Grande Prairie: Grand Views and the Grand Outdoors

A view of Heritage Village in Kleskun Hill Park, near Grande Prairie1

Located 455 km (283 mi) northwest of Edmonton, Grande Prairie is part of Alberta's Peace River Country also known as the Peace which encompasses a large portion of northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia. Grande Prairie is on the southern edge of The Peace, and is surrounded by farmland to the north, east and west, while the region south of Grande Prarie features an enormous boreal forest.

The city received its name from a late 19th Century Roman Catholic missionary, Father Grouard who described the land as "la grande prairie." Over the years; Grande Prairie has prospered with its forestry, oil and gas and agriculture industries, and today, offers visitors and locals alike numerous parks and open areas to enjoy recreational activities such as local cultural facilities that feature art galleries, a conservatory of music and modern theatres. For those visiting Grande Prairie, the city offers plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets and needs. The area offers everything from hotels, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds.

ACCESS

Grande Prairie is easily accessible by air from the Grande Prairie Airport, which is located in the west end of the city. Flights to and from Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Vancouver and some smaller communities are regularly offered. Convenient access into Grande Prairie by bus services such as Greyhound is also available. In addition to air and bus services, driving to Grande Prairie is another alternative. The primary highway into the city is Highway 43. This road stretches from the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16), west of Edmonton and continues to the Alberta and British Columbia provincial border. Highway 43 is part of the CANMEX Corridor which links Canada to Mexico through the United States. Big Horn Highway (Highway 40) also connects with Yellowhead Highway and is situated east of the Jasper National Park entrance.

Highway 2 can also be used to connect northern Alberta to Edmonton and Calgary through to the United States border. Another highway that is being built and is scheduled for a fall 2007 completion is the North-South Trade Corridor (NSTC). This road will span from the British Columbia border near Grande Prairie through Edmonton and Calgary to the CANMEX Trade Corridor at Coutts, Alberta on the Montana border. For those looking to rent a car once they have arrived in the city, they will find a few options.

ATTRACTIONS

A sunny day at Muskoseepi Park, Grande Prairie2

Muskoseepi Park
Running right through the centre of the City of Grande Prairie is the Muskoseepi Park, which showcases Grande Prairie's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. The park's name is derived from the Cree word meaning bear creek. Recreational opportunities are available in distinct areas of Muskoseepi. The Resevoir section is a place where boating can be done, while the natural prairie wetland at Crystal Lake is great for nature watching, biking and cross-country skiing over 20 km (12 mi) of trails. In addtion to these activities, other ones such as tennis, basketball and baseball can also be played in the park, which also encompasses a picnic area, playground and waterpark as well as an outdoor swimming pool and skateboard park. The Grande Prairie Museum is located in Muskoseepi Park and presents the history of Grande Prairie and the Peace River region. Traditionally, the community celebrates holidays and festivals at the museum featuring 10 heritage buildings.

Kleskun Hill Park
Kleskun Hill Park consists of rolling hills that rise 100 m (328 ft) above the area's plains. The park is situated 20 km (12 mi) east of Grande Prairie. The 65 ha (161 acres) park is a natural area where visitors have the opportunity to view over 160 flowering plants. It is widely believed that the word kleskun is from an aboriginal language and means white mud. The Kleskun region is where First Nation people picked berries and hunted in the 1800s. Many dinosaur fossils have been found on one of the hills aptly named Dinosaur Hill. While visiting the Kleskun Hill Park, guests can stop by Heritage Village, which is located at the entrance of the park. The Village encompasses many original buildings such as the East Kleskun School, the first post office and a Catholic Church. Historic homes can also be viewed like the Herbert Manning, which was built in 1914, and the Wasyl Bill Griko home built in 1929.

A view of one of the hills in Kleskun Hill Park3

The Trumpeter Swan Statue
The Trumpeter Swan Statue constructed out of fiberglass and steel, measures 3 m (10 ft) tall and can be found in Jubilee Park. The statue was built in 1969 as a tribute to the trumpeter swan which was chosen as Grande Prairie's symbol in 1958.

ACCOMMODATIONS

There are several lodging options when visiting Grande Prairie. A few bed and breakfasts located within the city are available; however, the area encompasses mostly hotels and campgrounds.

	A close-up of the Trumpeter Swan Statue in Grande Prairie4

Hotels
Situated on 117th Avenue and close to a shopping centre and attractions such as Muskoseepi Park, Best Western Hotel and Suites is a great option when visiting Grande Prairie. The hotel offers several theme rooms that can liven up a family vacation. On-site dining is available or guests can take a short walk across the hotel's parking lot to a nearby restaurant. Those travelling on business may want to use the free high-speed Internet, dataports and voice mail that is offered. Another great feature made available by Best Western is the complimentary shuttle services. Guests can be conveiniently picked-up or dropped-off at the airport and transported to several Grande Prairie locations during their stay.

The Holiday Inn and Suites is suitable for a wide range of travellers, from the business type to families with pets or for couples looking for a romantic getaway. They offer rooms with a jacuzzi tub, and other amenities such as a business centre and a full-service salon and spa. The hotel also offers complimentary registered guest parking in either the secure underground garage or the large outdoor lot.

Visitors will find that most of the city's hotels are in close proximity to each other, roughly spanning from 100th Avenue to 117th Avenue and offer standard amenities such as swimming pools, fitness facilities and cable TV.

Campgrounds
Nature lovers and those looking for more freedom and flexibility in their accommodations can make use of Grande Prairie's campgrounds. Country Roads RV Park, located 4 km (2 mi) northwest of Grande Prairie, is a good choice especially for travellers on their way to Mile Zero Park or Alaska since this campground is on the gateway to the area. Country Roads is open all year-round and features neatly landscaped grounds and is close to golf courses, a shopping centre and scenic walking trails. There is plenty of room for those with big rigs and slide outs.

Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the 18-hole Bear Creek Golf Course, located in Grand Prairie, and encompasses an RV Park that is open year-round, offering 20 sites with power, sewer and water hookups.Travellers planning to do some non-motorized boating or fishing may want to stay at Gunderson Meadows, located on North Lake in Grand Prairie. There are several other campgrounds in the area, offering standard amenities for tenting, trailers, recreational vehicles and fifth wheels.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

1. c/o Travel Alberta; Heritage Village, Kleskun Hill Park; Near Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
2. c/o Travel Alberta; Muskoseepi Park; Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
3. c/o Travel Alberta; Kleskun Hill Park; Near Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
4. c/o Travel Alberta; Trumpeter Swan Statue; Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada