People are seen enjoying the walking path along River Road on Wednesday afternoon.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
With Stampede week done for the year, there’s still plenty for the busy Medicine Hatter to do before the fall sets in.
One thing that can be enjoyed all year, but is perhaps at its peak during the summer, is the urban forest that makes up so much of the city, said Jalyce Thompson, communications specialist with Tourism Medicine Hat.
“We live in such a beautiful city, full of so much nature,” said Thompson. “We have a handful of the city parks and over 155 kilometres of paved trails where you can enjoy the sunshine, have a picnic, hang out with friends and family, or even enjoy some solo time with yourself in our very natural landscape spots.”
From skateboarding and cycling to spending the day simply enjoying the city’s status as the Sunshine Capital of Canada, anyone with a penchant for the outdoors will find no end of activities to do in the great outdoors.
For those who prefer a more guided experience, said Thompson, August never lacks for events put on by local organizations and businesses.
“For a visitor or a local to fill up their day, it’s really easy. Porchfest is happening in August, and that is where local musicians are invited to perform on front porches on the Southeast Hill,” said Thompson. She also listed the upcoming Battle Creek Showdown as something to look forward to, which is slated to take place on Aug. 24.
“Of course, we do have the Sunshine Trolley tours. They happen from Wednesday to Saturday, with 10 a.m. tours, noon tours, and children 12 and under ride for free,” said Thompson. “We have guides for every tour who have lived in Medicine Hat for many, many years, and have many stories to share from their time here.”
Medicine Hat Tourism will continue to host specialized tours such as the Ice Cream Crawl, Sunshine Market and Cafe Tour and Medicine Hat breweries tour, which will happen a few more times throughout the summer.
Thompson encourages residents and visitors alike to check on the group’s events page, as it keeps a list on many of the local offerings as they get submitted.
However, Thompson said, perhaps the best way to get a truly memorable Medicine Hat summer is to view the city through the eyes of a visitor.
“You need to look at Medicine Hat through the eyes of someone who’s visiting for a month, and you’ll find so much to do,” said Thompson. “Look at the social media and newsletters of local businesses, look at fliers, check out events on our page or on social media, and you’ll find things to fill up your August really easily.”
