Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a bustling university town of 230,000 in the heart of the Canadian prairies. Although the university is a major contributor to the city’s economy, Saskatoon has a distinct western ambiance, with cowboys and horse trailers as numerous as students on its downtown streets. The South Saskatchewan River flows through the heart of the city and is lined with sweeping stretches of parkland and crossed by a number of photogenic bridges. Downtown has a couple of interesting museums, as well as an array of top-notch accommodations and restaurants. Much of Saskatoon’s recent growth is due to oil, mineral, and gas deposits in northern ...

Saskatoon is a bustling university town of 230,000 in the heart of the Canadian prairies. Although the university is a major contributor to the city’s economy, Saskatoon has a distinct western ambiance, with cowboys and horse trailers as numerous as students on its downtown streets. The South Saskatchewan River flows through the heart of the city and is lined with sweeping stretches of parkland and crossed by a number of photogenic bridges. Downtown has a couple of interesting museums, as well as an array of top-notch accommodations and restaurants. Much of Saskatoon’s recent growth is due to oil, mineral, and gas deposits in northern Saskatchewan, including potash, uranium, diamonds, petroleum, and gold. Within day-tripping distance of the city is Lake Manitou, where the water is so rich in minerals it is impossible to sink, and Batoche National Historic Site, site of the 1885 Riel Rebellion. Prince Albert National Park, the province’s best-known national park, is a little far for a day trip, but well worth an overnight excursion for its lakes, hiking trails, and abundant wildlife.

About the Expert

Over the last 20 years, Andrew Hempstead has authored and updated more than 60 guidebooks for Avalon Travel, Frommer’s, Michelin, Odyssey, Dorling Kindersley, Michelin, and Sasquatch Books, including many books on Canada.