A list of the best ways to spend a Sunday and Monday in Medicine Hat.
Sunday and Monday are two days most local business owners like to take time for themselves and their families. And we appreciate that they need a little balance in their life, too! So, we’ve put together the best ways to spend a Sunday and Monday in Medicine Hat, along with some eateries that are open those days for meal-time.
John’s Butterfly House
Spend the afternoon with hundreds of butterflies, as well as turtles, birds, and beautiful nature. Experts are around to answer any questions you may have. Go at your own pace and soak in every moment, because this place is truly exciting and peaceful.
Explore the Trails and City Parks with a Rented E-Scooter, E-Bike, or Bike.
On un-motorized wheels, and in 15-20 minutes, you can land yourself in a handful of Medicine Hat’s City Parks from downtown using the paved-trail system. Download the Bird App to rent an e-scooter that can be found throughout Medicine Hat’s Historic Downtown, or rent a bike from Let’s Go Adventures.
Paddle the Waterways with Rented Equipment
The South Saskatchewan River is a relaxing way to view the coulees and wildlife up close, whereas Seven Persons Creek brings thrill and fast-paced adventure. Whichever experience you’re drawn to most, you can spend the day paddling with rented equipment from Outdoor Xcape Rentals or Let’s Go Adventures.
Check out the GIANT King Piece
Right behind the World’s Largest Chess Set sits the GIANT King Piece — which is 21-feet-tall and over 4,000 pounds.
Downtown Tours
Beside the World’s Largest Chess Set is the Medicine Hat Courthouse, a Provincial Historic Resource and a great start to the Downtown Historic Building Tour. Another downtown tour to embark on is the Downtown Mural Tour. Downtown Stories is a City initiative to share the history of spots around the area by the locals. The content can be listened to through audio or read on a device. Outside of downtown, there is the James Marshall Murals Tour and Marina Cole Chainsaw Art Tour.
Saamis Tepee
The World’s Tallest Tepee stands in Medicine Hat, overlooking the Saamis Archaelogical Site — a site that dates back thousands of years and was first used by Indigenous peoples. The Tepee has 10 hand-painted canvas’ by an Indigenous artist, and each tells a story. Those stories are found on plaques just below the paintings. The Saamis Tepee is a tribute to Canada’s native heritage.
Explore Indigenous Spaces & Places
Many spaces in Medicine Hat hold impactful Indigenous history that has shaped the city, including its name. The Miywasin Friendship Centre and partners created a self-guided tour that tells the story of seven historic Indigenous spaces in Medicine Hat. It’s a beautiful way to spend the morning or afternoon exploring and learning.
Go Golfing
The golf courses in Medicine Hat are open seven days a week, a few have an eatery for lunch or dinner. The large coulees in the city make for interesting, challenging, and exciting courses. If you’re not looking to stroll from hole to hole, Paradise Valley Golf Course offers the Golfuture Range — a lounge atmosphere where golfers hit the ball into a field and the camera’s collect data on each swing.
Play Disc Golf
Three parks in Medicine Hat have disc golf baskets set up: Kiwanis Central Park, Gilwell Park, and Leinweber Park. Gilwell and Leinweber are close enough that the 9-basket courses can be an 18-basket course, and these two parks are close to a panoramic view of the coulees, Medalta in the Historic Clay District, and, in the distance, South Saskatchewan River. Play competitive games, just for fun, or test your skills.
Mountain Bike
Three mountain bike destinations live within 45 minutes of each other in Medicine Hat and region, and all offer a drastic change in landscape and scenery. From green forest, to dry desert, and adventurous coulees, you can experience each spot with must-ride mountain bike trails in one weekend in and around Canada’s Sunniest City.
Road Trip!
Within a half hour of Medicine Hat is Red Rock Coulee, where some of the largest red rocks in the world are found. The many large red boulders were formed in prehistoric seas and now lay on the prairies lands to endlessly explore. Once you feel you’ve seen them all, you turn a corner and find more.
Another refreshing spot is Elkwater, in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. A forested area with lodgepole pine and aspen trees, a lake, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, a cafe, and a Visitor Centre to help you plan out your day in the rolling hills, located only 45 minutes from Medicine Hat.
Located on the Red Coat Trail is the Etzikom Museum and the Canadian National Historic Windmill Centre. Indoors at the Museum are many hands-on displays in time-period settings, featuring early pioneer life, native artifacts, fossils, petroglyphs, homesteader tools and a historic church.
Check out the used bookstore, Unlimited Characters
If you enjoy a good book, and a good search at that, Unlimited Characters has thousands of books waiting for you. The owners know the bookstore like the back of their hand and can help find a specific book if they have it. There is an arcade area with retro games that are free to play. A fun little afternoon or morning venture is here.
Sunday Eats:
Lunch:
Zucchini Blossom Market & Cafe
Lunch or Dinner:
Dessert:
Monday Eats:
Lunch:
Zucchini Blossom Market & Cafe
Lunch or Dinner:
Ralph’s Texas Bar & Steakhouse
The Clubhouse at Paradise Valley
Dessert:
