Saskatchewan road trip

Indulge in local flavour

Saskatchewan is teeming with regional specialties and creative culinary experiences. Bison, elk and deer are found not only on steak-house menus, but also in burgers and on charcuterie boards, a nod to Indigenous traditions. You can find wild rice in soups and salads, and plenty of Ukrainian comfort food – think perogies, cabbage rolls and kielbasa, all of it assuredly homemade. As this is the breadbasket of Canada, artisanal breads and pastries have ample pedigree, as does local honey. And you can find sweet-tart Saskatoon berries everywhere – in pies, jams, chutneys, even cocktails.

Central Saskatchewan also has a growing food and drink scene. Farm-to-table market and eatery Odla tops the list in Saskatoon, while just south of town, the iconic Berry Barn provides a riverside treat of pies, pancakes and preserves. Trattoria Raccolto – the Italian word for harvest – is a little taste of Italy in Swift Current. And in Regina, top stops include the greenhouse-inspired Skye Café & Bistro in the Saskatchewan Science Centre and the homegrown comfort-food bliss of Avenue Restaurant.

Reach into the past

Twenty minutes north of Saskatoon, Wanuskewin Heritage Park showcases Indigenous culture, archaeological sites and bison trails that advance understanding of the cultures of the Northern Plains Indigenous Peoples. Wanuskewin – the nēhiyawēwin (Plains Cree) word roughly translates as “seeking peace of mind” – has been a sacred site and gathering place for more than 6,400 years. The area was once home to millions of bison, before their near extinction changed the way of life for the people of the plains. Bison were reintroduced at Wanuskewin in 2019.

The park is also home to the longest-running archaeological sites in Canada – almost 20 in all – featuring petroglyphs and evidence of bison jumps and tool-making. Visitors can expect exhibits featuring artifacts and traditional art, many kilometres of walking trails, an immersive Tipi Village experience and stunning views of the Opimihaw Creek valley. Plan ahead to attend one of the workshops the site hosts, focused on crafts, medicine-wheel teaching and cooking.

wanuskewin.com

Take the waters

Just outside the town of Watrous, Manitou Beach is a recreational institution, a landmark for day trips for locals and visitors alike. Remarkably, the water of Little Manitou Lake – “manitou” is Cree for “god” or “supreme,” because the people believe in its healing powers – is five times saltier than the ocean, fed by underground springs that have high contents of the minerals sodium, magnesium and potassium. This gives the lake a salinity about half that of the Dead Sea – you float no matter what! The region’s other claim to fame is historic Danceland, a 465-square-metre step back in time (to 1928, to be exact) with a rare horsehair-sprung maple dance floor.

Dozens of cool summer events make it easy to peg your visit. These include a farmers’ market every Saturday, a flea market every Sunday morning, a chainsaw-carving festival, a busking festival and an annual artist-studio trail. A beer at Mike’s Beach Bar and an ice cream at Burger Buoy are summer rites. And the people at Salty Cinema Drive In Theater are excited about their new projector this year. Birders can nerd out at nearby Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary, seeing spectacular populations of geese, sandhill cranes, ducks and other migrating species – at least 100 in all.

Feast your eyes

From its perch on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, the Remai Modern is one of Canada’s most-talked-about contemporary art museums. Global visitors come for the biggest collection of Pablo Picasso linocuts in the world and stay for the rotating shows of big-name Canadian and international artists. Lectures, workshops and film screenings round out the agenda. 

Regina’s MacKenzie Art Gallery is Saskatchewan’s oldest, featuring both historical and contemporary paintings, sculptures and installations, with a focus on Indigenous art and stories. Take time for the sculpture garden. 

The Godfrey Dean Art Gallery in Yorkton is a big regional hub for visual art, focusing on cultural diversity and contemporary works by Saskatchewan artists, as well as national touring exhibits. It collaborates with multicultural organizations and Indigenous communities to give voice to underrepresented artists. 

The cornerstone of artistic life in southwestern Saskatchewan, the Art Gallery of Swift Current showcases local artists with a mix of solo and group exhibitions.