8.1 Regional Tourism

There's only one region in all of Alberta where visitors can take advantage of every travel amenity within minutes; where the province's largest automobile accessible lake lies encircled by sandy beaches and shallow warm water; surrounded by an overwhelming choice of: 
 

motor inns	bed and breakfast facilities
restaurants	cultural and aboriginal activities
serviced campgrounds	fantastic fishing & birding
resorts	great hiking trails
museums	superb provincial parks
and friendly tourism operators eager to make this your best vacation experience ever!

The region is Big Lake Country - the area surrounding Lesser Slave Lake –and includes a large portion on the Municipal District of Big Lakes. It has become a hot spot for tourists and travellers. It's reputation as a destination for Walleye fishermen and families grows every year. No visit to Big Lake Country is complete without a tour of the many attractions located within the Municipal District of Big Lakes! 

 

8.2 Tourism Organizations

8.3 Tourist Attractions and Special Events

Museums

High Prairie
High Prairie & District Museum & Historical Society 
1-(780) 523-2601
Rediscover the past in our unique museum, which comes alive with music, artists and children's programs. The museum has displays for all ages to enjoy. 

Purpose: To collect, preserve, research, exhibit and educate the general public about its collection, doing so in the most professional way and with the highest standards possible. 
 

Museum services and programs include:  * Summer Children's Programs  * School Programs  * Exhibits  * Public Programs/Workshops  * Research  * Annual "Grouard-Peace River Trail"  * Bus Tour (Summer)

Hours of Operation:  Office hours: Monday Saturday  9:00 a.m. - 12 noon  Public viewing hours:  Tuesday -Saturday  1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Grouard

Grouard Native Cultural Arts Museum 
1-(780)-751-3306
The museum details the fascinating aboriginal and cultural past of this community nestled on the banks of Buffalo Bay, 40 km northeast of High Prairie. One of the few museums that displays and interprets the cultural and artistic achievement of the native people of North America, as well as the history of Grouard and area. 
 

Hours of operation: Open year around Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Saturdays and Sundays - July and August only  Admission is  free, donations are welcome.  Group tours are welcome by appointment

Kinuso

Kinosayo Museum
1-(780)-775-3774
Fascinating human and natural history collections. Come and see the Great Plains Grizzly Bear. Located in the agricultural complex in the village of Kinuso, along the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake at the junction of Highway #2 & Grizzly Trail (Highway # 33). 
 

Hours of operation: Open: May 1-Aug 31, weekdays 9:00a.m.-4:00 p.m.  For admission after hours, please phone:  1-(403)-775-3546, 775-2209 or 775-2187  Admission is free! Donations are gratefully accepted.

Natural Attractions

The Municipal District of Big Lakes includes some breathtaking countryside and recreational opportunities. An Alberta natural area, Police Point, is found on the Eastern Shore of Buffalo Bay, 40 km northeast of High Prairie, where a wide variety of waterfowl and fish breed. Police Point also contains part of the Grouard trail, where David Thompson first happened onto the shore of Lesser Slave Lake in 1799. One smaller lake worthy of mention is Snipe Lake southwest of High Prairie. Many lakeside locations provide a chance to linger over warm, sunny evenings in the summer, or to enjoy swimming, fishing, golfing, water skiing and maybe even a northern lights display! 

Provincial Parks
 
 

Hilliard's Bay World-class open-water fishing is the main attraction of this park on Lesser Slave Lake.  The park is a nesting area for the great horned and great Grey owl.  There are also opportunities to see bald eagles. A sandy beach and warm clear water provide good swimming.  Phone #751-3789

 

Winagami Lake  This area is a bird watcher's paradise with over 200 observed bird species including waterfowl and songbirds.  A short, paved path in the park leads to bird viewing platforms, and the Kimiwan Bird Sanctuary and Interpretative Centre are nearby in McLennan.  Camp amidst the mixed wood, boreal forest. Families will enjoy the playground and wading pool. The lake is teeming with pike, walleye and perch.  Phone # 523-2427

Natural Areas
 
 

Jackpine Natural Area This area is l Located 12 km north of High Prairie on Highway #749.  It is a example of a rare boreal forest ecosystem  Phone # 523-3505

 

Police Point Natural Area  This area located on the Eastern Shore of Buffalo Bay, near Grouard is where a wide variety of waterfowl and fish breed.  Police Point also contains part of the Grouard Trail, where David Thompson first happened onto the shore of Lesser Slave Lake in 1799.

Annual Events

Event	Month
High Prairie Showcase – Trade Show *(every two years)	April
High Prairie & District Amateur Rodeo	May
North Country Fair Folk Festival	June
Spruce Point Park Walleye Tournament	June
High Prairie Children's Festival	June
Canada Day Scavenger Hunt-  Winagami Provincial Park	July
Pioneer Thresherman Canada Day Celebrations	July
High Prairie Elks Coors Chute Out Pro Rodeo	July
Provincial Parks Day	July
Golden Walleye Classic Fishing Tournament	August
High Prairie & District Agriculture Fair	August
High Prairie Open Golf Tournament	August
Joussard Walleye Tournament (Shaw’s Point)	August
Heritage Days	August

8.4 Hospitality Services

Cabin Rentals

Accommodation Name	Phone #	Address	# of  Cabins			Other Services
Faust
Enchanted Charter Tours E-mail:djones@ccinet.ab.ca	355-3555	Box 166 T0G 2X0		1	Guided fishing trips Sight seeing trips
Grouard
Shaw’s Point Resort	755-3562	Box 386 High Prairie, AB T0G 1E0			Camping, boating fishing, store, sandy beach, restaurant etc.
Joussard
Hawk’s Hide-A-Way Cabins	776-3750

Convention & Conference Facilities

Facility	Meeting and/or Banquet Rooms	Capacity	Phone #
High Prairie
High Prairie Inn	3	25 – 250	1-(780)-523-3050
Key Inn Motel	1		1-(780)-523-5090
Whitefish Inn			1-(780) 523-6111
Kinuso
Swan Hills

Restaurants

Restaurant	Location	Phone #
High Prairie
A & W	4205-53 Avenue	(780) 523-3332
Burger Baron Pizza Steak House	5023-53 Avenue	(780) 523-5544
Dream Catcher Inn Restaurant	4653-53 Street	(780) 523-5011
Family Inn Restaurant and Dining	5201- 50 Street	(780) 523-4606
High Land 18 Restaurant	4802-52 Avenue	(780) 523-3108
High Prairie Inn	4125-52 Avenue	(780) 523-3050
Kentucky Fried Chicken	5100-53 Avenue	(780) 523-3233
L&L Family Restaurant	4201-53 Avenue	(780) 523-5753
New Orion Restaurant	4808-52 Avenue	(780) 523-3928
Pizza Factory	5117-50 Avenue	(780) 523-3232
Subway Sandwiches & Salads	5101-53 Avenue	(780) 523-5567
Uncle Nicky’s Canadian Fried Chicken and Pizza	4933-53 Avenue	(780) 523-2222
Whitefish Inn		(780) 523-6111
Faust
Lakeside Café	Faust	(780) 355-2285
Auntie's Ice Cream Barn & Kaffegarten	Faust	(780) 355-3763
Grouard
Shaw’s Point Resort	Grouard	(780) 751-3905
Kinuso
Kinuso Hotel	Kinuso	(780) 775-3500
Neon Café	Kinuso	(780) 775-6366
Strawberry Service Restaurant	5 km west of Kinuso on Highway #2	(780) 775-2266
Swan Hills
Burger Baron	4951 Chalmers Ave.	(780) 333-4661
Davey Jones Locker Room	Swan Hills Mall	(780) 333-4600
Sammy’s Restaurant	5435 Plaza Ave.	(780) 333-3333
Swan Hills Esso Restaurant	4818 Highway Ave.	(780) 333-4455
Swan Hills Hotel	Plaza Ave.	(780) 333-4411
Swan Palace		(780) 333-4892