Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat is a city of 63,000 people (2016) in the Southern Alberta region of Alberta.

It's also known as the Gas City thanks to its vast reserves of natural gas. Rudyard Kipling famously described it as the city with "all hell for a basement".

Medicine Hat isn't a large metropolis, and downtown Medicine Hat does not offer megastores with an excellent variety at excellent prices. However, you'll find it to be funky, hip and small-town sincere.

Understand
The city's name comes from the word Saamis, which is a native word that means Medicine Man's Hat. According to the 1983 centennial song "Hats Off to 100 Years!":


 * In eighteen-eighty-three, the Blackfoot fought the Cree
 * in a battle raging on near the South Saskatchewan.
 * In a ritual of defeat, the Medicine Man fell to the ground
 * and laid his feathered headdress down as a legend for our town.

Climate
Medicine Hat experiences a semi-arid climate, and is one of the driest cities in Canada. Due to the aridity, it is also one of the sunniest in Canada, with an average of over 2,500 sunshine hours annually. Winters (November through March) are long and cold, but snowfall is low compared to the rest of Canada. Conditions usually alternate between mild and windy, due to chinook winds, and positively frigid temperatures frequently accompanied by clear blue skies and light winds. Spring (April and May) is short, variable and relatively wet. Snow often occurs in April, and is not unheard of even in late May. Summer (June through August) is typically hot and dry, often without a single cloud in the sky. However, thunderstorms often interrupt the bright, sunny weather late in the afternoon, and there are always a few days (particularly in June) with heavily overcast skies in which the temperature only reaches the mid teens °Celsius. Autumn (September and October) is short and generally mild, though September can bring scorching temperatures in the mid 30s °Celsius, and snow in October is usual. The season typically brings sunny and warm to cool days and cool, sometimes cold nights.

By car
You'll probably arrive in Medicine Hat on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), which is the principal highway crossing Canada. If you're travelling across Canada by car, you're almost certain to pass through this city.

Get around
Medicine Hat Transit buses run regularly M-F 6:45AM-10:45PM, Sa 6:30AM-10:45PM, and Su 8AM-6:45PM. The routes do change when it is peak and non peak services, and not all buses run during the non peak service. Transit does not provide any services on holidays.

See
The Medicine Hat Tourism office can be reached at.
 * Downtown Medicine Hat is lit with 277 old-fashioned gas lights that burn around the clock.
 * Downtown Medicine Hat is lit with 277 old-fashioned gas lights that burn around the clock.

Do

 * There is a permanent pottery exhibition at the Clay Products Interpretive Centre, which houses the "Great Wall of China" (referring to the ceramic China, as opposed to the country). Medicine Hat was the home of Medalta Pottery and Hycroft China, two of the most important industrial pottery factories in the early 20th century.
 * Downtown Walking Tour: Maps for a self-guided walking tour can be found at the Tourism Office for free.
 * During the spring/summer time there's always a chance to see many bison mating.
 * During the spring/summer time there's always a chance to see many bison mating.

Parks

 * There are over of walking trails in the city. All of the major parks are linked by the extensive trail system.

Buy

 * There is also a Wal-mart Supercentre, a Canadian Tire, and many independent specialty stores.
 * There is also a Wal-mart Supercentre, a Canadian Tire, and many independent specialty stores.
 * There is also a Wal-mart Supercentre, a Canadian Tire, and many independent specialty stores.

Drink
Medicine Hat has several dance bars, but certainly not the "megaclubs" you would find in larger cities like Calgary. The dance clubs in town are as follows:


 * The Corona - Top 40 and dance music. Popular with younger adults (18-24) as well as adults.
 * Ralph's Texas Bar and Steakhouse - Very large bar with multiple floors, separate pool hall, and restaurant. Country-western, rock, and some Top 40 music.
 * Temptation Nightclub (formerly Gringos; Hazzard County Roadhouse) Open Th-Su. Lingerie contest on Th. Featuring the only live Video DJ system in Medicine Hat. DJ-E spins live video mixes all weekend. 1,000 square foot dance floor.
 * Temptation Nightclub (formerly Gringos; Hazzard County Roadhouse) Open Th-Su. Lingerie contest on Th. Featuring the only live Video DJ system in Medicine Hat. DJ-E spins live video mixes all weekend. 1,000 square foot dance floor.

Sleep
There are no hotels in the downtown area: you'll be staying on the outskirts of town.

Go next

 * Elkwater, inside Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park; southwest of Medicine Hat on Highway 41
 * Dinosaur Provincial Park; northwest of Medicine Hat on Trans-Canada Highway 1 and Highway 876; hiking and guided tours through fossil beds.  The park is designated as a World Heritage Site. Adults $8, children (7-17) $6