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Compiled by the Street Journey Alberta group
Final up to date on March 30, 2023
Should you’re in search of a incredible vacation spot on your subsequent staycation, day journey, or Alberta vacation, contemplate Wetaskiwin! The small metropolis is discovered solely 35 minutes south of the Edmonton Worldwide Airport, making it a handy place to go to whether or not you’re including it to a bigger Alberta itinerary or just need a enjoyable new trip spot. With its small-town vibe and very pleasant ambiance, you’ll rapidly really feel proper at dwelling everytime you go to Wetaskiwin. And it helps that there are such a lot of issues to do within the metropolis, from museums to festivals to purchasing and extra! Learn on for all the greatest issues to do in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.
Historical past and Info
The identify Wetaskiwin comes from the Cree phrase wītaskiwinihk, which interprets to “the hills the place peace was made”. This stems from a battle as soon as waged between the Cree and the Blackfoot peoples within the space. By 1890, Wetaskiwin had develop into a whistlestop on the prepare line between Calgary and Edmonton, and its inhabitants started to develop; by 1901, the village turned formally integrated, and by 1909, there was a courthouse, city corridor, water tower, church buildings, and several other companies.
As we speak, Wetaskiwin is an attractive place to dwell and go to; though a metropolis, its small inhabitants provides it a welcoming, inclusive feeling. With a quaint metropolis centre and loads of issues to do, Wetaskiwin is turning into a well-liked vacationer vacation spot for day journeys from Edmonton in addition to bigger Alberta itineraries. Get pleasure from its strolling paths, many cultural websites, tasty eating places, and fun-filled occasions.
Land Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge that the locations talked about on this publish are situated on the standard territories of the Indigenous peoples of the Treaty 6 area and the Métis Settlements and Métis Nation of Alberta, Areas 2, 3 and 4. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to complement our neighborhood.
Getting Right here
From Edmonton to Wetaskiwin
Getting from Edmonton to Wetaskiwin is extraordinarily easy if in case you have your individual automobile. There are a number of methods to get there. The primary and quickest approach is to take Freeway 2 (QEII) in the direction of Leduc and, from there observe the AB-2A freeway for roughly 40 kilometres. The opposite fashionable route is to take Freeway 2 to the turnoff for Freeway 13 after which head east till you arrive in Wetaskiwin.
Sadly, there aren’t at the moment any bus routes or different public transportation from Edmonton to Wetaskiwin.
Well-liked Occasions in Wetaskiwin
Rawhide Rodeo (June 9/11)
Location: 72 AB-13 #4214
Discovered on the Wetaskiwin Agricultural Society, the Rawhide Rodeo is an annual occasion with native animals and rivals. On high of the motion of the rodeo, there are many distributors and concession stands, in addition to a pony race, cow milking contest and a beer backyard. It’s a celebration of the cowboy tradition in Alberta, and is assured enjoyable for the entire household!
Reynolds-Alberta Museum Final Automotive Present (July eighth)
Location: 6426 40 Ave
Should you’re a fan of vehicles, you should attend the Reynolds-Alberta Museum Final Automotive Present. That includes a tremendous line-up of automobiles, stroll across the grounds to soak up every thing from the traditional automobiles to the trendy ones. There are additionally demonstrations, meals vans, and tons of photograph alternatives. Ensure that to buy your admission tickets prematurely and attempt to arrive as early as attainable, because the occasion fills up rapidly!
Wetaskiwin Arts & Music Pageant (July 15)
Location: Jubilee Park
Based in 2017, the Wetaskiwin Arts and Music Pageant goals to deliver everybody who loves the humanities collectively in a single house. This yr, that house is in Jubilee Park within the metropolis’s downtown! This free household occasion has loads of dwell music, meals distributors, and native artists, making it a real celebration of all issues cultural. A beautiful solution to spotlight all the native expertise, it’s effectively value a go to to Wetaskiwin simply to attend this pageant; it’s a jam-packed day of music, artwork, and, most significantly, enjoyable.
NASCAR Pinty’s Bayer 300 (July 21-22)
Like quick automobiles? Who doesn’t?! Get your tickets for NASCAR Pinty’s Bayer 300 on the Edmonton Worldwide Raceway in an effort to expertise this fast-paced occasion. With an action-packed Friday night and full-day Saturday, there’s loads to maintain you busy, together with a meet and greet with the drivers, and, in fact, heaps and many racing. Even individuals with out a lot NASCAR information could have a good time at this occasion!
Different Issues to do in Wetaskiwin
Reynolds-Alberta Museum
Location: 6426 40 Ave
By far some of the fashionable issues to do in Wetaskiwin, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum is all about celebrating machines. Open since 1994, the museum has greater than 500 autos, 130 plane, and 5,000 items of agricultural and industrial gear in its assortment. Good for historical past buffs and for many who need to be taught extra in regards to the equipment that shapes Alberta’s previous and current, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum typically has enjoyable occasions and actions all year long, too!
Edmonton Worldwide Raceway
Location: 244047A, Township Rd 464
That’s proper… the Edmonton Worldwide Raceway is definitely discovered simply exterior Wetaskiwin! Head to Western Canada’s solely NASCAR-sanctioned race observe for a great deal of pleasure and a incredible day trip. With loads of race days all through the summer season, racing followers could have loads to select from each weekend. Have the necessity for velocity your self? The Edmonton Worldwide Raceway additionally gives race automotive experiences; you possibly can drive one in every of their race automobiles, drive your individual automotive on the oval, or take a trip with an skilled race automotive driver!
Manluk Theatre for the Performing Arts
Location: 5002 53 Ave
The Manluk Theatre for the Performing Arts is a non-profit neighborhood theatre the place yow will discover quite a lot of occasions, all fueled by the native ardour for the humanities. Hold an eye fixed out for performances from the Waterworks Gamers, the area people theatre troupe, in addition to any musical acts which may be performing on the town.
Montgomery Glen Golf & Nation Membership
Location: Township Rd 464 Alberta 13, AB-2A
Anybody who’s a fan of golf has to take a look at the Montgomery Glen Golf and Nation Membership, an attractive course simply exterior of Wetaskiwin. This full-service golf facility – celebrating its a centesimal yr in 2023! – has a championship golf course, driving vary, apply placing inexperienced, and a welcoming clubhouse, Glens Grill (see beneath on the place to eat in Wetaskiwin). Surrounded by lovely landscapes, the course has loads of challenges to maintain all ranges of golfers completely satisfied, together with water hazards and strategically planted timber. The twelfth gap is usually a favorite because of the beautiful creek operating alongside it!
Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre
Location: 5007 50 Ave
Head to the Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre to go to Wetaskiwin’s oldest museum. Formally opened in 1986, the museum is run by a passionate group of people that intention to protect the historical past of the small metropolis. Positioned inside some of the iconic buildings of Wetaskiwin – the previous Star Buying and selling Co. Normal Retailer – the museum has a terrific array of reveals and collections that spotlight the town’s historical past. It is likely one of the easiest issues to do in Wetaskiwin, and a good way to be taught in regards to the space!
Manluk Centre
Location: 4514 50 Ave
Should you love the water, make your solution to the Manluk Centre, the place you’ll discover a ton of aquatic amenities so that you can get pleasure from together with two waterslides, a contest pool, a kiddie pool, a leisure pool, a lazy river, and a steam room. The centre additionally has a health space when you’re eager on squeezing in a exercise whilst you’re there.
Buying in Wetaskiwin
Wetaskiwin Farmers Market
Location: 4214 72 Avenue (Hwy 13 East)
Everybody loves a superb farmers’ market, proper? The Wetaskiwin Farmers’ Market is a superb place to select up all your favorite native merchandise, together with jams, honey, greens, berries, and baked items, in addition to dwelling items, magnificence merchandise, and extra. Open on Wednesdays from 3 pm till 7 pm; yow will discover the market on the Wetaskiwin Agricultural Grounds. Be sure you deliver a number of tote luggage to hold dwelling all the wonderful goodies you’ll discover right here!
Native Roots Floral & Design
Location: 5011 51 St
Cease into Native Roots Floral and Design for probably the most lovely floral preparations and bouquets. These garden-inspired items function distinctive flowers from around the globe to make sure that your association is precisely what you need it to be, whether or not it’s a bouquet for an important day, an occasion set up, or a marriage! And past simply flowers, in addition they have a choice of boutique grownup and kids’s clothes in addition to charming presents we’ll positive you’ll love.
French’s Jewelry
Location: 5018 50 Ave
Discovered within the coronary heart of downtown Wetaskiwin, French’s Jewelry is the place to go while you’re in search of high-quality jewellery on the town. With engagement rings, watches, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and extra, you possibly can select from an assortment of effective jewellery; that being mentioned, in addition they promote purses, keychains, wallets, and different trend merchandise. With a historical past that dates again greater than 100 years, visiting French’s Jewelry is a ceremony of passage in Wetaskiwin.
Wild West Gallery
Location: 3725 56 St (inside Wetaskiwin Mall)
That includes the biggest assortment of seed beads in Central Alberta, the Wild West Gallery is a must-visit for anybody captivated with or focused on beading and crafting. There are a lot of one-of-a-kind Indigenous presents and merchandise on the market, together with blankets, jewelry, luggage, and extra, and you too can discover ribbons, hides, material, and powwow provides.
4901 Market
Location: 4901 49 St
Store at 4901 Market for distinctive presents and merchandise. This artisan market and boutique options tons of native items, together with housewares and decor, from quite a lot of distributors. With an intention to showcase and assist Canadian makers and artists, there are many causes to buy at 4901 Market while you’re in Wetaskiwin.
Heritage Museum Star Retailer
Location: 5007 50 Ave
Head to the Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum Centre to go to the Star Retailer, the place yow will discover an assortment of things that honour the historical past of the constructing and its normal retailer roots. Store for old school sweet, toys, jewellery, crystals, and plenty of equipment by Indigenous artists. There are additionally weaving, knitting, and spinning provides on the market in addition to a small café known as Beans Espresso Nook the place you should buy espresso, tea, and baked items.
The place to Keep – Finest Motels in Wetaskiwin
Finest Western Wayside Inn
Location: 4103 56 St
Should you’re in search of comfort and luxury whereas staying in Wetaskiwin, select the Finest Western Wayside Inn. This cozy lodge is straightforward to get to from the freeway and downtown Wetaskiwin, plus it has all the main facilities one may want: an onsite restaurant (see “the place to eat” beneath for extra), a health centre, and high-speed wifi. Even higher: the lodge is pet-friendly, so the complete household – together with Fido – can get pleasure from a keep right here!
Westview RV Park & Willow Inn
Location: 243019c, AB-13
With a mixture of lodge rooms and full-service tenting on the Westview RV Park and Willow Inn, this spot is a superb alternative on your keep in Wetaskiwin. Discovered on the outskirts of the small metropolis, the inn has three lovely rooms, all of which have trendy decor, plush bedding, and plenty of different facilities to make you are feeling proper at dwelling. Tenting, or bringing your individual RV? The RV Park is phenomenal, with free sizzling showers, free wifi, an unlimited playground and zipline, a basketball hoop, a volleyball court docket, a fish pond, and strolling paths, to call a number of.
The place to Eat – Finest Eating places in Wetaskiwin
Huckleberry’s Café
Location: 3840 56 St
Open for lunch and dinner on daily basis however Sunday, Huckleberry’s Café in Wetaskiwin is a great spot to have a meal. Established in 1993, the café has been providing farm-to-table delicacies lengthy earlier than it turned stylish! The menu is crammed with all-natural, recent, and native components, so you possibly can get pleasure from dishes comparable to Alberta beef burgers, native bison sausage, licensed Angus beef steaks, and extra. Attempt the dill pickle soup… it’s well-known!
Barneys’ Pub & Grill
Location: 4103 56 St
Discovered throughout the Finest Western Wayside Inn, Barney’s Pub and Grill has a incredible choice of hearty, tasty meals so that you can get pleasure from, together with wings, burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches, steak, and a lot extra. The starters are notably good, with choices comparable to deep-fried pickles, maple bacon poutine, and a scrumptious appetizer platter; mix these with a pint of one in every of their native craft beers on faucet, and it’s a assured nice evening out!
Beans Espresso Bar & Bistro
Location: 4814 56 St Unit 114
Should you’re looking for the very best latte in Wetaskiwin, look no additional than Beans Espresso Bar and Bistro. Open for breakfast, lunch, espresso, and snacks, this cozy café is regionally owned and operated. With exceptionally pleasant service, scrumptious selfmade baked items, and an exquisite choice of truthful commerce espresso, it’s no surprise this is likely one of the hottest spots in Wetaskiwin! Attempt the made-to-order paninis on selfmade focaccia, one in every of their drool-worthy scones, or on Tuesdays, the well-known taco salad.
Contemporary Grill Kitchen
Location: 5001 50 Ave
Specializing in serving the very best steaks and barbecue in Wetaskiwin, Contemporary Grill Kitchen is a family-run restaurant identified for its effective eating in a contemporary setting. On the menu, you’ll discover heaps from the grill, together with AAA steak and ribs. There are additionally mouthwatering pastas, salads, fish, rooster, burgers, stir fry, and loads of starters to share across the desk; make sure that to strive their Sunday brunch, too. Wash all of it down with one in every of their wonderful specialty cocktails, hi-balls, or draft beers!
The Glens Grill
Location: Township Rd 464 Alberta 13, AB-2A
With a eating room, bar, and patio, The Glens Grill is an ideal spot to eat after an awesome sport of golf on the Montgomery Glen Golf and Nation Membership or as a part of your Wetaskiwin itinerary. Specializing in native and recent components, the elegant eating room serves farm-to-table meals of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and extra, all with a singular and progressive twist. Attempt the watermelon and feta salad, the coconut fried rooster burger, or the brisket beef dip, all with a panoramic view of the golf course in entrance of you!
Issues to Do Close to Wetaskiwin
Need to add a number of extra locations to your Wetaskiwin itinerary? Listed here are a number of spots close to the town which can be effectively value a cease.
Chickadee Path
Discovered within the Gwynne Valley, solely a couple of ten-minute drive from Wetaskiwin, the Chickadee Path is a straightforward out-and-back path of three kilometres. With lovely views and the possibility to see many chickadees (some will even land in your palms!), it makes for a wonderful hike.
Millet
Should you’re driving south from Edmonton in your solution to Wetaskiwin, cease within the charming city of Millet. There, you’ll discover the fascinating Millet Museum in addition to a number of native outlets, together with the Butterfly Boutique (the place you possibly can top off on ladies’s clothes, presents, and different merchandise, most of that are made in Canada).
Ma-Me-O Seaside
Coming from the Cree phrase for “pigeon”, Ma-Me-O Seaside might be discovered on Pigeon Lake a couple of half hour’s drive west of Wetaskiwin. Good for enjoyable on the sand on a sunny day, the seaside has a day-use space, playground, and picnic tables.
Pigeon Lake Provincial Park
Should you’d prefer to discover the character surrounding Wetaskiwin, head to Pigeon Lake Provincial Park. There are many blended forests to discover, together with 10 kilometres of climbing and biking trails, a ship launch on the lake, and a number of campsites. And if that’s not sufficient enjoyable for you, there are yurts obtainable to order in the summertime months!
Alberta Central Railway Museum
Discovered southeast of Wetaskiwin, the Alberta Central Railway Museum is the right place for railway fanatics. With quite a few artifacts from the Canadian Pacific Railway pre-1965, it’s an genuine journey into Alberta’s historical past, full with a railway station, grain elevator, quite a few trains, and a number of reveals. Tip: it’s solely open seasonally, so make sure that to examine the web site earlier than you go to!
This publish was produced by us, and sponsored by the Metropolis of Wetaskiwin.
