Mysask411 Road Trip: Central Saskatchewan
Welcome back for month two of our road trip! We hope you enjoyed the great places we visited last month. This month we’re travelling through the central part of the province and will be exploring rivers, forests and Heritage sites. Start the car!
Sand Dunes at Douglas Provincial Park
Located along Lake Diefenbaker, Douglas Provincial Park is known for water activity, recreation opportunities and most importantly large sand dunes. The sand dunes are a bit of a hike and only accessible from the “Dunes Trail” (2.85 km) or “Cacti Trail” (4 km). Similar to Cypress Hills, the sand dunes are what is left of an ancient lakebed that was frozen over during the last ice age. Whether you are camping, fishing or boating in the park, make sure you hit up the Store by the Shore. This store has a lot to offer and a full menu of take-out items including breakfast, salads, burgers, pizza and ice cream. Confectionary, camping/fishing supplies and laundry services are also available. If you’re craving a burger, head northwest to the tip of Lake Diefenbaker to try BeachSide Burgers. They carry everything you would expect in a burger joint as well as milkshakes!
Touted as “a tourist gem located in the prairies”, the Watrous and Manitou Beach area has something for everyone! The lake is best known for its healing mineral waters and buoyancy which is a result of the water having salt content five times higher than the ocean. Floating in Little Manitou Lake is something everyone needs to try! The unique water is not the only cool find in the area. If you’re down by the shore and need a meal, make sure you check out Burger Buoy, Watercrest Café or the Water’s Edge Restaurant and Lounge. Each unique restaurant has a variety of delicious food and drink options. A hidden gem, located in Manitou Springs, is Manitou Springs Giftware. Featured in the store are beauty and wellness products created with salts and minerals taken from Little Manitou Lake.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park is located above the South Saskatchewan River and the Opimihaw Creek near Saskatoon. Visiting Wanuskewin allows visitors a chance to travel into the past and see what life was like pre-contact for the first peoples of the Northern Plains. Every day the staff offer tours, specialty programs, workshops and celebrations of Indigenous art. Bring your walking shoes and explore more than 6km of trails. The main restaurant in the area is the Wanuskewin Heritage Park Restaurant. With a full menu of breakfast, lunch and supper options you can eat a meal any time of the day. The menu is changed regularly so check the website to see what delicious soups, burgers and sides are available. Our favourite is the Three Sisters Chili.
The Riverhurst Ferry is Saskatchewan’s largest ferry, transporting nearly 30,000 vehicles each season. Measuring 120 feet, the ferry can be found on highway 42 across from Lake Diefenbaker and runs from the east bank of Riverhurst to the west bank of Lucky Lake. Once you’ve enjoyed an exciting ferry ride head over to Birsay Kitchen for a full meal or a cup of coffee and piece of pie. Offering a full menu, complete with numerous bakery items this hidden gem in the beautiful prairies will have you dreaming all year round of when you can return. If your end point is Elbow, SK, make sure you stop in at the Back Home Bakery & Deli. Take-out and dine-in is available for all meals as well as coffee and dessert. The deli is wheelchair accessible and good for kids.
We hope you enjoyed this leg of our road trip. There are endless places to visit in our beautiful province and many local businesses to stop at along the way. Make sure you take in the beautiful Saskatchewan landscape and one or two sunsets as you enjoy your trip.
Safe travels!
-Sarah Elchuk is a member of the Revenue Growth Team at Directwest