PADDLING & WINERY: PAUL AUSTRING/TOURISM SASKATCHEWAN; FORT WALSH: ASHLYN GEORGE
guided tour of the lush vineyard and
Paddling on
a fruit wine tasting, or kick back on the
Loch Leven
outdoor patio for lunch. Before leaving,
pick up a bottle of the vineyard’s bestselling Saskatoon berry wine. It’s a tasty
local libation to share later in the evening while stargazing.
In the morning, continue south
down the highway to enjoy the rolling
pastureland. Make your way to Fort
Walsh National Historic Site—the
former headquarters of the North West
Mounted Police was established in
1875 in response to a massacre of First
Nations people by American fur traders.
The historic buildings give a taste of fort
and frontier life.
After learning the compelling
history of the area, drive to
Conglomerate Cliffs, north
Chill on the patio at
of Battle Creek, for a specCypress Hills Winery
tacular view of Adams
Lake. The calm water is
surrounded by hills dotted
with spruce, pine, aspen
and grasslands.
Heading back along
Highway 271, venture into
the town of Maple Creek
to dine at one of several
restaurants. The Star Café
& Grill, located in a 19thcentury stone building, is
a local favourite. The menu features
At sunset, make your way to Bald
international dishes, including spicyButte, a popular site overlooking the
but-not-too-spicy curries.
hills and prairies. Cypress Hills is a
Hop on Highway 21 south to the
dark-sky preserve—meaning there’s
Centre Block of Cypress Hills. Check
no light pollution and the real view
into the Resort at Cypress Hills, nestled
emerges when the sun goes down.
in the lodgepole pine by Loch Leven, a
The park is ideal for stargazing, with
small man-made lake. The resort offers
an observatory, an astronomer-inrooms, townhouses and cabins. (There’s
residence and other evening events
also a spa for achy muscles.)
with multiple telescopes for public use.
DAY THREE
History comes alive at Fort Walsh
After a relaxing night under the
stars, switch gears with a canopy tour
at Cypress Hills Eco-Adventures.
Depending on your skill level, try
a zipline, rock-climbing wall, treetop
drop or slacklining.
After all that exercise, stop at Ivan’s
Restaurant in the resort for lunch.
Treat yourself to some fresh-baked
Saskatoon berry pie as reward for
a weekend very well spent.
The
Essentials
GETTING THERE
Before heading to the
park, upgrade to a Plus
or Plus RV membership.
Without it, an unexpected tow could cost
hundreds of dollars:
ama.ab.ca/comparememberships
MAP IT
Use the AMA Mobile
App to map your road
trip. Find the best route,
book a hotel, rent a car,
locate AMARewards
partners and find the
cheapest gas:
ama.ab.ca/MobileApp
WHERE TO STAY
Best Western Plus Sun
Country is a good home
base near Medicine
Hat. Members save
20% at Best Western
hotels in Saskatchewan
and Alberta:
AMATravel.ca/Hotels
EAT & DRINK
• Mad Hatter Coffee
(Medicine Hat): Save
20% on coffee beans
AMARewards.ca/
MadHatter
• Montana’s BBQ &
Bar (Saskatchewan,
Alberta): two can
dine for $20
AMARewards.ca/
Montanas
AMA INSIDER
SUMMER 2016
61