The 8 BEST Things to Do in Stettler That Our Family Loved

We spent a family weekend in Stettler, Alberta over the Canada Day long weekend, and it ended up being one of those Alberta small towns that completely exceeded our expectations. I knew about the famous prairie railway before we arrived, but I didn’t expect to find a walkable downtown, a fascinating grain elevator tour, a living history museum the kids didn’t want to leave, and a beautiful beach less than 30 minutes away.

If you’re wondering about the best things to do in Stettler, this guide shares exactly how we spent our weekend, what we’d absolutely do again, and a few things we’re already planning to come back for. We visited during the Canada Day celebrations, and I genuinely think that’s one of the best times to experience the town. If your schedule doesn’t line up with Canada Day, I’d also plan a visit around StettlerFest, when the town also comes alive.

Disclaimer: Just a heads up, this winter getaway was done in partnership with Destination Stettler. We are truly grateful for this opportunity, but all opinions are mine and honest. Plus, this free article may contains affiliate links. If you purchase after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost. Your support helps me continue to provide helpful and free content for you.

Where Is Stettler and How to Get There

Stettler is located in central Alberta, about a 2.5-hour drive northeast of Calgary and just over two hours south of Edmonton, and less than an hour from Lacombe along Highway 12. Often called the Heart of Alberta, it’s an easy weekend getaway if you’re looking for somewhere a little different from the Canadian Rockies.

We drove from Calgary and decided to turn the drive into part of the adventure by making a detour to Rowley Ghost Town. It added a little extra time to the trip, but it was well worth it. Walking through the old buildings and quiet streets was a fun change of pace before arriving in Stettler, and the kids enjoyed exploring somewhere that felt completely different from the places we usually visit.

Is Stettler Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. There are a variety of experiences packed into this small town. 

I also loved how welcoming Stettler was. Everywhere we went, people were happy to chat, answer questions, and share recommendations. Our tour guide at the grain elevator ended up giving us ideas for future Alberta road trips, and the staff we met throughout the weekend genuinely seemed excited to share their community with visitors.

Visiting over the Canada Day long weekend also definitely added to the experience. The town had a fun, festive atmosphere, and there was always something happening. If you can, I’d recommend planning your visit around one of Stettler’s community events, whether it’s Canada Day, the StettlerFest in August or with the Polar Express train rides during the holiday season. I think experiencing the town when it’s buzzing with locals makes it even more memorable.

The 8 BEST Things WE Did in Stettler (and Around)

1. Explore Downtown Stettler

One of the first things I’d recommend doing in Stettler is simply slowing down and exploring downtown. The historic Main Street isn’t large, but that’s part of its charm. We spent a couple of hours wandering between local shops, grabbing coffee, and letting the boys decide how they wanted to spend their Heart of Alberta Dollars.

One of our favourite stops was Sweet Home, a beautiful home décor and clothing boutique with a café tucked away at the back. We actually visited twice during our weekend. The first time, we stopped for lunch, and the second morning I went back for a coffee before we started exploring again. We also stopped at The Coffee Tree for coffee one morning.

The highlight for the kids, though, was definitely spending their Heart of Alberta Dollars. These local dollars can be used at most businesses around town, and each of the boys had $20 to spend however they wanted. Unsurprisingly, most of it disappeared at the Stettler Game Corner on Pokémon cards. I’ll admit the cards were a little more expensive than what we’d normally pay, but seeing how excited they were, and watching them decide whether to spend or save their money, made it worth it. They also picked up a few small treats and fidget toys at another local shop, Kidz On The Grow, before proudly announcing they’d spent every last dollar.

I’d plan at least half a day to explore downtown Stettler. Grab a coffee, browse the local businesses, let the kids pick out a souvenir, and enjoy taking your time. 

2. Tour the Stettler Grain Elevator

The Stettler Grain Elevator is one of Alberta’s few remaining wooden grain elevators. It’s a great place to learn about the province’s agricultural history. I’ll admit, before visiting, I thought we’d spend 20 or 30 minutes and then move on. But instead, we stayed much longer than I expected because our guide, Stan, made the entire experience so interesting. 

Tours are offered on days where the train is running.

Stan walked us through how the elevator operated, explained the machinery that was once used to move and store grain, and answered every question we could think of. The boys also enjoyed seeing all the different types of grains that could be stored in the elevator. 

He even recommended other small museums and historic sites around Alberta that he thought we’d enjoy on future road trips (Next on the list is the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin). Those local recommendations are often my favourite part of visiting smaller communities because they’re places we probably never would have discovered otherwise.

3. Ride the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions

If there’s one thing Stettler is best known for, it’s the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions. Although we didn’t have enough time to do the full train ride during our weekend, it quickly became the number one reason we want to come back (maybe for the Polar Express Excursion?).

Before visiting, I assumed it was simply a short sightseeing train ride. But after learning more about it while we were in town, I realized it’s much more of an experience than I expected. The excursion is a good half-day adventure that takes passengers from Stettler to the historic village of Big Valley aboard a vintage train, with time to explore before returning. Depending on the departure, many excursions also include entertainment and a meal, making it one of the area’s most unique attractions.

Even though we didn’t board the train, we did spend some time around the station looking at the beautifully restored cabooses and watching preparations for upcoming departures. It definitely gave us a glimpse of the nostalgic railway atmosphere that makes this experience so popular.

If you’re planning your own Stettler itinerary, I’d book your railway tickets well in advance, especially if you’re visiting during the summer or hoping to ride the Polar Express. It’s one of the town’s signature attractions and something I’d build the rest of my weekend around.

4. Step Back in Time at the Stettler Town & Country Museum

If you’re visiting Stettler with kids, don’t skip the Stettler Town & Country Museum. We spent almost two hours here, and it ended up being one of our boys’ favourite stops of the weekend. Every places we visit, if there is a living museum, we make sure to plan a visit (we loved Fort Williams in Thunder Bay and Fort Steele near Cranbrook)

Before we had even paid for our tickets, my youngest son asked the usual question: “Do you have a scavenger hunt?” I laughed because he asks that at almost every museum we visit. To his excitement, the answer was yes. 

There were actually two different scavenger hunts, so each of them chose a different one and spent the next couple of hours racing around the museum looking for clues. Once they finished, they got to pick a small prize, which was all the motivation they needed to carefully explore every building.

The museum is set up like a small historic village, with dozens of buildings you can walk through at your own pace. It’s Alberta’s 5th largest pioneer village (the 1st one being Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary). We explored everything from the old schoolhouse and church to the train station and agricultural buildings. 

I expected the boys would run quickly from one building to the next, but they surprised me by slowing down (probably to find all the scavenger hunt items 😉)

The museum also has a mini-golf course on site for an additional fee. We ran out of time, but it’s definitely something we’d add to our next visit. It looked like a fun way to finish the afternoon, especially if you’re travelling with younger kids.

I’d plan at least two hours here. The scavenger hunt alone kept our boys engaged from start to finish.

5. Relax at West Stettler Park

After a full day of exploring, it was great to slow down at West Stettler Park. It’s right in town, but once you’re walking through the park, it’s much more peaceful than you’d expect.

We headed there after dinner one evening, mostly so the boys could burn off a little extra energy before bedtime. We wandered along the walking paths and stopped to read some of the interpretive signs about the local plants, birds, and wildlife and the kids played with other kids at the playground.

Looking back, the only thing I wish we’d brought was our bikes. The paved pathways would have been perfect for an evening family ride, and it’s definitely something we’ll do next time we visit.

6. Spend an Afternoon at Buffalo Lake

If you only have time for one short drive outside of Stettler, I’d make it Buffalo Lake. We spent an afternoon at Rochon Sands Provincial Park, and it was so fun!

I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about Buffalo Lake before our visit. I expected a small prairie lake where we’d do a quick stop. Instead, I was amazed by how big and beautiful it was. Looking across the water, it almost reminded me of some of the lakes we’d visited in British Columbia or Québec. If nobody had told me we were still in central Alberta, I wouldn’t have guessed.

As soon as we arrived, the boys were in the water. I sometimes forget just how much they love the beach, but they spent hours running between the sand and the lake, kicking around a soccer ball, and splashing in the shallow water. We had packed a couple of camping chairs, so I was happy to sit back and enjoy the view while they played. I did dip my feet in the lake, but that was enough for me, the water was a little too chilly for me… it’s not the Okanagan Valley water temperature. 😆

One thing I really appreciated was that the beach wasn’t crowded, like what we experienced in Sylvan Lake. There was plenty of space to spread out, and it had a much more relaxed atmosphere than many of Alberta’s better-known lakes. There’s also a playground near the parking lot, which gave the boys one last stop to burn off some energy before we headed back.

On our way back to Stettler, we made a  stop at Old MacDonald’s Resort for their small farmers’ market. We wandered through a few vendors and picked up some fresh vegetables to take back. 

7. Stay at Prairie Junction RV Resort

One of the reasons our weekend in Stettler felt so relaxing was where we stayed. We booked one of the fully equipped fifth-wheel RV rentals at Prairie Junction RV Resort. It was one of the nicest campground stays we’ve had in Alberta.

The RV had everything we needed for the weekend, including a full kitchen, a spacious living area, bunk beds for the boys, and a separate primary bedroom (but the boys ended up sleeping with me). 

But what really made Prairie Junction stand out, though, was the spa area. You can reserve a private one-hour time slot each day, so every evening we head over to enjoy the cedar sauna, cold plunge, and hot tub. After spending the day walking around, it was the perfect way to unwind before settling in for the night.

The location was another big advantage. Instead of having to drive everywhere, we were able to walk into downtown Stettler, stroll along Main Street, and even reach the grain elevator and railway station on foot. Whenever we’re travelling as a family, we always appreciate destinations where we can leave the vehicle behind for a while, and Prairie Junction made that easy.

If you’re looking for a unique place to stay in Stettler, I’d absolutely recommend Prairie Junction. It offers a comfortable base for exploring the area while adding a few little luxuries you don’t normally expect from a campground.

8. Browse the Stettler Farmers’ Market

If your visit falls on a market day, I’d definitely recommend stopping by the Stettler Farmers’ Market. We visited on our first evening in town and ended up picking up a few local goodies for an easy picnic-style dinner back at our campground.

The market is located by the curling rink and is split between indoor and outdoor vendors. Even though it’s not a huge market, we enjoyed wandering from booth to booth to see what local producers and makers had brought. There was a nice mix of fresh produce, baked goods, handmade products, and locally made gifts. We ended up buying a few things including a lavender lemonade syrup. Delicious.

One thing I’ve learned from our Alberta road trips is that farmers’ markets are one of the easiest ways to experience a community. You get to chat with locals, discover products you won’t find anywhere else, and support small businesses at the same time. 

Best Time to Visit Stettler

While I think Stettler would make a great weekend getaway any time during the summer, visiting during one of the town’s annual events makes the experience even more memorable.

We visited over the Canada Day long weekend, and the whole town was alive. There were family activities, community celebrations, and a festive atmosphere throughout the weekend. The parade was so fun. It made me think when we visited Eastend in Saskatchewan during the Dino Days. 

No matter when you visit, I’d recommend coordinating your visit with the Alberta Prairie Railway train schedule to make the most of your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Stettler?

I recommend spending two to three days in Stettler, depending on if you’re planning to do the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion. That gives you enough time to explore downtown, visit the museum and grain elevator, relax at Buffalo Lake, and, if you book it, enjoy the Alberta Prairie Railway excursion.

Is Stettler a good destination for families?

Yes. We found plenty of family-friendly activities throughout the weekend. Our boys loved completing the scavenger hunt at the museum, spending their Heart of Alberta Dollars downtown, playing at West Stettler Park, and swimming at Buffalo Lake. Everything was close together, making it easy to explore without spending lots of time in the car.

What is Stettler known for?

Stettler is best known for the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions, its historic grain elevator, and its location in the Heart of Alberta. It’s also a great base for exploring Buffalo Lake and experiencing Alberta’s prairie heritage.

Can you walk around downtown Stettler?

Yes. One of the things we enjoyed most was how walkable the town is. Since we stayed at Prairie Junction RV Resort, we were able to walk to Main Street, the grain elevator, and the railway station instead of driving everywhere.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Stettler

I’ll admit that before this trip, Stettler wasn’t really on my Alberta bucket list. We chose it for a weekend getaway because we wanted to explore somewhere new, and it completely exceeded my expectations.

What I’ll remember most isn’t one single attraction, it’s the combination of everything. Watching the boys carefully decide how to spend their Heart of Alberta Dollars, learning about Alberta’s farming history inside the grain elevator, relaxing in the campground’s cedar sauna after a busy day, and ending an afternoon at Buffalo Lake while the kids refused to get out of the water. Those are the little moments that made the weekend memorable.

Would I visit again? Absolutely. Next time, I’d make sure to book the Alberta Prairie Railway excursion, spend another afternoon at Buffalo Lake, and plan our trip around one of Stettler’s community events. For families looking for a relaxing Alberta road trip that’s a little different from the usual mountain destinations, I think Stettler is well worth adding to your list.