Photo via Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions / Facebook
Bustling cities are nice, but there’s something tranquil about a small town—especially if it claims to be the “heart of Alberta” like Stettler.
Located east of Red Deer, Stettler is described as “an excellent destination for the whole family.”
From shopping, sports, restaurants, and adventure, there’s no shortage of exciting things to do while in the area—especially in the colder months.
Named after Carl Stettler, a native of Switzerland who came to Alberta in 1903, the town was officially established in 1906 and grew quickly.
By the time the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) had reached the site in 1911, they already had a lumberyard, two general stores, a tavern, a blacksmith shop, a bakery, a feed store, and a hotel – some of which were destroyed in a massive fire, but quickly rebuilt.
In fact, according to their website, it only took a year to re-establish a booming downtown area—twice its original size.
Flash forward and they’re still thriving.
Want to visit what some describe as “one of the busiest towns in Alberta?”
Go golfing at the Stettler Golf and Country Club in the summer months, visit the Town and Country Museum, or catch a flick at the 71-year-old Jewel Theatre.
When temperatures drop, climb aboard the whimsical Polar Express, an experience offered by Alberta Prairie Steam Tours, or attend the Moonlight Madness festival.
Their “unofficial” kick-off to Christmas,” Moonlight Madness is meant to get visitors into the holiday spirit with a magical ceremony where they light the main street tree, offer late-night shopping, and feature live entertainment, and fun throughout the town.
This year, you can attend on Friday, November 29th for FREE!
If you’d like to stay the night, there are also several hotels in the area with comfortable accommodations.
Day or night, summer, fall, or winter, Stettler is a pretty cute place to be, so consider checking it out!
There’s truly no place quite like it.
Happy visiting!
Where: Directions here
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