Vacation Staycation
10 Ideas for Summer Fun Around Regina
By Fresh YQR Staff
With travel restrictions still up in the air, many of us are still sticking close to home this summer. Need a few ideas on how to make the most of summer in the Queen City? Here’s 10 ideas to put you in vacation mode.
1. Book a stay in a local hotel. You don’t have to travel for the hotel experience. Regina is packed with fabulous hotels that are perfect for everything from a weekend of family fun to a quiet, romantic getaway for two. We love the Fairfield Inn on South Albert with its indoor saltwater pool, free breakfast, and fabulous London Belle pub (with patio!) in the lobby. The Atlas Hotel is home to the perfect place to wear out the kids with its epic Soaked Waterpark. The Hotel Saskatchewan is your stop for a luxurious night for two, and further afield, check out the waterslides at the Ramada by Wyndham in Emerald Park.
2. Have a picnic in the park. Regina has a plethora of parks for picnicking so pick one and go. You can pack a meal at home, set up a BBQ (Wascana Park has plenty of places for an old-school charcoal BBQ meal), or pop by a local shop or restaurant for a ready-made meal. Want to make your picnic Queen City-style? Grab legendary sandwiches and sodas from Italian Star Deli and macarons from Le Macaron. After a day in the park, top it off with an icy treat from Milky Way, the Moo Shoppe or Dandy’s Artisan Ice Cream.
3. Make a local meal. Head down to the Regina Farmers Market on Wednesday or Saturday and pick up everything you need for an epic meal. You can create a menu with everything made or grown locally. You’ll find fruit, vegetables, herbs, beef, pork, bison, deli meats, eggs, condiments, spices, baked goods and plenty of readymade delights including kimchi, spring rolls, jerky, empanadas, granola, beetniks, wine, spirits, beer, mead and more.
4. Get ‘gramming. Take a tour of Regina’s best Instagram spots and show off your photography skills. Stops include the Hotel Saskatchewan, the Legislative Building steps, the Mackenzie Art Gallery, the Floral Conservatory, Kiwanis Waterfall Park, the Cathedral Village Murals, City Square Plaza, the frog at the U of R College Avenue campus, the Douglas Park Hill, Wascana Trails, the Science Centre, the many brick walls in the Warehouse District, the Wascana Park Conservation Area, and 13th Avenue.
5. Explore the culture. The Queen City is home to many cultural stops. Take trips back in time at the RCMP Heritage Centre and Government House. Peruse the art at the Mackenzie Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Regina and the Dunlop Gallery. Absorb our natural history at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, and learn and have fun at the Saskatchewan Science Centre.
6. Take a hike. There is a plethora of trails to explore in and around Regina. Among them are trails at Condie Nature Refuge, Wascana Trails, and White Butte Trails Recreation Site. A little further away are the trails at Nicolle Flats at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park near Moose Jaw, and Echo Valley Provincial Park Trails at Echo Valley, east of Regina.
7. Whet your appetite with a local foodie tour. The city is packed with great local restaurants, bakeries, and food shops. Eat your way around the city, starting with breakfast and don’t stop until you’ve had a final late-night snack. Or, stay home and have food delivered. These days, there are plenty of chefs and bakers with home delivery options that you can find on Facebook and Instagram. You can have everything from pizza to pain au chocolat, doughnuts to beer (all made locally with love) delivered right to your door.
8. Beach it up. Head a few minutes north for a day in the water at Regina Beach. Take a picnic or grab some legendary fish and chips at the Bluebird Café. Swim, boat or just lounge on beautiful Last Mountain Lake.
9. Go stargazing. You’re going to have to leave the city to see a starry night, but you won’t have to go far. Experienced stargazers tell us Wascana Trails and the Condie Nature Resfuge are good spots for a look at the stars. You can also head out north on Highway 6, or southeast on Highway 33 for about 15 to 20 minutes to leave the city lights behind and check out the stars.
10. Cruise for booze. This last one is for the grownups. Take a cab or rideshare or designate a driver (stay safe—never drink and drive!) and head out for a night sampling the best beer and spirits Saskatchewan has to offer. The Warehouse area is a great place to head—home to Rebellion Brewing, Bushwakkers, District Brewing Company, Warehouse Brewing and Outlaw Trail Spirits all within walking distance of each other. After that, grab a safe ride to Malty National, Pile O’Bones and Sperling Silver Distillery. Or invite a few people over and sample Saskatchewan’s finest at home. You can find amazing local brews and spirits at your favourite liquor store.