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TravelTips24 : North America : Canada : Prairies : Saskatchewan : Saskatoon

Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan. With a metropolitan population of about 230,000 people, it is the province's largest city.

Culture and History

The name 'Saskatoon' comes from a native word for a berry that grows along the river called 'missaskquahtoomina'. Saskatoon is located along the South Saskatchewan River and is known as a city of bridges, which has led, along with its cultural sophistication and wealth of Art Nouveau architecture, to its nickname as the Paris of the Prairies. Saskatoon is home to the University of Saskatchewan, which is home to "The Canadian Light Source" [1] which is Canada's only synchrotron.

Getting in

Flights and airtickets to Saskatoon

Saskatoon (ICAO: CYXE, IATA: YXE) The Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker Airport[2] serves domestic, international and northern communities.

When flying within Canada either Air Canada[3], Jazz[4], and WestJet[5] can be flown. These airlines link Saskatoon directly to major Canadian cities such as Calgary, Ottawa, and Toronto.

When flying internationally Northwest Airlines[6] flies to Saskatoon from the United States.

To get to the city centre from the airport:

  • Saskatoon Transit: Route 11
  • Rent a vehicle from one of the car rental companies
  • Cab: Should run you approximately $12

By train

Via Rail [7] travels to Winnipeg in one direction and Edmonton in another.

By car

Saskatoon is on the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) and Highway 11.

Buses to Saskatoon

Saskatchewan Transportation Company[8] connects Saskatoon to most Saskatchewan communities.

Greyhound Bus Lines[9] connects Saskatoon to most other cities throughout Canada.

Tours & Getting around Saskatoon

Sasktoon Transit [10] serves most of the city. Both regular and express (DART) service is provided.

Saskatoon is a very bicycling friendly city and boasts the second highest per capita commuter cycling rate in Canada. Recreational cyclists will enjoy exploring the Meewasin Valley Trail along the South Saskatchewan River. Almost all parts of the city are accessible by bicycle and bicycle lanes and routes are marked along some key corridors.

Walking is also a great way to get around Saskatoon. If your accommodation is in or close to the Downtown, you will be within walking distance to Saskatoon's best shopping, educational and cultural attractions.

Saskatoon attractions and sightseeing

The Bessborough Hotel overlooks the Saskatchewan River and is probably the most famous landmark in the city.

Be sure to check out the six bridges (including two railway bridges). After all, when in a CITY OF BRIDGES, what else do you do?

Saskatoon city tours

If you have young children, the rides at Kinsmen Park cannot be beat. There is a miniature train, ferris wheel and merry-go-round. Each ride costs $0.70 per person. This attraction is near the Kinsmen Play Village, the Ukranian Museum of Canada, and the Mendel Art Gallery.

There are various shopping malls all around the city. Midtown Plaza, is probably the most convenient place for tourists to go to since it is located in downtown Saskatoon. It is known to be the largest mall in the city with over 130 stores and services, with two fairly large department stores such as Sears and The Bay.

Saskatoon Blades - Catch the local Western Hockey League team in action at the Credit Union Centre.

Festivals

Saskatoon hosts many festivals and events during the summer. These include:

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan [11] - Saskatchewan's only professional theatre. Performas Shakespearian plays in a pair of large tents beside the Mendel Art Gallery in July and August.

SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival [12] - Major jazz festival. Combines free public performances, beer gardens at the Bessborough Hotel with major artists, and various paid performances in venues around the city. Runs from mid-June through the beginning of July.

Northern Saskatchewan International Children's Festival [13] - Children oriented activities located on the riverbank of Saskatoon in June.

Saskatoon International Fringe Festival [14] - Street performances and alternative theatre centred around Broadway Avenue in August.

Folk Fest [15] - an annual, multi-cultural festival comprised of up to 25 ethnic pavilions located throughout the city. Inside each pavilion, visitors will find cultural displays, dance, song, food, folklore, fables and skits. Runs in August.

Canada Remembers Airshow [16] - Dedicating to remembering Canada's veterans, combines ground displays of intage aircraft, WW II trainers, fighters and bombers as well as the latest in jet-powered aircraft. Has active air acts which include vintage WWII aircraft, current military aircraft, and the Canadian Forces' Snowbirds Demostration Team. Runs in August. 2009 will be its last year of performance.

Learn

Diefenbaker Canada Centre [17] - The Diefenbaker Canada Centre is a unique public facility, combining the only Prime Ministerial archives, museum and research centre in Canada. The galleries feature permanent exhibits on Mr Diefenbaker, period replicas of the Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Room (ca. 1950's) and temporary exhibits relating to diverse topics.

Mendel Art Galley [18] (950 Spadina Crescent East) - The Mendel Art Gallery features contemporary and historical art. It is open every day except Christmas Day.

Ukrainian Museum of Canada [19] - The Ukrainian Museum of Canada vividly preserves and recreates Ukrainian culture in Canada through temporary and permanent displays.

Wanuskewin Heritage Park [20] - Located 5 km north of Saskatoon on Wanuskewin Road. Wanuskewin is an international visitor site to learn about 6,000 years of First Nations culture.

Western Development Museum [21] - The museum features 1910 Boomtown, the longest indoor museum street in Canada, which presents the time of pioneer settlement and farm expansion in the Canadian West. It illustrates the technological progression of agricultural and transportation practices through interpretive displays and extensive artifact displays. It also has a large collection of vintage farm machinery which is worth a look if you are interested in mechanical things.

Saskatoon souvenirs & shopping

  • Backyard Naturalist, 272 2nd Ave. S.. For gardening, birding. edit
  • Darrell Bell Gallery, 317 – 220 3rd Ave. S., [22]. For contemporary art and craft edit
  • McNally Robinson, 3130 8th Street East, ☎ 306-955-3599, [23]. Large bookstore and cafe. edit
  • Midtown Plaza, [24]. Located in downtown Saskatoon, it is one one of Saskatoon's largest shopping centres. It contains the usual Canadian department stores, and has a Bay and a Sears at each end. edit
  • Rouge Gallery, 208 3rd Ave. S., ☎ 306-955-8882, [25]. For emerging and established Canadian artists edit
  • Turning the Tide. Just off broadway (Behind Lydia's) is an excellent store with a great selection of books and videos for your (R)evoltionary media needs  edit

Saskatoon Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Budget

  • Various fast food places.. Easily found around the city. Also keep an eye out for small Chinese-Canadian places, they can be good at a reasonable price. *Costco. If you have a membership, one can find relatively cheap basic fare here. Seating can be tight however! ===Mid-range=== *Alexanders Bar and Grill, (Corner of Cumberland and College Avenues). American (Really good veggie and hamburgers). They have a nice bar upstairs. edit edit edit
  • Bonanza Steakhouse Family Restaurant. Excellent entrées accompanied by an extensive salad bar and buffet. Very reasonably priced and excellent for a family meal. edit
  • Fuddruckers. Only location in Canada. Great burgers and fries with a help-yourself concept to add toppings to your burger. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Buffalo burger recommended. edit
  • Granada House. A excellent family owned Greek(?) restaurant. Excellent lasagna. edit
  • Broadway Cafe. 50's themed restaurant with very good American food. Good selection of burgers, and excellent milkshakes.  edit

Splurge

  • 2nd Ave Grill, #10 - 123 2nd Ave., ☎ (306) 244-9899, [26]. "The 2nd Avenue Grill boasts a delicious selection of soups, appetizers, greens, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, seafood, poultry, pork and beef dishes."$9-$33.  edit
  • Truffle's Bistro, 230 21st Street East, Saskatoon, ☎ (306) 373-7779, [27]. Small but elegant family owned bistro that uses local products. Main courses include duck, beef, fish and vegetarian dishes. edit

Saskatoon nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Saskatoon cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Budget

  • Days Inn, 2000 Idylwyld Dr North Circle Dr, [28].  edit

Mid-range

Splurge

  • Delta Bessborough, 601 Spadina Crescent East, [29]. A four star ten-story hotel. It is built in the "chateau style" typical of Canada's other railway hotels. Many of the rooms look on to the river. The room style can best be described as "shabby genteel". edit
  • Hilton Garden Inn Saskatoon Downtown, 90 22nd Street East, ☎ 306-244-2311, [30]. $169-$209.  edit
  • Sheraton Cavalier Hotel Saskatoon, 612 Spadina Crescent East, ☎ (306) 652-6770, [31]. The Sheraton is just across the street from the Bessborough, and looks onto the river. edit

Cope

There is a free wireless internet network in the whole of Saskatoon’s downtown core, as well as on the University of Saskatchewan campus [32].

Get out

This page was last edited at 01:58, on 4 November 2008 by Wikitravel user Edmontonenthusiast. Based on work by Char Harasymchuk, David and vasanth.iynkaran@gmail.com, Wikitravel user(s) Zannah and Tcp909, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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