The Oil Sands Discovery Centre, 515 MacKenzie Boulevard, +1 780 743-7167, (http://www.oilsandsdiscov...). September 4 - May 13, 10AM-4PM, closed Mondays. The Centre offers an insight on the rapid pace of development happening north of the city. In addition it explains the history of the oil sands, how the oil sand is mined and converted into product, and future ways of extracting the oil sand. The Discovery Centre also shows exhibits of machines that are used to process the oil sand.
Fort McMurray Tourism, 1-800-565-3947, (http://www.fortmcmurrayto...), schedules tours of Syncrude or Suncor, the main oil sand plants, from May to September. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance one week to 10 days advance booking recommended. Children under 12 are not allowed on the tour.
Aurora Borealis, the "Northern Lights" are a must see in Fort McMurray. Tours guides such as Alta-Can Aurora Tours 1-780-452-5187 (http://www.altacan.ab.ca/), Aurora Adventures 1-780-799-3329 (http://www.aurorabedandbr...), and Aurora Tours 1-780-334-2292 (http://www.picturetrail.c...) can arrange viewings of the elusive lights.
