Any bird will tell you that come summertime, looking down on Saskatchewan is akin to staring at a brightly colored patchwork rug with the yellow and gold of the canola and wheat fields, the soft brown of the barley fields and the rich green of the boreal forests providing the basis of this vibrantly colored weave.
Some 10,000 lakes across the province reflect the rich blue hue of the skies above, adding further to Saskatchewan’s varied color scheme. Come wintertime, the vistas change as snow covers large areas in pristine white blankets, with the evergreen flora often offering the only punctuation for miles on end.
Regina is the provincial capital, an unassuming destination with more in common with a small prairie town than a big city. Head here expecting simple pleasures and the perks of a friendly, intimate urban environment and you won’t be disappointed. Come expecting big thrills and bells and whistles and it’s likely you will be.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Museum is among the few manmade attractions that Regina can boast of—interesting enough if you like that kind of thing but a sure aid to curing insomnia if you don’t. The Saskatchewan Science Center is a tad more mainstream in its appeal and likely to please all members of the family.
From Regina it’s easy to hop in the car and take a jaunt to the Big Muddy Badlands in the south of the province. Stop the car and hit the walking trails in forest areas that once gave refuge to notorious outlaws. Dodge behind trees and pretend with you are Dutch Henry, Coyote Pete, Sam Kelly or the Sundance Kid on the run from the law or a bounty hunter.
After playing cowboys, it’s on to Indians at the Grasslands National Park, the destination at which Chief Sitting Bull took refuge in the wake of the infamous battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Grasslands is unique in that it’s the only Canadian national park to incorporate prairie territory. It’s also home to some fascinating flora and fauna, with prickly pear cacti and red samphires and birds such as the Sprague’s pipit.
Saskatoon is the biggest city in the province and a fairly lively location with the romps of its local student population helping to increase its cred among younger visitors. Older visitors and those not interested in hedonistic pursuits can take themselves and their cultural inquisitiveness to venues such as the Ukrainian Museum of Canada and the Western Development Museum.
Urges for physical activity are taken care of by the 13 miles of riverbank trails offered by the Meewasin Valley. This picturesque conservation area passes through beautifully landscaped parks and flora-rich natural spaces, offering excellent opportunities for serious hiking or just a pleasant afternoon stroll.
If you’re feeling lazy and the only thing you desire to move is your eyes, then park your buns down on a seat at one of the many pleasant little cafés in Saskatoon’s Broadway shopping district and enjoy the people-watching opportunities over a leisurely latte or two.