LACOMBE DO UGH NU T S AT T O L L ER S BI ST R O Driving distance from Calgary 2 hours north This café, located in an unassuming strip mall, serves homemade soups, a wide selection of sandwiches and butter chicken bowls. But it’s the sweets that have spurred a following in Lacombe in beyond — particularly the doughnuts, which are made fresh daily, in varieties from apple fritter and Boston cream to lemon poppyseed and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Have an idea for a flavour? Owners Ken and Molly McAmmond encourage customers to share their dream creations. It’s how they keep coming up with fresh offerings, such as coffee cream, a fried yeast doughnut with a Phil & Sebastian coffee glaze, finished with a swirl of whipped cream and crispy wafer cookies. Arrive early: Doughnuts are available from 10 a.m. until they sell out. 2-4801 63 St., Bay 2, Lacombe 403-786-8400, tollersbistro.com Bring home Why, more doughnuts, of course! With more than 10 flavours available daily, you’re going to want a box full of options. Take a detour Spend a couple of hours at Ellis Bird Farm, 15 minutes southeast of Lacombe (ellisbirdfarm.ca). This non-profit works to conserve mountain bluebirds, tree swallows and other native cavity-nesting birds, so keep your eyes peeled for them on the farm’s self-guided trails.
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Driving distance from Calgary 1 hour, 50 minutes northeast Cross 11 bridges in the heart of the Badlands and you’ll arrive in Wayne, a former mining town that’s now home to just a couple dozen residents, plus an old-timey saloon and historic hotel right out of a Western film. Stepping inside the Last Chance Saloon is like stepping back in time: It’s packed with relics from the town’s coal-mining heyday, as well as other novelties, including a rare vintage band box that still plays. Eventually, you’ll want to head out back to the patio and saddle up on one of the barstools (literally — they’re made from 70-year-old saddles). While the menu has options like a locally sourced bison burger and house-smoked brisket, go for the “You BBQ” option and grill your own 10-oz. striploin on the patio, while the saloon prepares your sides: garlic bread, saucy baked beans and a fully loaded baked potato. 555 Jewell St., Rosedale Station (in Wayne) 403-823-9189, visitlastchancesaloon.com
Driving distance from Calgary 45 minutes east With so many craft breweries in Calgary, why road trip to Strathmore for a pint? The answer lies at Origin, where the experience is truly grain to glass. The Hilton family — fifth-generation Alberta farmers — is behind Origin, meaning the barley used in the brews is grown on their farm. They’ve also got their own malting facility, making Origin one of the only craft brewers in Canada to malt their very own barley. You can taste the 12 homegrown craft beers for yourself in the brewery, located just down the road from the farm, taking a seat in the taproom or beneath a red-and-white-striped umbrella on the patio. And if you’re hungry, on-site food truck Hunger Payne’s serves up smoked brisket, bacon-wrapped jalapenos and other grub that pairs perfectly with pints. 60 Spruce Park Dr., Strathmore 403-902-0868, originbrewing.ca
Bring home This is the kind of place you want to commemorate with a souvenir. Go classic with a Last Chance Saloon T-shirt or take things up a notch with a nightlight or shot glass. Spend the night The Last Chance Saloon operates the adjacent Rosedeer Hotel, which has seven no-frills rooms. There are also campsites next to the saloon (talk about stumbling distance).
Bring home Four-packs of tall cans are available, so grab a couple of your favourites, like the Pioneer IPA, which won silver at the 2020 Alberta Beer Awards. Stretch your legs Pull into Chestermere for a stroll and (if the weather calls for it) a swim at Anniversary Park (208 West Chestermere Dr.), which features a sandy beach, lakeside promenade and plenty of grassy knolls for lounging in the sun.
june/july 2022