I made a getaway to Medicine Hat, Alberta, last week to check out some of the fun things Canada's sunniest city has to offer!
I went on some self-guided tours of downtown and other parts of the city where I had a chance to check out murals, public art, historic buildings, and local, independent coffee shops (try the root beer godfather from Station Coffee Co. on 2 St SE), and I also had a chance to learn more about Medicine Hat's connection with First Nations in the area with the Indigenous Spaces and Places tour, which starts from the Saamis Tepee just off HWY 1, and takes you to places like Strathcona Island Park, Police Point Park, and other locations throughout the city. I also took a ride on the Sunshine Trolley, which takes you to many cultural and historical landmarks in Medicine Hat, including the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre and Medalta in the Historic Clay District.
The highlight of my trip was getting a chance to experience the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede for the first time. The summer celebration made its return in full force for the first time since 2019 and featured three days of pro rodeo action, free entertainment from the West Coast Lumberjacks and Spruce Meadows Prairie Dogs, among others, and tremendous night shows, including an awesome hometown show for one of Canada's top country artists, MacKenzie Porter!
If you've never been to Medicine Hat before, or you have many times already, I hope you do get a chance to do what I did and really explore the city and experience some new things. Thanks to Tourism Medicine Hat for helping me out on my journey, and you can plan your own Medicine Hat getaway by visiting their website, or you can see them the next time you're in the city at the Visitor Information Centre at 330 Gehring Rd SW.
Don't forget, you still have a chance to win a vacation getaway to Medicine Hat courtesy of Tourism Medicine Hat which includes a hotel stay, gas and restaurant gift cards, $100 to spend at the visitor centre gift shop, and four passes to the Sunshine Trolley, Medalta and the Big Marble Go Centre! Click this link for more details and your chance to win!