Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is known as the City of Bridges. With a large river dividing the city neatly in half, there are seven bridges that connect the two sides of the city to each other. Although it is a very small city, with just over 200,000 residents, Saskatoon has remained a popular tourist destination. This is partly because it is such a beautiful city. The river that divides the city creates an ecosystem that is much more green and naturally flourishing than many other cities built in the prairies. Saskatoon is the largest city in Saskatchewan and there are a wealth of things to see while you’re in town. Here are five things that shouldn’t be missed…
The Bessborough: This hotel is the centerpiece of the city and a walk through it’s gardens is one of the best treats in town. Situated directly on the banks of the river - the Bes - as they call it locally, is surrounded by green space. During the summer months the parks and sidewalks are packed with tourists and locals enjoying the scenery. Fountains, memorial statues and great food all surround the area and it is easy to get lost enjoying the castle-like architecture of the hotel itself. This also happens to be one of the more popular hotel choices in the area due to its beauty and proximity to local attractions.
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan: One of the largest outdoor Shakespeare Festivals in Canada, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan has gained worldwide recognition as a premiere Shakespearean Theater festival. During the entire summer, a large tent is erected on the banks of the river to play host to this festival, which features two Shakespearean plays each summer. There is also a second, smaller tent, which serves as a bar and a venue for smaller local acts to ply their wares.
The Western Development Museum: There are four different Western Development Museums in the province of Saskatchewan, each focusing on a different part of the heritage of the pioneers that first blazed trails into the prairies. The Saskatoon branch of the WDM is known best for “Boomtown”, a complete recreation of the main street of a a small, pioneer era town. The environment includes completely explorable buildings full of artifacts, such as a period police station.
The Mendel Art Gallery: Located just steps from the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan tent site. The Mendel is the largest gallery in the city and home to some of Canada’s best collections. Exhibitions include work by great Saskatchewan artists of the past and present, as well as featured work by new and emerging artists.
The Train Bridge: For a city called “the city of bridges”, it wouldn’t make sense to not have a bridge on this list. The train bridge is the second most northerly bridge in the city. It is also one of the oldest and the one that trains use to traverse the river. There is a walkway above the bridge that provides unparalleled views of the city and the river.
If Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is your destination, don’t miss out on these intriguing sites. Full of history and creativeness, this beautiful city features an entertaining blend of activities for tourists of all ages.
If you liked this post subscribe to our feed to get regular updates.
This entry was posted on Sunday, July 6th, 2008 at 12:08 am and is filed under North America. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
