Growing up in Lethbridge

From a young age, I can remember waking upto the sun washing over the green and gold speckled coulees with the view ofthe mountains veiled by the fog of distance. I was born in Lethbridge and havealways enjoyed the postcard-ready scenery that the city and surrounding areaoffer. Aside from the beautiful views, Lethbridge also offers lots of funoutdoors around the city. All it takes is to find it is to go out andlook!

I loved to go outside and explore thecity's playgrounds. It is a well-known fact that kids love to play and lettheir energy out, and as a child, I was no different. Nicolas Sheran Park andHenderson Lake Park are two of the best playgrounds Lethbridge. Both are bigand offer kids many ways to play, explore, and use their imagination. Bothparks are on beautiful grounds that are the perfect spot for a picnic if youfeel like packing a lunch; if not, both have food servicesnearby.

For something a bit more out in nature andon the wild side, I always loved heading down to the River Bottom, where thereare lots of parks and natural trails along the Old Man River. With arattlesnake-themed playground and plenty of picnic spaces, this park is theperfect spot to spend an afternoon!

It is always fun to get some coldwater involved on a hot day. Gyro Spray Park is a great place to bring thekids. Tucked behind the Nicolas Sheran Leisure Centre, it is not as out in theopen as the fountains in Galt Gardens downtown. This hidden gem has all thewater-related activity that you could think of, from a mushroom-inspiredfountain to elephant-shaped water guns; and conveniently located next to aDairy Queen, it is the perfect place to go on a hot day.

As I got older, I loved visiting the manypicturesque getaways into nature within the city. One of my personal favouriteswas going to the HelenSchuler Nature Centre. I enjoyed exploring the different paths and trailsin the river valley, watching the wildlife, and skipping stones into the OldMan River. If you have the time to pack lunch, it is a fantastic place tospend the day! A bonus is the Helen Schuler Interpretive Nature Centre. It is agreat place to take your family with lots of hands-on displays and exhibits forall ages. Animal lovers can even see a small snake and gecko inside thecenter.

Once I was no longer a kid, I started toappreciate the city's art and culture. You can find an incredible number oflocal public art displays when walking around downtown and around the city.Trips to Casa or the SouthernAlberta Art Gallerybecame some of my favourite outings to see local art.For a more historical experience, I would go to the GaltMuseum to look at their indoor exhibits in the discovery hall andoutdoor displays in the outdoor learning spaces.

Now, returning to Lethbridge after my firstyear of university, I love checking out all the new and well-known localbusinesses in town. Even when taking a tour of local boutiques downtown, thereis always a new shop to be explored. Whether it be cafés like the PennyCoffeehouse (of which I have fond childhood memories), or restaurantslike Café Verde, there's something delicious waiting for you.

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