Positioned along the South Saskatchewan River, some 180 miles southeast of Calgary, right next to the town of Redcliff, is Medicine Hat, one of the largest cities in Alberta. Visitors come here to enjoy the carved hillsides and rolling prairies of the Saskatchewan River Valley. The city also boasts an excellent climate and multiple parks with engaging outdoor activities, which are ideal for motorhome camping, playing sports, and having a picnic.
The city's name originated from the Blackfoot word, saamis, which referred to the headdress worn by healers. According to a local legend, the Blackfoot Nation was plagued by famine one particularly harsh winter, so their council appointed a young man to be their savior. He set out to find food and brought his wife and wolf-dog along. He journeyed far to the sacred place of the water spirits, where he summoned a giant serpent spirit.
The serpent demanded his wife as a sacrifice, and the young man tried to trick the serpent by sacrificing his dog instead. The spirit saw through the deception, and the man reluctantly sacrificed his wife as the serpent asked. In exchange, he received a holy bonnet, or medicine hat, which ensured victory when tracking and hunting animals, thus resolving the plight that struck his village.
You can learn all about these legends and the diverse history of Medicine Hat on your vacation here. Camping in a motorhome rental in Medicine Hat is one of the best ways to experience everything the city has to offer. Find a motorhome rental in Medicine Hat and book a camping spot at one of the city's parks. Search for an RV in Alberta, or find an RV rental near Medicine Hat in one of the nearby communities, like Seven Persons.
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For a fulfilling outdoor experience, guests with an RV rental in Medicine Hat most frequently turn to Echo Dale Regional Park. The park is one of the places that can accommodate your camper rental in Medicine Hat (open for group camping only). The 160-acre park is a true oasis for both people and animals, drawing over 100,000 visitors every year. While you're here, you can enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, camping by the fire, and simply enjoying the serene atmosphere.
If you want to cool off during summer and have a fun time with your kids, you can visit one of the spray parks in town. They usually open by the end of May, and they're perfect if your kids want to play and splash around to beat the heat.
Finally, if you're into sports and love to compete, then you should visit the Family Leisure Centre. Here, you'll get to enjoy indoor sports fields, a water park, a fitness center, and even food services. The swimming pool is open to the public during designated hours. You'll find other families and tourists here, so feel free to mingle and challenge your newfound friends to a game.
The Gas City Campground is one of the lodging options for motorhome rentals Medicine Hat. This campground is open from May to September, and you can usually start booking your spots in mid-January. The campground offers full hookups and even has areas where pets can be off-leash. Guests also have access to showers, toilets, laundry facilities, a general store where you can buy camping supplies, food, and wood, and an outdoor kitchen shelter.
Ross Creek RV Park is an excellent choice for those seeking a quiet place to park their camper rental in Medicine Hat. Open from April to October, the park comes equipped with all the creature comforts, including 30- and 50-amp electric hookups and Wi-Fi. Pull-through sites are available. Although there's not a whole lot of space in between sites, each site gets its own grassy pad for slide-outs and barbecues.
As one of the biggest cities in Alberta, Medicine Hat has a decent selection of restaurants. Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Italian, family-owned restaurants, pizza, fast-food, and so many other options are available for those looking for a place to eat out.
History buffs and pottery enthusiasts love to visit the Medalta Clay Museum, which showcases ceramics crafted by local artisans and exhibits on the city's clay industry. This museum and gallery also offers pottery classes for kids and adults. If you just want to learn more about the place in general, you can book a tour.
The Esplanade Arts and Heritage Center is a theater, art gallery, and community museum and one of the biggest attractions in Medicine Hat. The museum exhibits consist of antiques and artifacts donated by the community. The collection grew over the years, and now the museum has over 25,000 artifacts that tell the tale of lives and values of people who live here. The Esplanade hosts a great lineup of events throughout the year, from art classes and live music to social awareness events and musicals. Check the events calendar to see what's on during your visit.
If you're keen to learn more about the area's indigenous history, visit the Saamis Teepee. You quite literally won't be able to miss this imposing steel sculpture, which is the tallest teepee in the world at 215 feet. Afterward, venture to the Saamis Archeological Site to follow in the footsteps of the First Nation on a self-guided hike through this ancient winter camp. Archeologists believe that millions of precious artifacts are buried here, so respect this sacred site and leave nothing behind but footprints.
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