, a corn snake and a tarantula in the Animal Zone.
7) The LARGEST IMAX Screen in the province!
TELUS World of Science is proud to house Alberta’s largest IMAX movie screen. Choose from an ever changing selection of science focused titles, or watch for special showings of recent blockbuster hits like The Matrix or Spiderman. Tickets to the IMAX shows are an additional charge and can be booked online or at the front box office – with or without admission to the science centre. For extra family fun, also keep an eye out for the special IMAX PJ Party events.
8) The Purple Pear Restaurant & Galaxy Gift Shop
Although you can certainly bring in your own food and drinks, we planned to have lunch at the on-site Purple Pear Concession. Much of the menu is your standard concession choices like burgers and chicken fingers, but it definitely has it’s own fresh and elevated spin. Since my husband works right in the area, he will even stop in sometimes for lunch because the burger is that good!
Adjacent to the dining area, the Galaxy Gift Shop also has an all new location in the grand mezzanine. It has a great selection of science themed items and local products if you are looking for a unique gift or souvenir.
9) An All NEW Health Zone opening February 16
The Science Centre has been under renovations for the past couple years and is working on expanding to be an even bigger and better attraction for Edmonton & visitors to enjoy. On February 16, 2022 they will be opening an all new Health Zone exhibit in the Allard Family Gallery. Here guests will explore the human body with hands-on experiences and experiments like seeing and hearing a heartbeat, testing your flexibility or learning about DNA extraction. We can’t wait to check it our on our next visit!
What do you look forward to most on your visit to the Science Centre? Whether it is your first visit, our your 50th visit, there is always something new and exciting to discover at TELUS World of Science -Edmonton. The whole family can get in on the fun with the wide array of interactive exhibits, and kids will have so much fun that they won’t even know they are learning.
TELUS World of Science – Edmonton:
When: Open Wednesday to Sunday; Closed Monday & Tuesday
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 11211 142 Street NW, Edmonton
Website: www.telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca
