Newell County

Dinosaur Provincial Park

Kinbrook Island Provincial Park Brooks Aqueduct

In Newell, the experiences you can have are as diverse as the landscapes. Enjoy beach time, boating, and birding at Alberta’s largest manmade lake; then head to Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and hike in the badlands. Learn about the area’s rich history at the Brooks Museum, and try some homemade ice cream. Just 2 hrs from Calgary - we recommend staying a while to catch all the sights! Here’s how to spend a fun weekend in Newell County.

Day 1: Soak up some sunshine at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

It is an oasis on the prairie, on the shores of Lake Newell. With a sandy beach and warm water, and well-serviced campground, we look forward to camping here each summer. As we cross the causeway, we leave farmland behind, and are greeted by wetlands and towering cottonwoods. We spot cyclists on the marsh trail and dozens of birds in the water.

From our lakeside campsite, the beach beckons. The kids set up the tent, put on their swimsuits, and pump up their floaties in record time. “Can we go now, Mom? Puh-leaaaaaase?” I chase after them with sunscreen and towels, past the swingset, and claim a piece of sand. We’ve discovered the sweet spot - when daytrippers have gone home and campers have left for dinner - so the beach is quiet. Between burying each other in sand, floating, and paddling out to the buoys, time flies. The only distractions are American white pelicans flying overhead (you don’t see those every day!).

After a late dinner, we walk the 4.5 km Marsh Trail. The flat interpretive trail circumnavigates wetlands which are home to tons of birds and wildlife.

Sunset finds us back at the beach with sand in our toes and wind in our hair. While the kids (attempt to) do cartwheels, fishermen cast from shore and a family plays volleyball. It’s the perfect place to be on a warm summer evening.

For reservations visit albertaparks.ca

Day Two: Explore Dinosaur Provincial Park

This Park boasts “the greatest number and diversity of late Cretaceous fossils in the world” and is only 40 minutes from Kinbrook Island Provincial Park. After picking up snacks in Brooks we make our way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for fossils.

While an interpretive tour is highly recommended, if you haven’t made reservations, you can also do a self-guided tour. Five trails are open to the public, the most scenic are Coulee Viewpoint Trail and Badlands Trail. There are fossil display houses along the ring road, and some great exhibits in the Visitor Information Centre (admission fee in effect). Get an ice cream or homemade pie at the concession to fuel your adventures and enjoy exploring the beautiful badlands.

One of the best programs for families is the Dino Stomp Tour. On a guided 2 km hike, we hunted for fossils, jacketed a fossil (wrapped it in gauze for transport), saw a huge hadrosaur bone, and learned a lot about the dinosaurs that roamed these parts in the late Cretaceous. Big kids or grown-up dino lovers will enjoy the Centrosaurus Bonebed Hike (4 km) that goes to a former dig site where hundreds of Centrosauruses were found. For more information visit albertaparks.ca

Day Three: Step back in time at the Brooks Museum

Discover what life was like in Brooks 100 years ago. The main building, and ten lovingly maintained heritage buildings house original artifacts from Newell County. Don’t miss the old caboose and heritage rose garden while you’re there! The Brooks Museum also houses a Visitor Information Centre and fantastic gift shop with locally-made art, so you can bring home a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

After the museum, enjoy homemade ice cream or go across the street and cool off at Duke of Sutherland Park’s splash park!

More fun things to do in Newell

Get lost at Brooks Corn Maze, pick raspberries, play games, and feed the goats. Play a round of golf at Brooks Golf Club. Stand-up paddleboard at Rolling Hills Reservoir.

On a rainy day, play at EID Aquatic Centre. It boasts a lane pool with diving board, wave pool, 200 ft long waterslide, lazy river, tot area, hot tub, dry sauna, and steam room.

We hope you love Newell County’s beaches and badlands as much as we do!

Getting there

Brooks, the heart of Newell County, is located 2 hrs southeast of Calgary, just off the TransCanada Highway (Hwy 1). Photos and Story By: Karen Ung

Sunnybrook Farm Museum

Pack up because it’s time for a ‘rural roots’ tour featuring a common thread throughout; our food supply. And this tour is more than just eating.

Experience rural living like Grandma and Grandpa did; and don’t forget to bring your appetite because you are definitely going to need it.

On the menu is Sunnybrook Farm Museum, where rural Alberta farming comes to life. Red Deer’s oldest farm dates back to the early 1900’s where pioneer families worked hard carving the land and a living.

Here you’ll get a healthy helping of farming communities as you watch the seeds of life grow. Milk a cow, bake some bread or work in the blacksmith shop. At Sunnybrook Farm you’ll travel back in time where you and the family can meet the farm animals, feed the chickens, take a wagon ride and watch some old-fashioned farming equipment at work. Sunnybrook is sure to leave you satisfied, and maybe a little impressed with the true grit of our pioneer ancestors.

And of course, what’s a farm without a water source? Your diet isn’t complete without a trip to the Brooks Aqueduct. Well over 90 years ago, an extensive concrete centipede spanning a shallow 3.2 km wide valley took shape 20m above the ground.

At the time it was the largest structure of its kind in the world, and an engineering feat in design and technology. A vital link in an expansive irrigation network, the aqueduct fed precious water to thirsty crops. Today, it holds precious memories.

As you digest the prairie lifestyle, here’s some food for thought; how does farming connect pioneers with rural communities?

If you guessed grain elevators you’re right. A must-visit is the Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre in Nanton, where you’ll experience the majesty of grain elevators.

Nanton is home to one of the first grain elevators built in 1929. Grain elevators were the hub of the community. Elevator staff were trusted community members who hosted discussions from politics to grain prices – some could be over a game of cards. Elevator staff were instrumental to grain well-being, and some even sold hail insurance!

Towns grew up around grain elevators and the general stores, post office, blacksmiths and hotels came to life. These monoliths have evolved over the years but remain a staple in rural Alberta. Book your tour in Nanton and discover a rich history fueled by grain elevators.

Speaking of fuel, another essential in Alberta’s rural diet was the railway. Serving up a main course in history is the Galt Historic Railway Park in Warner County, Alberta.

The railway was instrumental in nourishing our economy, and Sir Alexander Galt and his son Elliott originally built the station at the Galt Historic Railway Park in 1890. The station straddled the Canada / United States international border running through its waiting and dining room. The telegrapher and station agent worked in the center section arranging round trip shipments between Coutts, Alberta and Sweetgrass, Montana.

One of only two “lunch stations” along the railway line from Lethbridge to Great Falls, the northern part of the station was moved across the border to Coutts in 1916. It closed in 1989. This station is the last structure of its kind in Western Canada, and in 2000 was moved near the Village of Stirling where it was restored to its original glory.

This summer, fuel your appetite for history and travel back in time with the family through rural Southern Alberta. By: Kerri Robins

Brooks Aqueduct

Galt Historic Railway Park

Sunny Medicine Hat will surprise you with its coffee culture, microbreweries, burgeoning art scene, and recreational opportunities.

As we descend into the South Saskatchewan River Valley, I’m struck by the cliffs and countless coulees that define the landscape. Just as nature shaped the land, it also shaped history. While waterways and a sheltered valley brought people and migrating buffalo here, in later years, the vast discoveries of abundant natural gas and clay brought growth and prosperity to Medicine Hat and its communities.

Different forces are at work these days. The ‘Hat’ is outgrowing “The Gas City” moniker and becoming a cultural hub. At first glance, the historic downtown looks much like it did in the early 1900’s with its brick buildings and old fashioned street lamps. Take a closer look and you discover the art galleries and studios, independent coffee shops, eclectic eateries, and a microbrewery. Colourful murals adorn brick walls; the Royal Liquor Store mural quotes author Rudyard Kipling: “This part of the country seems to have All Hell for a basement, and the only trap door appears to be in Medicine Hat.” Can you guess where Hell’s Basement, Alberta’s first craft brewery, got the inspiration for its name?

At Inspire Studio, Gallery and Café, I sip a fragrant cup of tea surrounded by local artwork. Meanwhile, artist and co-owner, Maureen Newton, paints peacefully in the adjacent studio. Inspire is not only for artisans and those who appreciate art; it’s also for lovers of comfort food and good coffee and tea.

Whether you are on a self-guided Medicine Hat Art Walk (mid May to late September), or Medicine Hat Progressive Café Tour, you will end up at Inspire, inspired to pick up a paintbrush perhaps, or stay a little longer in this friendly city.

PLAN AHEAD AND BOOK A TOUR GUIDE! www.medalta.org

Holding a piece of our history will totally transport you to the early days of Alberta’s Industrial history.

If you stay, explore the city by bike or Sunshine Trolley. With 115 km of bike paths and free loaner bikes at the Visitor Centre, it’s easy to get around safely by bicycle. The Sunshine Trolley, new in 2019, is a seasonal hop on, hop off shuttle from major hotels to historic downtown and MedAlta Potteries.

My kids giggle as they punch their timecards at MedAlta Potteries, the historic factoryturned-museum, including huge beehive kilns. Even if you have never worked with clay before, it is fascinating to learn how everyday items are made. Maybe take a crash course in wheel throwing (making something on a pottery wheel), sign up for the Saturday Samplers class.

Our next stop is The Esplanade, an architectural wonder that houses an art gallery, museum, archives, and state of the art 700-seat theater. Check their events calendar for art shows, dance and theater performances, and concerts.

Evening finds us at the Medicine Hat Family Leisure Centre’s free public skate. We plan on bringing swimsuits next time for the amazing aquatic park! More fun things to do with kids include: glow bowling at Panorama Lanes, solving an escape room, or watching a movie at Monarch Theatre, Canada’s longest running movie theatre.

Enjoy live music at Industry on Friday nights; beer tastings at the Medicine Hat Brewing Company, Hell’s Basement Brewery, or Travois Aleworks; or music festivals. Don’t miss the Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival: a week of Café Concerts followed by Concerts in a Kiln and festivities at renowned MedAlta Potteries. The summer festival season kicks off with Medicine Hat Jazz Fest in June: eight days of intimate concerts in local breweries, pubs, cafés, and eateries.

Over lunch at trendy Local Public Eatery, Med Hat resident Abby Czibere tells me how she, “moved here for school, fell in love with the place, and never left.”

When I ask what she loves about Medicine Hat, besides the good eats and brews (beer and coffee), Czibere shares how easy it is to get close to nature: • Police Point Park has a nature centre and “tons of walking trails.” • Echo Dale Regional Park is “great for families” with its beach, fishing pond, paddling pond, and picnic areas. • “We have over 100 km of bike paths... and free loaner bikes” at the Visitor Information Centre. • Kin Coulee Park has an awesome toboggan hill. • Cypress Hills Provincial Park is Medicine Hat’s playground, only 45 min away. Hike, mountain bike, camp, or stay in a cozy hut!

There’s much to love in this vibrant little city with its sunny personality. Once you visit The Hat, you’ll want to go back!

Exploring by bike is one of the best ways to experience a park or city in Southern Alberta, especially with kids. It’s fast, fun, and quieter than driving, so you have a better chance of spotting wildlife! When biking with kids, the secret to success is choosing easy routes with places to eat and play along the way. These family bike rides featuring playgrounds, attractions, and snack stops are perfect for a half-day outing. Enjoy! Note that all distances are one way.

Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary

(4.6-10.7 km, minimal elevation gain) It’s Canada’s largest urban park, has an extensive network of paved and dirt trails. From Bow Valley Ranch Day Use, head NW to Glennfield Area C (4.6 km), Bebo Grove (9.3 km), or Shannon Terrace (10.7 km). Glennfield Area C has a picnic shelter (first come, first served), while Shannon Terrace and Bebo Grove have shaded picnic areas with fire pits.

Birdwatching (get a checklist at the Visitor Centre) and geocaching are popular activities in the park. On the way back, get an ice cream, coffee, or sweet treat at Annie’s Café; then explore the Artisan Gardens, home to 175 sculptures.

Bill Milne Trail, Kananaskis

(9.1 km, 102 m elevation gain) A wonderful and less busy alternative to the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail, the Bill Milne Trail offers stunning scenery with very little effort. Start at Kovach Day Use (or Ribbon Creek Day Use) and ride through Kananaskis Valley past the golf course and Mount Kidd RV Park, then cross the highway and climb a few hills to reach Wedge Pond.

Kids will love throwing rocks in the pond, getting a snack at Mount Kidd’s camp store, and coasting to the car. It’s a gentle downhill grade the whole way back!

World’s Biggest Dinosaur to Royal Tyrrell Museum

Drumheller (7 km, 100 metres elevation gain) Dino lovers will dig this Drumheller bike ride. The adventure begins at the 26-m tall T-Rex beside the Visitor Information Centre. For a fee, you can take the stairs inside the dinosaur and look out its mouth! Bike past Rotary Spray Park (open May long weekend until Labour Day), cross the bridge and take the underpass to North Drumheller Community Playground. Follow the hiking trail signs to the paved bike path along North Dinosaur Trail, then turn left after Fossil World Dinosaur Museum, which boasts 1,000 fossils and animatronic dinosaurs. At the end of the road, take a right on North River Drive’s bike lane.

Continue west along the Red Deer River, under the bridge and towering cottonwoods, to McMullen Island Day Use Area. Cross North Dinosaur Trail, then cycle through the badlands of Midland Provincial Park. Most of the elevation gain is here, so take your time and be prepared to walk your bike down 24 stairs at the end (it’s worth it, I promise).

The Royal Tyrrell Museum has Canada’s largest collection of fossils; world-class exhibits; awesome interpretive programs; and a large, covered playground with a giant sandbox. Allow at least two hours to explore the museum.

In the area: The Little Church, just west of the museum, seats six and is a cute photo spot.

Kootenai-Brown Trail, Waterton

(7 km, 350 metres elevation gain) The gorgeous Kootenai-Brown Trail goes from Linnet Lake to the park gates. Whether you bike the entire distance or not (there are some big hills), you can enjoy sweeping views of Waterton’s lakes and peaks. Look for the red chairs, wildflowers in the alluvial fan between Middle and Lower Waterton Lakes, and the resident beaver in the pond by the park entrance.

Nearby: Get huckleberry ice cream at Big Scoop Ice Cream Parlour, then play at Waterton Playground and Spray Park. If you still have legs for a walk, count deer and bighorn sheep on the Townsite Loop (3.2 km) from Emerald Bay to Cameron Falls. Before leaving Waterton, get a family photo from Prince of Wales Hill.

Going Further: From November until May you can bike the Red Rock Parkway without cars. We recommend renting e-bikes from Pat’s Waterton or Blakiston & Company for the rolling road (15 km, 250 metres elevation gain). Photos and Story By: Karen Ung