Looking for a destination for your summer vacation? Look no further than your own backyard. Summer in Saskatchewan opens up a staggering variety of places to visit and explore.
Among the most popular destinations in the province is the numerous provincial, regional and nation parks that are within our borders says Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Tourism Saskatchewan, Amy McInnis.
“Saskatchewan’s got great, wide open spaces and lakes and waterways. It’s an opportunity for people to connect with nature and disconnect from the busyness of life and reconnect with friends and family,” said McInnis.
“That really positions us well to take advantage of that.”
She explained that the wide variety of landscapes and ecosystems that can be seen by those willing to take roads less travelled are a major draw for visitors and one of the many highlights of summer in the province.
“If you’re driving on (Highway One), you see a very typical view of the province. But if you’re willing to get off the beaten path and go even 20 minutes south of (Highway One) you open up quite a different experience,” said McInnis.
“Whether it’s encountering that sort of Alpine environment and Lodgepole Pine forest in the Cypress Hills or going north of Prince Albert and getting into Prince Albert National Park in Waskeiu area. It’s an opportunity to see a diversity of landscapes in short order.”
It is no secret that much of Saskatchewan is an outdoorsman’s paradise, with seemingly endless wilderness in the northern portion of the province that provides hiking, fishing and hunting opportunities that are the envy of the world.
“We’re very well known for and have wonderful experiences to offer around things like Astro-Tourism. We have dark, clear skies and there’s great opportunities for people to observe, stargaze and watch the Aurora Borealis,” she said.
“There are certain areas in the province that are quite well-known for that. Grasslands National Park and Cypress Hills in the Southwest, they’re both dark sky preserves designated as such.”
McInnis notes that in August the Saskatchewan Star Party takes place in both of those locations, and that it is not uncommon to see people gathered with photography equipment and telescopes taking advantage of the lack of light pollution.
“There are lots of public lectures and things like that, it’s a really passionate community because Saskatchewan us just a natural spot for those folks that are really interested in it.”
A growing sector in Saskatchewan tourism is the in the field of Indigenous tourism, which is drawing a high level of interest from both international and domestic travelers who are seeking out indigenous experiences.
The opportunities provided by this sector include teepee-style camping outside of Fort Carleton, bike and ATV tours with a fantastic view and cultural programming that provides an educational component to their visitors.
Of course, a major and often greatly anticipated stop during a journey will be for food, and Saskatchewan is home to many culinary destinations.
“Obviously, food brings people together and it’s a way to tell stories and say welcome across the province which is really known for its hospitality,” said McInnis.
“The Chef Series at Over the Hill Orchards near Lumsden have become incredibly popular. It’s an opportunity to not only experience different chefs and different tasting menus, but to hear the story (of these locations).”
She notes the new tours at Prairie Bee Meadery located just outside Caron as a place that is worth checking out, specifically mentioning the recently expanded programming on offer.
“We are the breadbasket of Canada, and we are growing amazing things here. It’s kind of a natural extension that we would have these sorts of more farm-to-table experiences,” said McInnis.
The staggering variety of destinations and experiences offer have allowed Saskatchewan’s tourism sector to continue to grow and draw in visitors to the province, with revenue from tourism in the year 2022 sitting at $2.4 billion and growing to $2.85 billion by 2023. As the income from tourism continues to climb so do the economic benefits to the communities.
McInnis notes that domestic tourism to the province was up 21 per cent in 2023 and is expected to continue growing as people resume their travels in earnest as we get further away from the pandemic.
If you plan on touring Saskatchewan and need help selecting destinations or finding out what is going on in a region of your choosing, McInnis encourages visitors to use their visitor services team.
“We do have a really experienced visitor services team standing by from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day. If anyone needs any travel planning assistance, they do live chat off of our Tourism Saskatchewan website and they are available by phone and e-mail as well,” said McInnis.
“If you’re going to a certain part of the province and you need some suggestions, they can provide both.”