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5 reasons to take a road trip to Red Deer

a person sitting at a table with a plate of food
a bottle of water on a cloudy day

There’s many but let’s start with 5 reasons to take a road trip to Red Deer (besides the fact it’s half way between Calgary and Edmonon and makes a great day trip).

  1. Gasoline Alley Farmers’ Market. – collaboration is key in any farming community and Red Deer is surrounded by some of the most fertile soil and productive farms in the province. Located just off Hwy #2, stop in here to fuel up on local.
  2.  Fort Normandeau – found in Waskasoo Park, it commemorates the First Nations, Metis and European settlers who influenced Central Alberta’s development. And, cycling enthusiasts can pedal peacefully along Waskasoo’s 110 kilometers of trails.
  3. Craft Beer Commonwealth – this nanobrewery located in the Gasoline Alley Farmers’ Market features a rotation of local on their taps and there’s a lot of local to feature here! Red Deer’s Red Hart Brewing, Lacombe’s Blindman Brewing, and Penhold’s Red Shed Malting are spearheading the brewery and have enlisted all central Alberta breweries to collaborate on their Landlock Ale. Be sure to check it out.
  4. In spring and fall, check out the Gaetz Lakes Migratory Bird Sanctuary. It was Canada’s first federal sanctuary of its kind, established in 1924. With over 300 acres it protects migratory animals and birds and contains the Kerry Wood Nature Centre.
  5. Restaurants focusing on local ingredients – whether it’s a stacked Caesar at Cilantro and Chive, salads at Bo’s Bar and Stage, pizza at Anthony’s Italian Kitchen, a triple scoop at Ross Street Ice Cream, Birria Tacos at Pupuseria Cristy (yes, Red Deer has a pupuseria!),  award-winning smoke house specialties at Mohave Smokehouse and Bar, a coffee fix at Dose Coffee , fine dining at The Westlake Grill at Heritage Ranch or hotspots on Sylvan Lake’s Lakeshore Drive like Sweet Home on the Lake, Son of a Beach and Fireside Restaurant and Lounge, the food on offer in and around Red Deer is our favourite reason to take the road trip.

Photos courtesy of Cilantro and Chive, Red Deer Tourism, Craft Beer Commonwealth and Gasoline Alley Farmers’ Market Instagram accounts.

Portions of this content originally appeared in an article our president, Karen Anderson, wrote for Alberta on the Plate. You can find the full piece and Karen’s articles on other Alberta food destinations here.

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