When is Edmonton's off-season?

My friend and I are planning a trip to Edmonton, Canada, to visit the West Edmonton Mall. Can you tell me when the off-season is in Edmonton? I've looked everywhere for the information. Also, is there an attraction there that we shouldn't miss? R.G. Nashua

You've probably had trouble because, according to Edmonton, there is no off-season. Alberta's provincial capital is touted as a four-season destination and it has the schedule of events to prove it. There are at least 30 festivals planned throughout the year, from fringe to cowboy poetry, bluegrass to ice sculptures -- though summer is the favored tourist season.

Weather might not be an issue, though, if your main reason for going is the largest mall in North America. You could spend your entire trip there and never have to leave. There are 800 shops, 650 slot machines, 443 hotel rooms, 110 restaurants, 25-plus amusement park rides (including the newest roller coaster, the Galaxy Orbiter), about 20 waterslides, and one lake, live coral included, all in a space that would hold 115 US football fields.

But the city and its nearby environs have other claims to fame, including the largest concert organ in Canada, the world's largest Easter egg, the biggest mallard, the largest pierogi (though Albertans spell it "pyrogy"), and the world's first UFO landing pad. Aside from the kitschy roadside attractions, Edmonton also deserves bragging rights for its proximity to some spectacular natural wonders. Not only is it bordered by national parks east and west, but it also is only a three-hour drive from Jasper National Park, a World Heritage Site complete with hot springs, raging waterfalls, and over 745 miles of hiking trails.

Got a travel-related question? Send it to Hillary Geronemus, travel editor at Body + Soul magazine, at Hillary Q&A