Accommodation

The Convent Inn

The western block is situated close to the village of Val Marie. It was in Val Marie that our visit began. The Convent Inn is a recently renovated Roman Catholic convent turned into an old-style country inn by it's new owners, Robert and Meete Ducan. Not only are Robert and Meete a very interesting and hospitable host couple, but their inn is a remarkable experience of its own. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and absurdly inexpensive. Each room has a sink while toilets, shower and the bath tub are shared. Breakfast is included in the room rate and the hotel has a balcony overlooking the village, a common room for games or socializing with the other guests, and large grounds for catching some sun with hammocks for catching some rest. Robert is very knowledgeable about local sites not found on the published tourist literature and Meete is an excellent cook.

Supper at the Convent Inn is by reservation only. Reservations are accepted up until noon. The first three selections among guests for a given day become the entreés for the evening meal. During our stay, we sampled the New York cut of bison steak, the wild Coho salmon and the Saskatchewan grown pickerel. A small but adequate selection of wine and beer is available with the meal. All meals begin with a tossed salad and Mette's proprietary ginger and garlic house dressing.The bison steak was incredibly tender and flavourful. Even with the medium-well done steak ordered by my partner, serrated steak knifes are not required. I understand that the bison is organic and butchered in the area. The salmon and pickerel were also well prepared with substantive portions, just the thing after hiking all day through Grasslands National Park.

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Campgrounds

If camping is more your thing, Val Marie has a municipal campground within the village limits, and just a block away from the Grasslands National Park visitors' centre. The campground has flush toilets, and hot showers. Fees are very reasonable and the campground is never full or crowded. Sites are treed but not secluded or private. There is a restaurant, a hotel/bar, and a small confectionary in town for your supplies. If you want fine dining, there's always the Convent Inn for supper.

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Back Country Camping

There's nothing quite like camping out in the park. Evening and morning offer the best chance to see wildlife, and the sunsets (and sunrises for those so inclined) are spectacular. As well, the shadows cast at dusk give a depth and dimension to the landscape not readily apparent under the noon day sun.

The cost is $9.00 CAD per night to camp payable at the visitors' centre. Campsites can be anywhere so long as they are 1,000 m from a roadway or abandoned ranch site. Open fires are not permitted.

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