Mysask411 Road Trip: Southwest Saskatchewan
We’re embarking on a four-month road trip and want to bring you along! Every good road trip needs a couple things: good places to eat and unique stops along the way (as well as the right tunes but we’ll let you handle that part).
Follow along at the beginning of every month as we travel to a new area of Saskatchewan on Mysask411 and highlight unique places to visit and hidden gems on our socials. First up is the southwest corner of the province.
It doesn’t matter where you come from, once you arrive in Cypress Hills you’ll be amazed at how different the landscape is from the surrounding area. Since the Hills sit between the preglacial ancestors of the South Saskatchewan and Milk River drainages, the hills were spared the strongest erosional forces resulting in high plateaus. While you are driving around taking in all the sights we encourage you to check out a couple hidden gems. The Rockin Horse is a family-owned restaurant and market. Stop in for a yummy meal or pick-up frozen or fresh meals to go. Fresh baking completes this homey cookhouse at the foot of Cypress Hills. Another hidden gem in the Cypress Hills area is B C Cafe. Located on Jasper St. in Maple Creek, this café offers a mix of Chinese and western food. Stop in for a cup of coffee and stay for a meal!
The Great Sandhills are a unique phenomenon covering 1,900 square kilometers. The large mass of sand and dunes is ever changing as strong winds reshape the landscape. Some of the dunes stand 15 to 20 meters high so you’ll work up an appetite as you explore, and when you do make sure to check out these local businesses: Mei’s Kitchen is just north on the highway in Leader. Mei’s offers Chinese and western cuisine and caters to any size of group. If you feel like putting your feet up and enjoying a drink head to Halftime Huddle Family Restaurant and Sports bar. Come and enjoy a meal, dessert and watch the game!
Fossils at Grasslands National Park
Have an adventure at Grasslands National Park! The park is known for dinosaur fossils, the mass extinction boundary, tipi rings and bison drive lanes. Activities include camping, walking trails, guided tours, programs and workshops and wildlife watching. One fun activity planned this summer is the Fossil Fever event that runs from August 13-17, 2024. When you need a break from digging for fossils check out the Grasslands Inn. The locals rave about the buffet style wing nights that include a good selection of flavour choices. If you’re craving breakfast, Deb’s Country Kitchen makes homemade bacon and sausage with breakfast all day. They also serve homemade burgers and pizzas to take you back to Grandma’s kitchen!
Located in Chaplin, Saskatchewan, the Nature Centre is the perfect spot for all bird lovers. The Nature Centre was first established in 1997 when Chaplin-Old Wives-Reed Lakes received a designation of Hemispheric Importance (one of only three in Canada). With 45,000 acres of important shorebird habitat, this saline water body can exceed 60,000 in one day. If you’re interested in a day tour, Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation offers the Chaplin Shorebirds Tour from Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current or Saskatoon. Before you jump on the road after your tour make sure you pop into Betty’s Rustic Café. Breakfast, lunch and ice cream are served daily. Supper is available a couple times a week. Check out the Facebook page for details.
As you travel around Saskatchewan and check out unique places and hidden local businesses make sure you keep Mysask411 handy. A quick business or category search will help you find what you’re looking for.
Safe travels!
-Sarah Elchuk is a member of the Revenue Growth Team at Directwest