17 Things To Do In Lethbridge, Canada

1. Experience Nikka Yuko' s exquisite Japanese Garden

Journey to the Land of the Rising Sun by partaking in sunset sake sipping to sample high-quality Japanese sakes. Visiting Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens will make you feel as if you are in the Far East with its pavilion, bonsai trees, and Kyoto-constructed bridge. After strolling through the peaceful gardens, enjoy a soothing reflexology session accompanied by a bamboo pipe instrumental. Next, enter the tea house where hostesses in ornate silk kimonos will perform the tea ceremony as you sit on traditional tatami floor mats. Afterwards, exit through the wood sliding doors to the garden dohyo to suit up in a sumo suit and learn about sumo before competing in a thrilling wrestling match.

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

Address: Corner of 9th Avenue S &, Mayor Magrath Drive S, Lethbridge, AB T1K 0C6

Website: Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

Opening hours: Sat - Mon & Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri: 10am - 6:15 pm (closed from Tue - Wed)

Price: 5 - 535 USD

2. Unravel history at the Galt Museum & Archives

Drop by Lethbridge’s fascinating Galt Museum & Archives to scour through its 20,000 artefacts and 300,000 archived photographs and documents. Learn about Southern Alberta’s legendary explorer, Anthony Henday and Blackfoot and Ukranian heritage. Throughout the year the museum hosts travelling exhibitions in addition to its current exhibits. Why not celebrate your special occasion at the museum while uncovering the region’s history, archaeological discoveries, and rich culture? Before leaving the museum, swing by the gift shop to purchase one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

Galt Museum & Archives

Address: 502 1 Street S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 1Y4

Website: Galt Museum & Archives

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm (closed Mon)

Price: 5 USD

3. Discover Helen Schuler Nature Centre & Lethbridge Nature Reserve's wildlife

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Bring the entire family to discover Lethbridge’s diverse ecosystem and resident wildlife through the centre’s guided tours. Throughout the year, visitors can journey through the preserve hoping to encounter owls, porcupines, deer, and cottontail rabbits. While bushwhacking through Old Man River Valley’s high grasses and forest, admire the world’s longest and highest bridge, the CPR High-Level Bridge. After returning from your educational adventure, check out the centre’s fascinating nature exhibits. Next, take the kids out to The Living Roof to try their hand at gardening while encountering creepy crawling caterpillars and fluttering butterflies.

Helen Schuler Nature Centre & Lethbridge Nature Reserve

Address: 300 Indian Battle Road S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0P6

Website: Helen Schuler Nature Centre

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 1pm - 4pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

Price: Free

4. Journey back in time at the Indian Battle Park

Travel back in time at the Indian Battle Park by descending the wide pathways through the wondrous Oldman River Valley. As you travel the meandering forest trails, look out for prickly porcupines, white-tailed deer, and rabbits. After arriving at Baroness Picnic Shelter, enjoy a family picnic in the warm summer weather before heading out on a canoe adventure. Next, grab your family and paddle across the Oldman River’s sapphire waters as the Blackfoot people did centuries earlier. Afterwards, finish the day trying out the swings, climbing wall, and nature-themed rattlesnake play zone.

Indian Battle Park

Address: 300 Indian Battle Road S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0P6

Website: Indian Battle Park

Opening hours: 6:30am - 11pm (daily)

Price: Free

5. Learn about Fort Whoop-Up's captivating history

Journey back to the Wild West when fur trading was a thriving business across Canada, the US, and Europe. Learn about Alberta’s First Nations, Métis, and Canadian history entangled with notorious British and American characters. Next, hop aboard a wagon to tour the Lethbridge River Valley while being enthralled by interesting stories. Imagine a time when stagecoaches filled the dusty streets, whisky flowed freely in saloons, and buffalo roamed the prairies. With the construction of the railroad, goods could be transported from the fort across Canada to urban centres and ports for international trade.

Fort Whoop-Up

Address: 200 Indian Battle Road S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 5B3

Website: Fort Whoop-Up

Opening hours: Sat: 11am - 4pm (closed from Sun - Fri)

Price: 8 - 32 USD

6. Free your inner bookworm at Lethbridge Public Library

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

While checking out Lethbridge’s interesting sights, stop in at the Lethbridge Public Library for a visit. Little ones and their caregivers can enjoy storytime, playtime, and sing-a-longs. Teenage bookworms can curl up with an audiobook or engage in board games while they relax. Choose from one of the thousands of fiction or non-fiction titles to enjoy while unwinding from sightseeing. Throughout the year, the library hosts adult literacy classes which also provide for family bonding opportunities by playing board games.

Lethbridge Public Library

Address: 810 5 Avenue S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4C4

Website: Lethbridge Public Library

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 7pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm

Price: Free

7. Admire Southern Alberta Art Gallery's masterpieces

Schedule in a trip to Lethbridge’s Southern Alberta Art Gallery to marvel at its contemporary Canadian art pieces. While admiring the creativity of Canadian artists, enjoy one of the gallery’s educational film screenings. After listening to inspirational lectures, check out the gallery’s cutting-edge travelling exhibits. Then, engage in creative art classes with your children using various mediums to create your own special masterpiece. Try to stop by for a dazzling evening gala celebrating Canada’s talented contemporary artists accompanied by sipping champagne.

Southern Alberta Art Gallery

Address: 601 3 Avenue S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0H4

Website: Southern Alberta Art Gallery

Opening hours: Wed, Fri, Sat: 10am - 5pm; Thu: 12pm - 7pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

Price: 4 - 46 USD

8. Reinvigorate your spirit at Henderson Lake Park

Retreat to Henderson Lake Park to hike along paved trails traversing through groves and dense forests. Connect with nature as you rollerblade down winding hillside paths towards Henderson Lake for a swim in its refreshing waters. Enjoy skipping through the pink wild rose bushes as you and your children admire the park’s gardens. Then, sit on a lakefront bench for a picnic while kayaks glide by, dogs splash, and ducks fish. During the summer months, Albertans and visitors crowd the shores for the Dragon Boat Festival and Canada Day firework extravaganza.

Henderson Lake Park

Address: 1103 31a Street S, Lethbridge, AB T1K 2Z9

Website: Henderson Lake Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

9. Indulge your taste buds at Plum Restaurant

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

After exploring Fort Whoop-Up, step into Plum Restaurant for enticing Canadian cuisine. The cosy café’s rustic decor and vintage furnishing provide a warm ambience where diners can satisfy their cravings with home-made apple pie. The menu consists of rotisserie chicken, crisp salads, tender steaks, scallops, and sandwiches. Drop by Tuesday evenings for a feast of Prime Rib with veggies and mashed potatoes. Depending on when you visit, you may get to order off two different menus since the menus change seasonally.

Plum Restaurant

Address: 330 6 Street S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0N3

Website: Plum Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon - Wed; 11:30am - 11pm; Thu & Sat: 11:30am - 12am; Fri: 11:30am - 2am (closed on Sun)

10. Enjoy a night out at Owl Acoustic Lounge

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Owl Acoustic Lounge isn’t just another watering hole with live music, it’s an experience to be rivalled. This stylish rustic venue showcases local artists’ pieces which helps support their artistic endeavours. Throughout the year, patrons can enjoy comedy nights, trivia nights, and board game nights. Step on stage to belt out your favourite songs on open mic nights or dance along to the band on other evenings. Arrive early to bite into a juicy beef patty with fries before Paint & Sip Night artistic festivities begin.

Owl Acoustic Lounge

Address: 411 3 Avenue S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0H2

Website: Owl Acoustic Lounge

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 4pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 4pm - 1am (closed on Sun)

11. Complete an escape-room challenge at Escape from LA

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Sign up for a serious brainstorming session at Lethbridge’s Escape from LA fantasy game rooms. As soon as the doors lock behind you, you have 50 minutes to find the clues to solve the mystery to escape the room. Up to eight participants can engage in solving puzzles of diverse skill-testing levels. Test out your team’s problem skills in the Revenge Escape Room while trying to escape villainous Mr Chaos’ nightmarish lair. Scream victoriously as your team conquers the supervillain thus winning your freedom to the outside world.

Escape from LA

Address: 915B 3 Avenue S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0J1

Website: Escape from LA

Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thu: 4pm - 8pm; Fri: 3pm - 9:30pm; Sat: 1pm - 9:30pm; Sun: 1pm - 6pm (closed on Tue)

Price: 12 - 20 USD

12. Explore Elizabeth Hall Wetlands

Sorry pet lovers, you will have to leave your curious four-legged friends for this wilderness adventure. Elizabeth Hall Wetlands prohibits dogs and cyclists to protect its fragile ecosystem. As you walk beside the cactus-covered hillsides overlooking Oldman River, look out for porcupines, rabbits, and squirrels sharing the trail. Besides cuddly creatures, visitors may encounter muskrats, turtles, birds, and the iconic Canadian beaver. The paved and shale trails allow for easy access for all to view the wetland’s reed-filled pools and diverse bird species.

Elizabeth Hall Wetlands

Address: 80 Bridge Drive W, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4S5

Website: Elizabeth Hall Wetlands

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 24 hours; Fri: 6am - 9pm

Price: Free

13. Prepare for an adventure at The Great Escape Lethbridge

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Upon receiving your mission, brainstorm along with your team to escape frightening life or death situations. Look for clues, decode riddles, and solve the mystery to unlock the doors to your freedom. Sign up to try Great Escape’s newest adventure where you have to outsmart Jurassic Park’s predators to survive this frightful mission. After surviving the fearsome T-Rex by the skin of your teeth, journey back to the Wild West to search for Wild Bill’s buried treasure against rival treasure hunters. Following your nail-biting adventures, take a breather before leaving and then book a future escape date.

The Great Escape Lethbridge

Address: 1806 3 Avenue S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4C9

Website: The Great Escape Lethbridge

Opening hours: Wed - Thu: 3pm - 8pm; Fri: 3pm - 10pm; Sat: 1pm - 10pm; Sun: 1pm - 6pm (closed from Mon - Tue)

Price: 20 - 25 USD

14. Play hide and seek in Lethbridge's Corn Maze

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Swing by Lethbridge’s Corn Maze to play a heart-racing game of hide-and-seek among the rows of towering corn stalks. Afterwards, gather your kids for a peaceful prairie hayride while being pulled by a green JD tractor. Then, run over to the sandbox for sandcastle building as you relax on one of the playground’s benches. Next, join them on sliding down the gigantic 40-foot (12-metre) slide before hopping aboard the kiddie cow train. Finish the day snuggling the petting zoo’s big-eyed kids and feeding exotic peacocks, bunnies, and fluffy llamas.

Lethbridge Corn Maze

Address: 104051 Range Road 224, Lethbridge County, AB T0K 2A0

Website: Lethbridge Corn Maze

Price: 0 - 20 USD

15. Ride a colourful hot-air balloon

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Get a bird’s eye view of Lethbridge while soaring in Kiss The Sky’s enormous hot-air balloons. After watching the team turn up the heat to inflate these gigantic rainbow-coloured silk balloons, climb into the basket. Then lift off, watching as the earth and buildings below start to resemble miniature dollhouses dotting the golden prairie fields. Enjoy beholding a dazzling sunrise as the warm air seeps through your jacket warming the chilly air around you. Following a bumpy landing, set off to complete your high-flying adventure while dining on fruit, pastries, and champagne.

Kiss The Sky Balloons

Address: 3756 2 Avenue S Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4Y9

Website: Kiss The Sky Balloons

Opening hours: Sunrise and sunset flights (daily)

Price: 225 USD

16. Stay in a cozy cottage at Elbas Farms

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Instead of staying in a hotel in Lethbridge, why not book a charming cottage or farmhouse at Elba’s Farms? There, you will enjoy the tranquil natural environment while experiencing farm life along with your family. The kids will definitely have a ball encountering the pigs, sheep, cows, and chickens each day. If not, there is a campground where you can escape the early morning rooster crowing after a peaceful night’s sleep. Otherwise, drive over to Elba’s Farm to watch donkeys, woolly llamas, newly born lambs, and horses cross the grassy pasture lands.

Elbas Farms

Address: Howe Road, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4P4

Website: Elbas Farms

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 5pm; Sat: 8am - 12pm (closed Sun)

Price: 610 USD

17. Discover Alexander Wilderness Park's ancient fossils

While strolling through Alexander Wilderness Park’s expansive river valley, keep your eyes peeled for native wildlife. Just remember that dogs and bikes aren’t permitted in the park before arriving at the parking lot. There are public washrooms and picnic tables for visitors to use during their visit. After enjoying a peaceful riverfront picnic, get back on the trail to search for ancient fossils and rocks. As you return through fluffy cottonwood forests, you may see spotted deer bounding past and bald eagles soaring overhead.

Alexander Wilderness Park

Address: Lethbridge, AB

Website: Alexander Wilderness Park

Opening hours: Summer: 7am - 10:30pm (daily) (closed in winter)

Price: Free

Experience Lethbridge's diverse attractions

Travel back to the land of the dinosaurs in Wild Rose Country’s thriving urban centre of Lethbridge. Leave behind prehistoric pandemonium by time travelling to Fort Whoop-Up’s fur trading post before arriving in modern-day Lethbridge. After experiencing Lethbridge’s diverse history, culture, and wildlife, visitors will be desiring a return trip for further exploration of this prairie city.