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Overview

Fort McMurray was incorporated as a city in the year 1980. It became an urban service area located in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada when it was merged with Improvement District No. 143 in 1995 to create the municipality of Wood Buffalo. Many locals and the media still refer to Fort McMurray as a city despite its present official designation as an urban service area. 

Fast Facts 

• The Cree were the dominant First Nations people in Fort McMurray area before Europeans arrived in the later part of the 18th century.

• Peter Pond, the first of the European explorers, came to the area in search of furs. During this period, the demand for fur in Europe was very high.

• Settlers in the Fort McMurray area used oil sands and surface deposits to make their canoes waterproof.

• Alexander MacKenzie, an explorer who came in 1790, first recorded the appearance, properties and use of the oil sands. 

• Fort McMurray was established in 1870 as a post of the Hudson’s Bay Company in order to beat its rival North West Company when it comes to transportation and stopovers. 

Things to Do

Tourism in Fort McMurray is very much alive as this urban service area offers a number of activities that you can engage any tourist. You may avail of various oil sand tour packages and make your reservations earlier because the tours are generally conducted from May to September. If you love nature and you find happiness in bonding with it, you will not get disappointed because Fort McMurray also has kayaking, canoeing, and wilderness escapade offerings that will definitely make your stay in this place worthwhile. In addition to these, golf and stay packages are also in demand at the area’s 3-to-8-hole golf courses. Outdoor adventure junkies, meanwhile, should try booking at the hunting and fishing lodges for an unforgettable experience. When you want to come during the winter season, you can witness breathtaking northern lights in the sky especially at night. You may take a snowmobile tour to view this sight and have a romantic escapade with your special someone. 

Restaurants and Dining

Fort McMurray is home to several good local restaurants. Enjoy a gastronomic feast of different cuisines and discover new ways of appreciating food while touring the urban area. The Mitchell’s Café & Gifts is the most popular eatery in Fort McMurray. It serves the most enticing and palatable soups, sandwiches, pizzas and desserts that could fill up your tummy in no time. Also highly recommended for lunch or dinner is the Fuji Japanese Restaurant if you are looking for a different treat. Locals and tourists love their salmon chirashi, gyoza, and the black sesame and green tea ice cream for dessert. 

Best Hotel Accommodations

Conclude your fun-filled day with a good resting place. Make sure that you have made your reservation in one of the best Fort McMurray hotels or inns. Try the Clearwater Suite Hotel, which ranks number one out of sixteen hotels in the area. It has spa and fitness facilities aside from the usual hotel amenities.