Regina, Saskatchewan is worth a visit and in this blog, I’m going to tell you why. During our hunting trip to Saskatchewan this year, we worked with Tourism Regina. We created a list of things you can do there with your friends or family. You can enjoy sports like pro football and the Canadian Hockey League. There are also local brews and table fare. It offers family fun for all ages. You can also find places where you can stay if you have your four-legged friends with.
Continue reading below to see more from our trip. You can also watch this travel vlog:
If you’re reading this, you are mostly likely someone who enjoys the outdoors. From fishing to hunting and everything in between. We were there to waterfowl hunt. You can choose from a selection of guiding services. Or, you can freelance it. There are whitetail and bear hunting opportunities. Last Mountain Lake is just up the road and it is a great walleye fishing destination. If you just want to hike or find other ways to enjoy the outdoors, you can do that too. This can be a great outdoor destination for you and your family. Direct flights from Minneapolis to Regina make going there easier than ever.
We’ve been spending a lot of time in Saskatchewan in recent years, enjoying the vast outdoor opportunities the province offers. I love the prairie and a good portion of the province is fertile, agricultural land. When we travel up there in late summer, the canola fields turn the horizon yellow. This is usually during a trip from Tazin Lake Lodge in the northwest corner. We normally drive it and make a stop in Regina to spend the night. We’ve been going to Comfort Inn because they’re dog friendly. The Creekside Pub and Brewery is right next door. They have cold drinks and hot food.
This year, we had the chance to spend more time in Regina on the front end of a hunting trip. It’s a great place to start because it has everything you need and usually there are birds in every direction. We’d like to thank Tourism Regina for the warm welcome to the city and the recommended to-do list!
“Between the food, accommodations and entertainment, Regina was a great place to begin and end our waterfowl hunting trip,” Dan Amundson said of this year’s trip.
While we drove up, you could easily fly there if you have a guide trip booked. Some guides may pick you up, or you could rent a vehicle. If you have a day or two at the start or end of your trip, you can explore plenty of options for adventure. Or, if you’re looking for a fall family getaway, Regina is a great place to come. You can enjoy a day or two of hunting for yourself while you’re there.
Here is one of our hunts from Saskatchewan this year:
Here’s a list of things to do while you’re here.
- Saskatchewan Roughriders Game – 1700 Elphinstone St
This was definitely a highlight for us. Mosaic Stadium is big enough to make it an EVENT, but small enough that you don’t feel overwhelmed. With a capacity of 33,000, the seats all offer great vantage points. The concourse stays clear enough that you can get through easily. We were fortunate to be in the Wiser’s Terrace. It had its own bar and concessions. We enjoyed a nice view from the corner of the stadium. With plenty of ride share options, I used my Uber app to get to and from the stadium.
“The Roughriders game was a great change of pace after a week hunting,” Dan said. “The atmosphere was good and the prices were right.”
Ticket prices range from $25 to $300 (CAN) and concessions were cheaper than NFL games here in the states. In fact, the tailgate “Party in the Park” had $5 beers and maybe the best $7 hotdog we’ve seen. And that’s in Canadian prices. The hotdog had more toppings available than should be allowed by law.
We had a chance to take part in a pregame “on the field” event. We were able to hangout in an end zone and watch warm ups. Some of the players even came over to sign autographs and take pictures.
The weather was perfect for an outdoor football game. We could tuck in underneath if we got cold, but we didn’t. The open air stadium allowed for a beautiful sunset followed by a moonrise over the scoreboard.
2) Casino Regina – 1880 Saskatchewan Drive
This was easily another highlight for us and we’re not huge casino people. But Casino Regina offers more than just gaming. They also offer a “Vegas-style lounge.” A lot of concert options like Emerson Drive, Hoobastank, Corb Lund, and Pauly Shore took place there recently. The history was my favorite part as the building is a restored railroad depot from over a hundred years ago. It was once Regina’s Union Train Station and you can still see some of the artifacts on the wall.
We also learned of a few ghost stories. There is a picture near the restrooms where, if you look closely enough, you may even see a ghost.
The Union Station Restaurant and Bar features seating in an old rail car from 1918, now restored for the restaurant.
I even doubled my money on the first two spins on a slot machine. Of course I put it back in, but I had the chance to quit while I was ahead.
3) RCMP Heritage Centre – 5907 Dewdney Ave
This was easily the most unexpected highlight of our time in Regina. Forget what you think you will learn at a museum dedicated to the storied police force in Canada. Throw those preconceptions out the window. The RCMP started with the North-West Mounted Police in 1873. These tough LEO’s faced cold weather and remote territory. They navigated a wild west landscape to bring law and order across the country. During the first World War, members of the RCMP joined the fight. Many of them had experience in the British army. They felt no reservations about returning to their units for deployment. This led to the expansion of the Mounted Police force and it kept growing to become what it is today.
The museum walks you through this journey as well as other big moments in the Canadian police force’s history. We honestly did not spend enough time there. We went through all the rooms. We read all the signs and listened to the interactive displays. To truly do the history justice, we would have needed to be there longer. It’s a must-see destination in Regina.
4) Wascana Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary – Wascana Centre | 2900 Wascana Drive
This was really a bonus for me since I have a fascination with waterfowl. I didn’t realize this was here. As we were driving through town near the largest provincial legislative building in Canada, The Saskatchewan Legislative Building, we stumbled upon Wascana Lake. This is a migratory bird refuge with many viewing areas. They even fence off a section with small ponds and a walking path to give you a close up view of injured and captive waterfowl.
I figured this would be a place to stop for wildlife photographers, bird watchers, and hunters. I also noticed that the bike and walking paths were constantly busy. People were getting exercise, taking a lunch break from work, and getting some fresh air. Regina may be the capital of Saskatchewan, but there are ways to enjoy the outdoors while being in the heart of the city.
The Sanctuary is part of the Wascana Park, reportedly the 4th largest urban park in Canada and is about three times the size of New York’s central park.
Additional Opportunities:
There are plenty of other things to do as well, like golf, a trampoline park, Wascana hiking trails and more, like hunting and fishing of course. Last Mountain Lake is just north of Regina and offers great walleye fishing.
Places to eat:
If there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s eating. We had the chance to try a variety of options in Regina including:
Coney Island Poutine – 4908 Dewdney Ave, Regina, SK S4T 1B8, Canada
If you go to Canada and don’t order poutine, did you really go to Canada? Poutine is a mixture of French fries, gravy, cheese curds and an assortment of other toppings depending on what you order. I had no idea how much the dish had progressed over the years. I was a bit overwhelmed looking at the big board behind the counter at Coney Island Poutine. There was popcorn chicken poutine, pulled pork poutine, honey garlic rib, spicy Mexican, German bratwurst, a hangover (with scrambled eggs of course) and quite possibly the most Canadian poutine offering, perogie poutine. There were a lot of others so we were thankful when they suggested getting the “mini” option. We choose four, popcorn chicken with a thai chili flavor, honey garlic ribs, coney island chili, and the hangover.
If that wasn’t enough, they also have over 50 flavors of milkshakes! Dan got a Saskatoon Berry Milkshake.
“Well when you’re in Saskatchewan, you gotta eat like Saskatchewan’s,” Dan said about the choice.
I opted for the Salted Caramel. It was a solid choice, but I’d guess that most of them are.
Union Station -Located inside Casino Regina | 1880 Saskatchewan Drive, Regina, SK
The Casino itself features a lot of history, but the restaurant takes it to the next level. While there is a traditional restaurant and bar, you can also sit in a restored rail car from 1918. This allows you to have the full railway station experience. And the food was good too. Unfortunately, we missed the seafood night. However, I was able to the everyday-menu option of a lobster grilled cheese sandwich. Dan had a giant brisket sandwich. We both sampled some local brews and spirits including Last Mountain Whisky and an Original 16 from Great Western Brewing in Saskatoon.
Creekside Brewpub – 3215 Eastgate Dr, Regina
This restaurant was suggested to us. However, we would have been going here anyway because it’s close to our hotel. We’ve been there before and we actually went multiple times on this trip. There were local brew options and more Canadian fare including the chicken bacon ranch perogies. For our main courses we tried the buffalo mac and cheese and shrimp fettuccine. Would order all of them again.
Bushwakker Pub – 2206 Dewdney Ave, Regina
If local establishments or local breweries are a favorite of yours, then Bushwakkers Brewpub has to be on the list. Not only does it have the appropriate aesthetics, such as an old brick building with lots of character, but it a great story as well. This family-run business was started by Bev Robertson, a physics professor who spent time in Germany. Upon returning to Canada, he was unimpressed with a beer at the Toronto airport and realized that it was time someone made better beer in Saskatchewan.
He lead the charge to legalize brewpubs in Saskatchewan. Bushwakkers is highly regarded as one of the best in Canada. After winning a National Award for his Pallliser Porter, it inspired him to open the Bushwakker Brewpub.
While Bev and his wife have passed away, there are family members running the business. Now his grandson, Michael Gaetz, is the brewmaster. He concocted a brew in his honor with the original award-winning porter infused with Laphroaig scotch, called The Powerhouse.
The also have a baker in the kitchen and everything on the menu is made from scratch. I had the Bison Bleu Burger.
Roughriders Pregame Party in the Park – Confederation Park, next to Mosaic Stadium
I’m always down for a tailgate party before a football game. This party is a must if you plan on attending a game. Not only is it a good time outside, but the food and beer is cheap! Dan went for a foot long hot dog. The price was $7 (CAN) so about $5 USD. Comparably, hot dogs are around 5.75 at US Bank Stadium and an Original Twins Dog at Target Field is $6.99.
But the best part was the topping selections. “There was a lot of them,” Dan enthusiastically replied when I asked him about it. I was waiting. It took longer for him to put all the toppings on than it did for the vendor to cook the hot dog. Most of the toppings ended up on his hands and the sidewalk around him. It looked like a crime scene with relish used for the chalk outline.
Pile O’ Bones Brewing – 1808 Cameron St, Regina
You may be noticing a theme here for us. If you’re coming to Regina to hunt, you’re likely looking for a place to grab something cold to drink. You also want a good menu to choose from. Full Disclosure: We didn’t make it here. We tried, but we only had so much time in the city. This location is worth noting however because it’s another chance for a local brew, good food and another good story. “Pile O’ Bones” is Regina’s unofficial nickname. According to their website: “It is an anglicization of the original Cree name for our city, oskana ka-asastēki, (often shortened to Wascana or Oskana).”
Places to Stay:
There are plenty of lodging options. These include a Holiday Inn, Residence Inn, Days Inn, Best Western, and other recognizable options. There’s also a Royal Hotel Regina and the place I mentioned earlier, the Comfort Inn.
The Comfort Inn is dog friendly ($20 per dog). The rooms have their own access with sliding doors to the parking lot. You can park right at your room and let your dogs in and out. The price is affordable and if you become a member, they’ll price match with the various travel apps. There is a continental breakfast that has the usual heat and serve egg/bacon/sausage options, a waffle maker, and more.
Getting There:
Flying – YQR Regina International Airport
With WestJet flights direct from Minneapolis happening year-round Monday – Sunday, it’s never been easier to get to Regina. It’s about a 2-hour flight and prices as of 10/22 were about $150 US. The airport is big enough to handle flights from Minneapolis, but small enough that you are in and out of it quickly. There are rental car options, places to eat, places for a beer and even a Tim Hortons.
Here’s where you can book your flight to Saskatchewan
*Look for the Tourism Regina booth at the bottom of the steps to get more info on what you can do while in town.
Flying with firearms on WestJet
We get asked about flying with firearms a lot and we’ve done it a few times now with no hiccups. You’ll want to have your shotgun in a locked, hard-sided case. You will need to have the same form as driving, the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration.
From WestJet’s website: Ammunition must be securely packaged and packed separately from the firearm, however it is permitted to be transported within the same container.
It can be carried in sturdy baggage not weighing more than 5 kg (11lb) gross weight per person. (Excluding ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles.) It must also be packaged in the manufacturer’s original container or an et, but it must be in original packaging or an equivalent sturdy, durable container that provides sufficient cartridge separation.
I purchased a plano 52” all-weather gun case from Amazon ($160) and we were able to travel with two shotguns to Alaska for our Kodiak film waterfowl trip. It also held a bunch of BOSS ammo that we stuffed into it. The trick was removing some of the styrofoam and then using Sitka jackets and bibs (we brought the Boreal suit) to pack around the gear as padding.
Be prepared to open it and show what’s inside. My case came with built-in locks, but I also put padlocks on it for extra security.
Driving
Driving to Regina from Minnesota is pretty easy. I live in western Minnesota and it is about an 11 – 12 hour drive depending on stops. From Minneapolis its about 12 – 13. I will drive up I-94 to I-29 and cross into Canada at the Pembina/Emerson border station. I-94 is 70mph and I-29 is 75mph so getting up to the border goes quick. Once there, you will need to have paperwork for your shotgun filled out and ready to go. I print off two copies of this form (Form 5589 RCMP, Non-Resident Firearm Declaration) ahead of time at home and bring them in. You need to keep one with your firearm at all times as it becomes your firearm license in Canada. You will need to pay $25 CAN when you’re there. You’re allowed to bring 200 shells with and the usual amounts of beer (approx 24 cans or 1.14 liters of alcohol) or tobacco (200 cigarettes) if you choose to bring some.
While you’re there, they will go out to your vehicle and check to make sure the serial number matches your form, so I recommend having it easy to access but cased and stored securely. They will ask where your shotgun shells are as well.
Once you’re through customs, you’ll travel highway with plenty of places to stop along the way if needed.
If you have more questions about traveling to Regina, contact Regina Tourism. Their website is www.tourismregina.com
Or watch these podcasts to learn more about our experience there: The first podcast is from Regina but we also talk to Jason Sealock, formerly of Wired To Fish.
