The Central Alberta city of Wetaskiwin – Aberta’s smallest city at 12,655 residents – offers a mix of urban amenities and friendly, small-town atmosphere.
Highlights range from the Rawhide Rodeo to the Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. You can even surf the Board Rider at the Manluk Aquatic Centre! For auto race fans, the Edmonton International Raceway, located in Wetaskiwin, hosts the NASCAR 300 lap race.
An extensive park and trail network offers numerous recreation opportunities, including By-the-Lake Park, a 17-acre, man-made lake with a 2.5-kilometre paved trail and large picnic area. Extensive golfing – including disc golf – await, while winter activities include curling and skiing.
Wetaskiwin County enjoys a natural setting near Coal Lake, with spruce woodlands, aspen parkland and dry grassland slopes. Pipestone Creek especially, is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, great blue heron, cedar waxwings, hermit thrush and many more birds and small mammals.
Facts
• The Peace Cairn commemorates peace between the Cree and Blackfoot Nations of the Wetaskiwin area.
• Yes, you can surf in Central Alberta! At Wetaskiwin’s Manluk Centre, you can swim, slide or surf on the Board Rider – the only one of its kind in North America!
• Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame pays tribute to more than 200 men and women who pioneered and advanced aviation in Canada.
The summers are long and comfortable, while the winters are freezing, dry and windy.
Getting Here
From Calgary, drive about 2 1/2 hours north to Wetaskiwin (247.3 km) via AB-2, or from Red Deer, about an hour along AB-2. From Edmonton, travel south about an hour via AB-2 and AB-2A.
Dream now, travel later. To plan for future adventures here and throughout the West Coast, visit westcoasttraveller.com
Many B.C. parks to re-open, but visitors must adhere to the ‘golden rules’