USA Today, and no that is not a typo, has named their Top 10 Canadian Tourist Destinations and lo’ and behold, Saskatoon made it to number four.
The top five are not really destinations that one would think touristy when thinking about Canadian destinations.
When you think stellar tourist destinations who would think New Brunswick but there is St. Andrews at the top with Québec City, Que. and Lunenburg, N.S. beating out our fellow Saskatoonians with St. John’s, NFLD coming in at number 5.
I do not know why we are so quick to dismiss Canadian destinations as valid travel options when there are so many beautiful places to see.
I love this top 5 because they are gorgeous destinations and need to be seen. Despite this they do not receive as much credit as they should.
It should be said that when Americans even know where you are, I think that alone is something to pay attention to.
When it comes to summer travel destinations, why is outside of Canada the first place we think of?
I realize that comparing a resort destination to say Saskatoon would very much be like comparing apples and oranges.
With Saskatchewan, or even Canadian, destinations we are dealing with less expensive destinations, less work in planning, and no need for a passport.
We are also dealing with destinations that are closer to our roots and finding our own Canadian identity.
In case you have not heard, this year is also a little thing called Canada 150.
What better way of celebrating Canada than actually visiting some Canadian city that you have never visited before.
I know, not only Saskatoon but Saskatchewan in general, is often dismissed as a questionable tourist destination.
Travelling around Canada, you get the weird looks when you say you are from Saskatchewan because, no surprise there, everyone says there is nothing to do in Saskatchewan.
Back in 2014, it was even voted the least beautiful province by survey company, abacusinsider.com, and yes, I have discussed this before.
While we have a lot of competition in that regard with many beautiful places in Canada, there are some beautiful places to go in Saskatchewan with the Qu’Appelle Valley, Wanuskewin, and Saskatoon in my own personal top Saskatchewan destinations.
I want to see as much of Canada as I can before leaving for other destinations but I am realizing now how much of my own province I have not seen.
How many of us can say we have been to Batoche (nope), Saskatchewan Landing (uh-uh), or Cyprus Hills (sorry).
The best thing about living in a different province was the fact that I was both a tourist and a live in.
Why are we not doing that more in our own backyards?
