free things to do in yellowknife

FREE THINGS
TO DO IN YELLOWKNIFE
CITY HALL & SOMBA K’E
CIVIC PLAZA
Somba K’e Civic Plaza is a prime picnic spot.
Visit the Tuesday afternoon farmers market,
plus the odd performance. Check out the lobby
display in City Hall and pick up some brochures.
In the winter enjoy a public skating rink, oval and
heated change rooms. yellowknife.ca
THE NWT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Learn about how decisions are made in the
NWT and check out our unique territorial mace.
Free guided tours. Self-guided audio tours are
available during opening hours . To book tours for
large groups call 1-800-661-0784 or
867-669-2230. Hours: Mon-Fri 7am - 6pm;
Sat-Sun 10am - 6pm. assembly. gov.nt.ca
THE PRINCE OF WALES
NORTHERN HERITAGE CENTRE
The museum houses artifacts and collections
from across the Northwest Territories, as well as
historical archives from the Northwest Territories.
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am-5pm. 867-873-7551.
pwnhc.ca
NWT DIAMOND CENTRE
Discover how diamonds are mined in the NWT.
Free diamond polishing demonstrations Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays, 2:30-3:30pm.
5105 49th Street, 867-920-7108.
PILOT’S MONUMENT
Overlooking Old Town and Latham Island, this
monument pays tribute to the North’s early bush
pilots. From here, watch floatplanes land on
Great Slave Lake; it’s got the best view of the
city year-round.
BUFFALO AIRWAYS
Book a tour of the Northern airline’s fleet, made
famous on the National Geographic Television
show, Ice Pilots NWT. Call 867-873-6112 and ask
for the AirWear store to book a tour. Available
year-round, Tues - Fri.
www.buffaloair.com / [email protected]
YELLOWKNIFE DUMP
Accessed from Highway 4, the dump is one of
Yellowknife’s quirkiest attractions, and the place
to salvage furniture, household items and more.
MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM CLASSICS
ON STAGE YELLOWKNIFE (COSY)
Offers free concerts at the Prince of Wales
Northern Heritage Centre. Check out their
website for upcoming events.
Cosyyellowknife.com
[email protected]
TOBOGGANING
The City maintains three slip-sliding snow hills
at 51st Avenue, Bristol Pit and Parker Park.
SKIING & SNOWSHOEING
Bring your skis, or rent them at Overlander
Sports, and head out on any of our numerous
lakes and trails; favourite spots are Yellowknife
Bay and Vee Lake. Tip: you’ll find lots of
snowmobile tracks along the trails. Follow them.
OLD TOWN
For the architecture or history buff, check out
Yellowknife’s historic lakefront district, Old Town.
The Wildcat Café and Weaver & Devore are two
of our founding businesses. Yellowknife’s first
bank still stands, a little log cabin on Otto Drive.
THE WOODYARD AND RAGGED
ASS ROAD
At the base of School Draw Avenue, near Old
Town, are Willow Flats, Peace River Flats and the
Woodyard, Yellowknife’s original neighbourhoods.
Pick up a self guided Old Town Heritage Walking
Tour brochure at City Hall or the Visitors Centre.
MCMAHON FRAME LAKE TRAIL
One of the few walking trails maintained yearround, Frame Lake offers spectacular views of
the surrounding wilderness. After that, check
out Tin Can Hill, near the old Con Mine site.
OUTDOOR MINING HERITAGE
MUSEUM
Located near Giant Mine’s “A” shaft and the
Great Slave Cruising Club’s public boat launch.
Here, you can find ore cars and train tracks,
loading machinery, old photos from the mine’s
heydays and more. Pack some snacks and
enjoy them at the nearby picnic tables.
BRISTOL MONUMENT
In homage to the North’s aviation history,
the Bristol freighter, once operated by
Wardair, now overlooks Highway 3 near
Yellowknife Airport. In 1967, it became the
first plane to land at the North Pole, and three
years later, it was donated to the city as a
monument. It has stood in this spot ever since.
Your culture and information one-stop-shop.
Take a tour of the city with a free bike rental.
Summer hours:
Mon - Sun 8:30 am - 7:00pm
Winter hours: Mon - Fri, 8:30am - 5:30pm;
weekends and holidays 10am - 5pm.
Phone: 877.881.4262 / 867.873.4262
Email: [email protected]
Website: visityellowknife.com
Photo credits at yellowknife.ca
THE NORTHERN FRONTIER
VISITORS CENTRE