Experience Prairie Life With These Incredible Things To Do In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

These fun and exciting things to do in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, will help you plan an exciting visit to the capital of Saskatchewan.

When the legendary Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip sang “sundown in the Paris of the prairies” in their iconic song “Wheat Kings,” they were speaking about the beautiful city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

This summer marked my third visit to Saskatchewan’s largest city. Saskatoon has always been a city that has intrigued me. Its unique culture, community-forward design, and gorgeous location along the South Saskatchewan River makes it one of the top destinations in the Canadian Prairies. But on my latest visit, I got to truly get down and explore some of the culture, experiences, and attractions that make Saskatoon such an exciting place to visit.

Although Saskatoon not the capital of the province (that honour lies with the southern Saskatchewan city of Regina), Saskatoon is the largest city in Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon rarely ranks among the most sought-after destinations in Canada. The quiet Canadian prairies often get overlooked in favour of Canada’s most famous cities like Vancouver, Toronto, , and Halifax.

But Saskatoon is a city that will surprise newcomers and visitors alike. From its exciting neighbourhoods like 33rd St, with its vintage shops and cafes, to Riversdale, full of exciting restaurants, galleries, and Indigenous shops, Saskatoon overflows with personality.

The city offers a wealth of incredible dining, cultural, outdoor, and entertainment attractions to compete with many of Canada’s most exciting cities. In fact, for those seeking a destination that will greet them with a warm smile and that naturally Canadian wit and humour, Saskatoon might be the perfect place.

There are more than enough things to do in Saskatoon to draw in discerning visitors from across the country and around the globe. And if you dig deep, you might just find that Saskatoon is one of the most underrated destinations in Canada.

A Little Bit About Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Saskatoon is the commercial heart of the Canadian prairies. The city, which sits on the traditional territory of the Métis, has been an important hub for First Nations communities dating back over 8,000 years. In fact, the name Saskatoon comes from the Cree word “misaskwatomina” the name of a sweet, purple berry that still grows in the region.

European settlers began to arrive in Saskatoon in the 1880s, and by the early 1900s, three villages on the south banks of the South Saskatchewan River combined to form what is now the city of Saskatoon.

The city of Saskatoon sits right at the heart of the Canadian Prairies. The wide, flat landscapes ooze prairie charm, and you don’t have to travel far to uncover those mesmerizing rural Saskatchewan landscapes filled with wheat farms and brightly-coloured grain silos.

Saskatoon is a fun, artsy city that’s packed with great attractions and fun things to do for all ages.

The Best Things To Do In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

If you’re looking for great attractions, Saskatoon has you covered. This vibrant city offers culinary, cultural, and urban entertainment that will help keep any visitors occupied, no matter how long a visit they have. These fun and exciting things to do in Saskatoon are just the tip of the iceberg.

Wanuskewin Heritage Park

On my latest visit to Saskatoon, Wanuskewin Heritage Park was at the top of my list of places to visit since it was written about after a HUGE announcement here on We Explore Canada. In recent years this Indigenous park, just minutes from downtown Saskatoon, has garnered huge excitement, not just in Saskatchewan but around the world as well.

The park was added to the list for tentative Canadian UNESCO World Heritage designations and is expected to be inducted by 2025. It hosts the longest-running archaeological dig in Canada. Massive excitement built up with an unexpected discovery in 2020 of Indigenous geoglyphs dug up by the park’s bison herd.

The park contains important archaeological sites that date back more than 6,000 years that show evidence of pre-contact settlements. You’ll also find fantastic cultural programs perfect for the whole family that include Tipi sleepovers, archaeologist talks, and children’s storytime.

I took a fascinating nature walk through the trails where Wanuskewin experts talk about the traditional uses of many of the native plant species that have been re-introduced to the sprawling landscape.

Winter at Wanuskewin Heritage Park is also a delight. Walking and hiking trails are converted to snowshoeing trails, and the park offers delicious outdoor bannock bakes. You can find out more about Wanuskewin Heritage Centre here.

Remai Modern Gallery

Situated right on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, Remai Modern is Saskatoon’s most prestigious art gallery. The gallery, which is the predecessor to Saskatoon’s prestigious Mendell Art Gallery, which closed its doors in 2015, is home to more than 8,000 works of art in a multitude of mediums.

There is also a rotating artists workshop where visitors to the gallery can watch as artists and printmakers work on their craft right on-site. During my visit, printmaker Jillian Ross and her team were working on a series of complex collages for South African artist William Kentridge.

One of the most exciting exhibits at Remai Modern is its large collection of linocuts from famed Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. The gallery actually houses the largest collection of Picasso linocuts in the world!

On my latest visit to Remai Modern, I was introduced to the gallery’s newest exhibit, an Indigenous garden where native plants and their uses are open to visit, touch, and learn about, all through traditional word-of-mouth.

On the gallery’s first floor is one of Saskatoon’s most prestigious restaurants. Hearth was voted among Canada’s top 100 restaurants in 2022. The restaurants focus on simple food done unconventionally which feels right at home in Remai Modern.

I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Remai Modern and discover the gallery in-depth. You can read about that here.

Meewasin Park

Meewasin means “It is Beautiful” or “Beautiful Place” in Cree. And that’s a very accurate description of Saskatoon’s sprawling riverside park. And this was one of the places that I fell deeply in love with in the city. Nearly every morning was spent walking or jogging along the many bridges connecting the east and west banks and stopping to enjoy the many art installations.

This green oasis lies along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, Meewasin Park stretches from Spadina Beach in the south to Whiteswan Dr. in the north. Throughout the park, walking and cycling trails meander through shade trees, picnic areas, and colourful gazebos, creating an urban oasis worthy of some of the best urban parks in Canada.

During the winter, the park switches its focus to embracing the cold weather. Ice rinks and cross-country ski trails crisscross the park, making it a year-round escape for locals and visitors alike.

Experience Glow Standup Paddleboarding with Back2Nature Wellness

If you’re looking for a truly unique nature experience in Saskatoon, Kyla Bouvier, the owner of Back2Nature Wellness, has you covered. Among the range of incredible wellness experiences that she has put together are snowshoeing, sauna, retreats and glow standup paddleboarding.

The glow SUP experience takes place at Blackstrap Provincial Park and uses paddleboards equipped with submersible lights that offer a surreal lighting experience for the paddlers. All of your equipment is provided, so show up and enjoy your time with a Paddle Canada instructor.

Along with paddleboarding outings. Bouvier has also paired up with Saskatoon glamping experience Camp Wolf Willow to offer a guided sauna experience. I had the chance to join her, and it was a blast. The sauna experience is reflective, unpretentious, and engaging.

Sip Your Way Through the Saskatoon Brewery Scene

Saskatoon is packed with some extremely capable breweries crafting unique, delicious, and fun-to-drink craft beer. People come out in droves to support these small businesses, meaning Saskatoon craft breweries are dotted across the city. It’s not just beer, either. You’ll find award-winning spirits and ciders throughout Saskatoon as well.

9 Mile Brewery on 20th St W launched in 2015 and has become a staple in the city, often collaborating with other local brewers to craft spectacular English and Belgian-inspired brews. The brewery was launched by two founders whose farms were 9 miles apart, and their work shows their dedication to their craft and legacy.

Offering an astounding 25 seasonal rotations, Prairie Sun Brewery on Broadway Ave. offers an eclectic range of great beers and is the perfect place for those who are always looking for something new. It’s situated in a bright, comfortable space where folks can enjoy a casual draft with friends or even their dog on their pet-friendly patio.

Shelter Brewing Company is located right in the core of downtown Saskatoon. The brewery features small-batch beers with a focus on quality. You won’t find their brews in stores, so if you want to enjoy some, you’ll need to visit their tap room.

Take An E-Bike Tour With Indigenous-Run The Local Adventure Co.

One of my favourite ways to explore Saskatoon is by bike. Whether you’re a local or a visit, local Métis entrepreneur Candace Evans has an adventure in-store for you through her organization, The Local Adventure Co.

Evans run e-bike and kayaking tours that explore the city and both banks of the South Saskatchewan River. My friends Darby, Jodi, and I joined Evans for a tour that took us through some of the trails of Meewasin Park, which follows the banks of the river.

Meewasin, which means “Beautiful Place” in Cree, lives up to its name. The stunning park has incredible trails, picnic spots, and viewpoints overlooking the river.

Our tour took us across one of the seven bridges that cross the South Saskatchewan River and onto the campus of the University of Saskatchewan where Evans brought us to one of the city’s hidden gems, a sculpture garden hidden away from the main buildings of the university with some truly creative artwork.

Visit The Ghost of the Bessborough Hotel (The Bess)

Saskatoon may not have made our list of the most haunted places in Canada, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its fair share of ghosts and ghouls.

One of the most intriguing places in the city is the historic Delta Bessborough Hotel, a grand railway hotel reminiscent of some of Canada’s most famous Fairmont properties located on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. The hotel, which is one of Saskatoon’s most beautiful architectural wonders, also houses a spectre.

Visitors and staff alike have often reported glimpses of an older man in a grey suit and a fedora wandering aimlessly through the hallways and ballrooms of the hotel.

If you see him, tell him that I said hi!

Feed the Chickadees at Beaver Creek Conservation Area

The Meewasin Valley, which winds in and around the city, is packed with amazing places to get outdoors. It’s no surprise that hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are among the favourite activities in Saskatoon. One of the best places to enjoy nature in Saskatoon is Beaver Creek Conservation Area.

The conservation area offers access to sprawling grasslands which, during the summer, are dotted with colourful wildflowers. Among the hiking trails and creek-side parks are a huge population of friendly chickadees. These tiny birds love to dine on seeds, and if you stand nice and still, they’ll take their meal right from the palm of your hand.

Take a Cruise on the Prairie Lily

One of the best ways to see Saskatoon is aboard the relaxing one-hour cruises offered by the Prairie Lily. This popular Saskatoon riverboat cruise lets visitors take in the beauty of the South Saskatchewan River, backed by the vast prairie skies.

The Prairie Lily hosts sightseeing cruises, sunset cruises, and even dinner cruises. It is one of the most relaxing things to do in Saskatoon and a great way to take in the city’s skyline. The cruise is also a fantastic way to learn about the city, as it includes descriptions of Saskatoon’s history, neighbourhoods, and notable landmarks.

The Prairie Lily books up almost every night, so it’s best to reserve your seats ahead of time. For something truly special, sign up for one of their sunset dinner cruises.

Shop the Saskatoon Farmers Market

Operating since 1975, the Saskatoon Farmers Market has been the go-to destination for farm-to-table ingredients, local handicrafts, and scrumptious baked goods. The market operates year-round on Koyl Ave. Their vendor list changes seasonally, so make sure to check their website to see what’s currently on offer.

Enjoy A Tour of the Lucky Bastards Distillery

If you love spirits, you’ll want to add LB Distillery to your Saskatoon itinerary. The distillery began over holiday drinks back in 2010 and has been serving the Saskatoon community and spirit lovers across Canada ever since. Drop in and enjoy a tour of the LB Distillery. See how the spirits are made on-site and enjoy a tasting of some of their most popular flavours.

Catch A Show At The Red Barn

The Red Barn is the heart of community theatre in Saskatoon. The Barn Playhouse has been hosting live theatre for over 25 years, and guests can add to their fun with wagon rides and dining experiences offering a taste of the prairies.

The Red Barn keeps the warmth running all season long as well, hosting a plethora of both summer and winter festivals.

Meet The Animals at the Saskatoon Forest Park and Zoo

It’s incredible to see just how many fascinating animals live at the Saskatoon Forest Park and Zoo. With a divers stable that includes Red Pandas and Madagascar Ruffed Lemurs, wandering the educational exhibits of this prairie zoo is definitely one of the best things to do in Saskatoon.

The zoo had an unconventional start, beginning as a simple tree nursery. But over the past century, it has grown to become one of Saskatchewans premier ecological sanctuaries as well as Saskatchewan’s only accredited zoo. Over the years, this site has shipped over 147 million trees to countries around the world.

Bike The Trails at Blackstrap Provincial Park

Located just 35 minutes from central Saskatoon, Blackstrap Provincial Park is the go-to destination for mountain bike enthusiasts in the city.

While Blackstrap doesn’t offer the epic verticals of the mountains, there are more than enough challenging courses mixed with fun ups and downs to make this an exciting cycling destination for all skill levels. You won’t find crazy technical challenges, but the courses are varied, fun, and exciting to ride.

Relax with Bannock and Bonfires at Dakota Dunes

Dakota Dunes sits within the Cree Nation Territory, just 25 minutes from central Saskatoon. It is Saskatoon’s only full-service resort, offering golf, beautiful nature, dining, and cultural activities for visitors and locals alike.

Relax into the evening with traditional bannock and storytelling around the outdoor bonfire. A local storyteller will take you through the history of the Dakota people and share personal stories of the history of the land.

Look For The Blue Cat At Saskatoon’s Only Speakeasy

With a motto stating, “If you’re on the lam .. you’re on the level,” Parlor, in downtown Saskatoon, is the perfect place to sneak a snifter while in the city. Known as Saskatoon’s only speakeasy, this subtle nod to the prohibition days is a classic stop for an afternoon drink in the city.

Look for the blue, two-storey building between 20th and 21st on 2 Ave. You’ll know their serving if you see the small blue cat lit up on the bar’s 2nd storey window. Owner Jason Strohan is an award-winning mixologist who uses Parlor to bring his signature drinks to the city’s drink scene.

Enjoy Riverside Glamping At Camp Wolf Willow

Located about an hour north of Saskatoon, Camp Wolf Willow offers riverside camping and glamping that feels like it’s a world away from the skyscrapers in Saskatoon.

This Saskatoon glamping destination has everything you need to fall in love with the outdoors, from hiking trails and traditional camping sites to family-sized yurts and delightful A-Frames that are perfect for couples.

Wolf Willow lets you enjoy the outdoors with a little bit of pizazz as well. Their on-site Wolf-Willow winery and restaurant mean that you don’t need to cook everything over a campfire. Their house-made canned cocktails are absolutely wonderful and are perfect for enjoying under the stars.

Browse The Quirky Shops Of 33rd St.

Every city has that one neighbourhood that locals absolutely love but visitors rarely hear about until after they leave. Well, I was lucky enough to have my friend Darby bring me to 33rd St. for a little retail therapy.

33rd St. in Saskatoon is backed full of quirky antique shops, cafes, and novelty shops. In fact, it’s so popular with the Saskatoon community that the neighbourhood has its own website. Along the four block stretch I was introduced to Vintage Revival shops such as Saskatoon Antique & Brass and Back to Coffee Beans, a quirky shop that is both an antique shop and one of the neighbourhoods most popular coffee shops.

Darby also introduced me to her favourite bakery, Christie’s Bakery, which has been serving fresh bread to the community since 1932!

While 33rd St. is packed full of fun, creative shops, one stood out to me particularly, and I think everyone who has a slightly twisted sense of humour should visit. That store is Glitch.

When I first walked in, I was presented with a typical novelty shop packed with quirky trinkets and gifts. But wandering deeper into the back of the shop, I found one of the weirdest and wackiest museums that I’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring.

There were all sorts of taxidermy oddities, such as two-headed cows and groundhogs playing poker, to unique novelties like the psychic Zoltar from the movie BIG, starring Tom Hanks.

If you want to put some fun into your visit, I highly recommend a visit.

Western Development Centre

It’s not often that I’m happy for a flight delay, but on the last day of my visit to Saskatoon, a flight delay gave me a few extra hours to check out Saskatoon’s Western Development Centre, a museum where visitors can walk through the history of the prairies from the 1800s through to modern times.

Much of the museum is dedicated to the history of Saskatchewan and features an incredibly accurate historic town from the early 1900s including locomotives, antique automobiles, shops, houses, and streets.

The remainder of the museum was an eye-opener. It included an awkwardly tiny section dedicated to Saskatchewan’s Indigenous Peoples, which should really be expanded. It also included a walk-through of the decades up to and including the present. It was somewhat strange to be walking through a museum and see items from my own childhood being represented. Either the museum is thorough, or I’m just much older than I thought!

Now It’s Time to Experience These Things To Do In Saskatoon For Yourself

There are more things to do in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan than meets the eye. From river-side walks and fabulous theatres to the great craft breweries and restaurants, you can find something for everyone in this beautiful region of Saskatchewan.

Many of these businesses and restaurants are anxious for visitors after a tough year. So let’s support local and make the most of your Saskatoon adventure.

Do you have a favourite attraction or restaurant in Canada? Head over to the We Explore Canada Facebook Community and join the conversation! You’ll find an amazing group of people passionate about travel in Canada who love to share their local secrets.

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