Black - Saskatchewan book of musts: the 101 places every Saskatchewanian must see

Every effort has been made by the author and the editor to ensure that the information in this book is accurate and up-to-date. We revise and update annually yet details can change after a book is published. If you discover any out-of-date or incorrect information in the Saskatchewan Book of Musts, wed appreciate hearing about it via our website: bookofeverything.com

Copyright 2010 by MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book covered by the copyrights hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any request for photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems of any part of this book shall be directed in writing to the Canadian Reprography Collective, 379 Adelaide Street, West, Suite M1, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1S5.

We acknowledge the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage in the development of writing and publishing in Canada

MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc.
232 Lincoln St., PO Box 1142
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
B0J 2C0 Canada

www.bookofeverything.com
info@bookofeverything.com

Cover photo courtesy: Dave Reede Photography
Author photo: Patricia Dawn Robertson
Full-page photos: iStock
Small photos provided by the individuals and/or organizations featured in the book.
Printed and bound in Canada by Transcontinental. Second printing

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Black, D. Grant
Saskatchewan Book of Musts / D. Grant Black

ISBN 978-0-9810941-3-7
1. Saskatchewan--Guidebooks. I. Title.

Saskatchewanians are unpretentious by nature. Maybe our strategy is, why brag about our good fortune in case the rest of Canada hears about it and wants to move here? We certainly dont want to promote the fact that we can drive across people-friendly cities like Regina or Saskatoon in a mere 15 minutes or that sparkling lakes are within easy reach.

Saskatchewan, the Prairies middle child, is possibly better known for producing bushels of grain and populist politicians than as a tourist mecca. Yet with a population of just over a million in a province roughly twice the size of Germany, theres an expansive landscape to explore, vibrant urban areas and a rich cultural history.

For a so-called flat and boring province, humble Saskatchewan boasts a diverse range of terrain and ecosystems. Just witness the Athabasca Sand Dunes Wilderness Park in the north, Grassland National Parks wild Prairie in the south, or the anomalous alpine of the Cypress Hills in the west (the highest point of land in southern Canada between the Rockies and Labrador).

Our 1,000-plus northern lakes are surrounded by boreal forest and Precambrian Shield rock and the entire province is a major migratory route for dozens of North American bird species, including pelicans.

Were Canadas sunniest province and solar-powered Saskatchewanians revel in an average of 260 annual days of sunshine. Of course, it could be either plus or minus 40 at the time, but its still sunshine. Whether in your backyard or gathered around a campfire, the Northern lights and stargazing are our outdoors evening show, with free admission and not a bad seat anywhere.

Ive compiled a mere slice of our provinces often quirky topographical, historical and cultural locations along with just some of our finest farm to fork cuisine. Fourteen dynamic Saskatchewanians also graciously contributed their own Must lists.

Id like to thank my partner in life and in word farming, writer Patricia Dawn Robertson, who put up with my long disappearances in front of the computer, or when I committed the ultimate home office faux pas: talking about this book in the kitchen.

Thanks also to Daryl Demoskoff at Tourism Saskatchewan, and, of course, John MacIntyre, Kelly Inglis and Tim Lehnert at MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc.

Enjoy this handy book of 101 Saskatchewan Musts, your new guide to our land of living skies.

D. Grant Black, October 2009

Piffles Playground... MUST See: Thomas and Deborah Rushs Stellar Urban Nosheries... Nickys... Day At the Museum... MUST Do: Sheila Coles Staycations... Haight-Ashbury with Tilley Hats... The Lawyers Gift... Queen City Oasis... MUST See: Aimee Schulhausers Market to Table Sources... Cathedral Village... Mountie Museum... Surf, Turf & Nightcap... Staging Culture... Friends of the Firkin... Cathedral Village Arts Festival... Scientific Fun House... Subterranean Cinema...

Downtime in the Broadway District... The Meatpackers Gift... MUST See: Patricia Hanbidges Earthy Delights... Toon Towns Castle... The Roxy... MUST See: Andrea Menards City Sanctuaries... Diefenbaker Centre... Lighting the Way... Meewasin Valley Trail... Market Frenzy... Shakespeare on a Golf Course... Nutanas Repertory House... Hokey-Pokey... Riverside Theatre... Star Struck... Foodie Party... Cut Above the Rest... Farm to Fork...

Moose Jaws Oasis... Subterranean Moose Jaw... MUST See: Little Miss Higgins Music Venues... Downtown Moose Spa... MUST See: John Gormleys Top Golf Courses... Renates High Tea... Copper-Clad Caf... Bookworm Festival... Skinny Skis and All... MUST See: Jim Sutherlands Links to Ace... Twisted Trees... Beer Bottle Mountain... Harmonious Heritage Park... Flax Mans Flax House... Who Calls?... Cherries on the Prairies... Wheat Wizard... Thick with Artists... Purple Teeth... Last Stand at Batoche... Fort Fur Trade...

Hot on the Outlaw Trail... Finnish Noah... MUST See: Trevor Herriots Birder Locales... Grasslands Sanctuary... Hurry Hard to the Turner... Saskatchewans Silverado... Roche Percee... Real Prairie Giant... Resort Refuge... Sun Worshippers... More Bricks than Mortar...

Fort Eco-Friendly... Scottys Crib... MUST Do: David Carpenters Ways to Survive a Saskatchewan Winter... Mounties of Fort Walsh... Ski Table Mountain... Bolerama... MUST See: Greg Huszars Shutterbug Locations... Desert Sand... Addisons Soddy... Home of the Startini... Alan Sapp Gallery... A Hobby Gone Bad in the Cypress Hills... Sagebrush Sanctuary... Old Man on His Back...

Captain Pierces Pups... Yorktons Short Flicks... Avian Mecca... MUST See: Gene Makowskys Sideline Escapes... Duck Mountain... Danceland... Soak and Float... Harmonic Getaway... Dancing Sky... Red Teeth... Remember Forget

Canadas Thoreau... MUST See: Guy Vanderhaeghes Historical Haunts... Off the Grid Getaway... MUST Do: Butch Amundsons Favourite Country Kitchens... Boreal Sahara... Paddle Power... Ness Creek... Meet Me at Waskahiganihk... Uranium Country Lodge... Cultural Hub... Big Pike... Volcano Highway... The Lobstick, the Pelican and the Vacationer...

If youve never been to a Saskatchewan Roughriders game, then either youre not a football fan or youve just arrived in Saskatchewan and havent been converted to the unofficial provincial religion yet.