Moving to Edmonton

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

I lived in Edmonton for two years. I liked it. But I really wished I was closer to the mountains or some decent lakes. I'd even like to try Lethbridge someday, Waterton Lakes National Park is the best kept secret in Alberta. It's spectacular, and so different than Banff and Jasper. Close to great Montana spots too.

Do not try Lethbridge until you are in your 60's and just want to disappear in a quiet place! It's becoming a retirement city and it's by far the most boring city in Alberta. The only thing it has going for it is the mild weather but even at that you have to live with lots of wind. My dad lives there and I barely visit him because I can sit at home and stare at a wall and generate the same amount of excitement that Lethbridge offers.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I have been to Denver a bunch, and other than mountains on the outskirts of town, don't think they are a like.

You are one of the first people I've ever heard say that. Their downtown is basically a mirror image to Calgary's in my opinion. Similar vibe as well. Maybe a little more going on from an arts perspective.

[Erick Estrada]

Mountains are closer in Denver and I would say more picturesque because of it's close proximity to the mountains, it's older and has more mature trees and is greener. It's actually one of the more underrated US cities as its pretty nice.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Mountains are closer in Denver and I would say more picturesque because of it's close proximity to the mountains, it's older and has more mature trees and is greener. It's actually one of the more underrated US cities as its pretty nice.

I love Denver. Would have no problem moving there. Definitely more lush than Calgary, but they have less harsh winters and are not as in much of a desert-like climate as Calgary. Lack of green/trees in the summer here is a major downfall of Calgary.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I love Denver. Would have no problem moving there. Definitely more lush than Calgary, but they have less harsh winters and are not as in much of a desert-like climate as Calgary. Lack of green/trees in the summer here is a major downfall of Calgary.

See and I disagree with you here.


Denver is in a "desert-like" climate. Water shortage is an issue, at least that is what my family that live there say. The landscape upon which Denver sits is very dry.

I should clarify, that this past year has been good, but up till then is was very tense.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I love Denver. Would have no problem moving there. Definitely more lush than Calgary, but they have less harsh winters and are not as in much of a desert-like climate as Calgary. Lack of green/trees in the summer here is a major downfall of Calgary.

That's one thing Edmonton has on Calgary is that it's much more green and lush in the summer.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

See and I disagree with you here.


Denver is in a "desert-like" climate. Water shortage is an issue, at least that is what my family that live there say. The landscape upon which Denver sits is very dry.

I should clarify, that this past year has been good, but up till then is was very tense.

The average rainfall and snowfall for the two cities almost mirror image each other per the weather network. Denver just seems much more lush to me. Not sure why. Maybe it's due to humidity. When I've been there in the summer it seems much more humid to me than in Calgary. Nothing to back that up, just feels that way to me.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's one thing Edmonton has on Calgary is that it's much more green and lush in the summer.

Yup. The River Valley is very nice there.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

The average rainfall and snowfall for the two cities almost mirror image each other per the weather network. Denver just seems much more lush to me. Not sure why. Maybe it's due to humidity. When I've been there in the summer it seems much more humid to me than in Calgary. Nothing to back that up, just feels that way to me.

It was only in July 2015 that Colorado "left" a drought standing. They had been in one since 2010.


My experience talking to family and their friends is that Denver and surrounding areas were very very dry.

[V]

Yeah, Denver has had a real problem with drought for the last number of years. It was becoming a huge problem for the water utility.

[V]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I'm a frequent mountain tripper but even when if I can't make it out just waking up and seeing them on a crystal clear morning from my home it's just relaxing for me.

I won't complain about hot weather but didn't like those hot stretches last summer where the sunny haze just blocked everything out.

Even if I thought Calgary and Edmonton were similar, the mountains just tip it so far in yyc's favour.

I guess it depends where you live. I lived in Whitehorn and never saw the mountains unless I left the city. It was beautiful when you did see it, though. I do miss it. It's the only thing I miss, though. Inside the city there's just so much more to do here.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Yup. The River Valley is very nice there.

Nearly every city ever built is in a river valley. Calgary has two.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by V

I guess it depends where you live. I lived in Whitehorn and never saw the mountains unless I left the city. It was beautiful when you did see it, though. I do miss it. It's the only thing I miss, though. Inside the city there's just so much more to do here.

What exactly is there more to do? Honest question.

And yeah, it obviously depends on the specific angle of view you have, but they're very visible from Calgary. You can see them quite clear as far as Strathmore driving in from the east.

[V]

Yeah, our kid's school was out by Chestermere, so it was always nice to head out east to see the mountains. Trust me, I loved the mountains more than most, but I mostly had to leave the city if I wanted to see them. It depended, of course, there are some spots on the Deerfoot that have a glorious view, and the more west you go the better your odds of seeing the mountains, but when you live in the NE, and spend most of your time in the east, you don't see the mountains a whole lot.

Anyways, to answer your question, I can only say for myself that there's way more to do here inside the city, so you're going to get my slant on it. I'm no shill for Edmonton tourism, so I'm sure they have a different take on it. Just like anyone in Edmonton, I start with the river valley, because it really is world class. Back before we had kids my wife and I would go for 8 hour walks along the river, from downtown to Fort Edmonton Park and back, and never feel like we were in the city. Biking, running, snow shoeing, cross country skiing is all amazing in the river valley, and all things I do on a fairly regular basis. I never did that in Calgary becaue it never really feels like you left the city.

It's not just the big acts that don't come to Calgary. Edmonton and area have fantastic little theatres that put on acts that you just can't see in Calgary. When the Montreal Guitar Trio came to town they didn't go to Calgary. They aren't going to sell out the Jack Singer, so they don't seem to have much of another option in Calgary.

I don't remember anything like Hawrelak Park in Calgary. The outdoor skating there is awesome and I go multiple times a year with the kids. They also have an awesome Silver Skate festival every winter that I don't remember seeing rivalled in Calgary.

Speaking of which, the festival scene in Edmonton is awesome, any season. In Calgary you get a bunch of whining about traffic on a lazy Sunday if they try to do something, here they shut down entire portions of downtown for a festival.

The Alberta Art Gallery here is amazing, and I don't think anything in Calgary rivals it. I also don't think Calgary has remotely the quantity or quality of galleries as Edmonton.

Funny, I know AlpineOracle said we're a bunch of blue collar rednecks, but I also think you see significantly more leftist artsy hippy types too. The arts scene here is so good.

The Leg grounds are really nice too, multiple times per year we'll be there wading in the pool or bbq-ing in the park. I don't remember doing that in Calgary.

Anyways, that's my take. I think part of why I didn't do much in the city in Clagary was because the mountains were a big part of my life, so if I did something it was usually in Kananaskis. Man do I miss Kananaskis.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I've lived close to edmonton for the last 10 years after living in Calgary most of my life and those are 2 very good points. Golf is way more affordable and you can stay out all night in a tshirt and shorts.

Uhh, you can do that here too....from July 25-30.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by V

To virtually everyone in the city the proximity to mountains isn't a big deal. So few people ever make it out to the mountains, it's such a waste.

However, for me, it was a huge thing to get used to. I went to the mountains at least once a month when I lived in Calgary. 45 minutes from my door to climbing Mount Baldy. Now that I live in Edmonton I just don't go. It was honestly the only thing about moving to Edmonton that was difficult. I don't miss Calgary at all, but I do miss the mountains.

I rarely get out to the mountains, but not a clear day goes by that I don't notice them poking the western sky and think how gorgeous they are.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by V

Funny, I know AlpineOracle said we're a bunch of blue collar rednecks, but I also think you see significantly more leftist artsy hippy types too. The arts scene here is so good.

I actually don't think he has lived there but made comments based on what he has heard or from brief visits.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Uhh, you can do that here too....from July 25-30.

I was there that week.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I actually don't think he has lived there but made comments based on what he has heard or from brief visits.

Never lived there, but have spent plenty of time there. Didn't say everyone was a blue collar redneck, I said blue-collar atmosphere was much more prevalent there than it was in Calgary. Edmonton is the service/labour component of the oil and gas industry whereas Calgary is the corporate management/financial services component of the oil and gas industry. Edmonton also seems to have a lot more people that work up North that make the City there home base for their family then Calgary does. The cities attract two different type of workers.

[Lubicon]

For what it's worth the split between white collar and blue collar workers is almost identical in the two cities. The difference is Calgary white collar is mostly private sector while Edmonton's white collar workforce has a much larger public sector component due to the Provincial government departments.