There’s a lot of reasons to visit Lethbridge, Alberta. Here’s my top three.
#1 – World UNESCO Heritage Sites.
There are three UNESCO World Heritage sites within an hour of Lethbridge. They include Writing-on-Stone, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, and Waterton Lakes National Park).
Pro tip: If you go to Writing-on-Stone, book an interpretive guide. And, take a picnic and bathing suit for after your tour. The Milk River flows directly below the site and offers a cool swim and shady picnic sites. It’s hot up in those rocks.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump offers the chance to meet and learn from Indigenous people. When I visited, I got to tour with Elder Quinton Crow Shoe. Learning about the Blackfoot Confederacy is more enriching than any book could ever be. Their respect for the land and bison, as taught by Elder Quinton, is truly enlightening.
I try to visit Waterton Lakes National Park at least once a year. People flood to Banff. Waterton is unexploited with dozens of hikes to explore. And, the scenery is every bit as gob-smacking. Maybe even more so!
#2 – Culture
The city is home to the stunning Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens. It also boasts a bustling art scene, The Galt Museum, Fort Whoop-Up, many festivals, and an expanding university.
Why does Lethbridge have a Japanese Garden? Thousands of Canadians of Japanese heritage were rounded up and sent to internment camps here during World War II. They worked on farms and picking sugar beets. After the war, many stayed. In 1967, Canada celebrated its centennial. The garden was built to recognize contributions made by citizens of Japanese ancestry to the multicultural community of Lethbridge.
#3 – The Food scene
The area surrounding Alberta’s third largest city is known as Canada’s Premiere Food Corridor. Why is it such a great place to grow food? There are long, hot summer days. In fact, Lethbridge has more sunny days per year than any other place in Canada. The area also has a state of the art irrigation system that covers 900,000+ acres on 4470 farms. This allows the farmers and ranchers to produce a lot of Canada and the world’s food. How much? The over 65 specialty crops found here yield $8 billion annually.
In terms of enjoying a taste of this place, here’s what my extra sensory food perception discovered.
Downtown Lethbridge
6 St
6 St is really the heart of Downtown Lethbridge. Independent shops abound here. My favourite is Analog Books. The key to finding the best local food anywhere is finding a local food lover. Analog’s owner, Penny Warris, was that person for me on my latest visit. She not only works downtown, she also lives in the core. Penny’s list gave me a food lovers’ treasure hunt that set me up for success. So starting on 6 St, here we go:
Stella’s Diner and Catering – Both a diner and Italian shop, it’s the city’s winner of best breakfast and brunch.
Antojitos Latin Market and Cafe – Colombian yumminess. Did someone say empanadas?
Telegraph Taphouse – This local watering hole is in a seriously cool old telegraph office.
Cookie Crimes Ice Creamery – A match made in heaven, cookies and ice cream. The owners serve up a huge dose of humour on the side. I thoroughly enjoyed a “kitchen sink” cookie with a side of maple walnut ice cream. Have fun with your pick. It’s not a crime!
5th St
How Sweet – This is a first class candy specialty shop. Plus, I found Bugles™ for my Christmas Nuts and Bolts here! That’s not an easy thing to do since the Bugles company stopped selling them in Canada.
The Conscious Cafe – Their sister business, the beautiful Herbal Apothecary, is next door. The decor of this cafe feels like you’ve just walked into a deep green forest. Everything feels cool and refreshing. They serve plant-based dishes and drinks that are sustainable. It’s a vegan nirvana.
The Penny Coffee House – Vintage heaven.
Bread, Milk, & Honey Cafe – They open early for coffee and are also a great lunch spot. Get the breakfast wrap. It’s delicious.
Steel and Vines – An unpretentious wine bar and bistro.
3rd Ave
Tacos Made in Mexico – This is a family-run Mexican eatery with great on the street dining in summer.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge – Music and great pub food, poutine, and bowls. Plus owls decor and a motto to “stay weird.”
The Lighthouse Akari Sushi Japanese Restaurant – This restaurant opened in 2003. For the past five years chef Yukinari Takahashi, with 25 years experience, has delivered unparalleled excellence.
Whisk and Ladle – A delightful kitchen shop owned by Barb Doan. Even though I have a kitchen and pantry full of dishes, I still found a few things here I “needed.”
2nd Ave
R. Nakagama Co. Ltd – This is the oldest Japanese Grocery in Alberta. It was founded in 1947 by Ryutaro Nakagama. His son, Ken and granddaughter, Kendra, run it with love and devotion. It’s a delightful place to stock up on all your favourite staples including sushi grade fish in the freezer. I met Kendra at the arts centre. She phoned her Dad at the shop to ask him to stay open until I got there. I was so impressed with their kindness.
In and Around Lethbridge
Umami Shop – Cooking Classes, eats, global ingredient groceries, and highly engaged owners have made this shop a success. Get their pulled “pork” jackfruit sandwich.
Don’t miss the Saturday Lethbridge Farmers’ Market in summer at the Agri Food Hub. My favourite find here was Peaks & Pasture’s Water Buffalo milk and cheeses. The cheeses are made in Mountainview by James Meservey. They are just fantastic.
Visit Broxburn Farms Cafe for a fresh taste of their legendary produce. Red Pepper Soup and Pie? Yes please. Stay for their U-Pick or shop at their market while you are there. Note: the U-Pick strawberries last well into September. Lethbridge is usually the last place to get a frost in Alberta.
Check out Prairie Hill Farms – For all things Haskap and local. Don’t know what a haskap is? All the more reason to visit and taste this juicy native berry for yourself. I’ve toured the entire facility. They have massive (I’m talking airplane hangar size) freezers and make a variety of sauces and jams on site.
Little Gem Winery – Find this gem set on a quiet country road. Delight in the flavours of these wines and ciders. They are dry and crisp.
Broek Pork Acres – Visit the on-farm butcher shop of the Vanden Broek family. Discover the intense flavour of their heritage breed Berkshire pork.
Cattlemen’s Chophouse in Picture Butte – Fine dining in a beautiful new facility.
Homestead Bakery in Fort Macleod – Consistently wonderful. A great pit stop on your way to or from Lethbridge.
Will you visit Lethbridge?
Proximity to World UNESCO Heritage sites, cultural diversity, and a fantastic food scene are three great reasons to visit Lethbridge, Alberta. I hope my top reasons to visit Lethbridge have piqued your interest. It’s only 2 hours south of Calgary. I think it would be easy to spend a week here exploring (and eating) all the city has to offer. If you go, let me know in the comments below.
Please note: This is NOT a sponsored post. I visited Lethbridge to do a few speaking engagements for my book Eat Alberta First. All photos are my own.
