Canadaβs sunniest city, Medicine Hat, is your one stop shop for outdoor fun, history, culture, and awesome brews (choose from several indie coffee roasteries and craft breweries).
We drive into Medicine Hat under blue skies. With 330 days of sunshine per year, beautiful weather is practically guaranteed. Our weekend goals are to explore the riverside parks, historic downtown, and museums β and pick up some locally roasted coffee (okay, I confess, the latter is just for me). At the Visitor Centre near the Worldβs Tallest Teepee, Iβm told the Indy Coffee Tour is the best way to experience downtown Medicine Hatβs independent coffee shops. Thereβs also aΒ Downtown Mural Tour if youβd like to explore downtown on foot.
Everything is close in Medicine Hat, so itβs easy to see and do a lot in a short time. Here are our top recommendations for a fun weekend in Medicine Hat with your family.
Friday Night: BBQ+ Escape Room
According to Medicine Hat local, Abby Czibere, Skinnyβs Smoke House is βa mustβ! βI love their poutine β they put bbq sauce on it as well as braised beef and itβs amazing!β she gushes. Their burgers are also highly recommended: βThey really take them to the next level, and they are super delicious.β Skinnyβs is located at the north end of the Medicine Hat so you can grab a bite on your way in to town.
After dinner, head over toΒ Mr. Eβs Solve-it-toriumΒ and see if you canΒ solve the riddles and puzzles to escape from one of three escape rooms. 2-6 players recommended.Β Allow 1 hour per room.
Saturday: Museums, Police Point Park, Dining, and Bowling
Saturday is a good day to visit a museum, as MedAlta and The Esplanade are closed Sundays in the off season (note: MedAlta is open Sundays May long weekend until Labor Day long weekend). Allow 1-2 hours to visit each museum.
MedAltaΒ is a one-of-a-kind ceramics factory turned museum. Exhibits, artifacts, and videos in the original factory buildings show visitors how ceramic products were made and demonstrate the historic significance of the pottery industry to Medicine Hat. Start by punching your time card and checking how many items you need to make on your shift. We were amazed to learn that plates were produced in seconds, and were fascinated by the stories, equipment, and beehive kilns. Whether youβve made something out of clay before or not, it is interesting to see how common household items are made on a large scale. Check the MedAlta Events listing for special events including concerts, art exhibitions, and festivals.
The Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre is a museum, art gallery, and theatre in the heart of downtown Medicine Hat. Check out the permanent Medicine Hat exhibit to learn about the cityβs history, explore the art gallery and traveling exhibits, then attend a concert or performance. The building itself is a work of art which has received several awards; climb the spiral staircase to the rooftop terrace and enjoy the view.
Inspire CafΓ© is a βcafΓ© within a galleryβ that features great coffee, a huge selection of tea, βinspired comfort foodβ and local artwork.
Walk among huge, ancient cottonwood trees (300-400 years old!) atΒ Police Point Park, do some birding (lots of birds nest here, near the river), and visit the Nature Centre. Open 9 am β 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
Rustic Kitchen + BarΒ is one of Medicine Hatβs top rated restaurants and itβs easy to see why. Every dish is lovingly made with locally sourced ingredients. We were lucky to get in without a reservation on Saturday night and loved everything we ordered.
Head toΒ Panorama LanesΒ for Glow Bowling on Friday and Saturday nights (6 pm β close)!
Sunday: Biking, Beer, and Baking
If youβre like me and morning equals coffee time, you should start your day at Poolhouse Cafe and Roasterie. The bright and beautiful cafe is so welcoming, and the roasting coffee beans smell heavenly!
Borrow bikes from the Medicine Hat Visitor Centre and go bikingΒ in the Saskatchewan River Valley. You wonβt run out of places to explore with 115 kilometers of biking and hiking trails! Kin Coulee Park and Strathcona Island Park have nice picnic areas and playgrounds, Police Point Park is a large natural area with good opportunities for birding, Lionβs Park (next to Strathcona Island Park) and Saamis Rotary Park have great playgrounds, Riverside Veteransβ Memorial Park (downtown) has aΒ Cenotaph, two CPR locomotives, mural, and a World War II tank. For more information on city parks and trails, visitΒ City of Medicine Hat. Pathways are cleared, so you can bike year round unless there has been a huge dump of snow.
In the historic downtown, look for murals, do a self-guided Art Walk, and visit historic sites. Next, cross the Finlay Bridge built in 1908 and have lunch at Zucchini Blossom Market & CafΓ©. Their paninis and baked goods are amazing!
In summer.. When it heats up in the afternoon, cool off at Echo Dale Regional Park. The park boasts a sandy beach, paddling pond, fishing pond, concession, and shaded picnic areas. Canoe and paddle boat rentals are available for your convenience. Experienced paddlers can paddle the South Saskatchewan River from Echo Dale to Strathcona Island Park (2-4 hours depending on water levels and paddling experience).
More Fun Things to Do in Medicine Hat & Area
Big Marble Go Centre (formerly Family Leisure Centre)Β is fun any time of year! Enjoy the aquatic parkβs pools, lazy river, waterslide, hot tub, and steam room; join a drop-in class at the Fitness Centre; or enjoy free public skating (sponsored by The Kinsmen Club of Medicine Hat). Check theΒ skating scheduleΒ for details.
Cypress Hills Provincial Park, only 45 minutes away, is Medicine Hatβs playground. Mountain bike, paddle, and enjoy Elkwaterβs sandy beaches in summer; or hike, ski (alpine and nordic), snowshoe, and ice skate in winter. Check out our stories onΒ Summer Fun in Cypress HillsΒ andΒ Winter Fun in Cypress Hills for trip inspiration!
Where to Stay
Hamptons Inn & Suites by Hilton (Expedia affiliate link), located in north Medicine Hat, offersΒ spacious, well appointed rooms and free breakfast. Kids will love the pool and waterslide! Thereβs also a fitness room if you didnβt get enough exercise during the day.
Know Before You Go
Plan to visit the museums on Friday or Saturday. Medalta is closed Sundays and Mondays in the winter. The Esplanade is closed Sundays and holidays year-round.
Getting Here
Medicine Hat is located three hours southeast of Calgary on the TransCanada Highway.
Partnership Disclosure
MedAlta and The Esplanade generously hosted me and my family for review purposes, but all words and opinions are my own.
For More Information
Visit Tourism Medicine Hat for more trip inspiration!
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