Curing Heartbreak in Saskatchewan

Chappell Roan famously sang in "The Subway" that if she couldn’t get over her heartbreak, she would move to Saskatchewan. While we are pleased to report we are mercifully free of heartbreak at present, the week after Valentine’s might be a good time to explore why the Land of Living Skies might be the perfect place to nurse a broken heart. 

Nurse Your Wounds in Comfort

Staying at home wrapped in a blanket and avoiding the shower might feel like all you want to do right now, but what if you moved your despair to fancier digs? The elegant former railway hotels of Saskatoon (Hotel Delta Bessborough, currently undergoing  renovations and rebranding as an Autograph Collection property) and Regina (Hotel Saskatchewan, Autograph Collection) would make a sophisticated backdrop to your unravelling. My top pick for a rock-star style breakdown before you put yourself back together (better than ever!) is the Grant Hall Hotel in Moose Jaw. The historic boutique hotel was rescued from disrepair and rebuilt and decorated in a homey style…each room is a little different, kitted out in furniture curated and chosen specifically for the space.

Delta Bessborough Hotel, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)

You could also go a little Vegas with it and check into Dakota Dunes Resort, just outside Saskatoon. The Indigenous-run resort has comfy rooms, a rooftop pool and patio, an excellent restaurant and a casino to while away the hours. If you want to channel your heartbreak into something healthy, there is also cultural activity programming you can take part in, a golf course and bike rentals.

 

Eat Amazing Food

If the way to a person’s heart is through the stomach, then maybe the best way to heal a heartbreak is by filling it with all the delicious food you can find. In the “breadbasket of the world” as the rectangular province is known, you won’t be starved for caloric comfort. Saskatoon is a hotbed of innovative restaurants. We love the little shops and coffee shops along Broadway (don’t miss dinner at Odla) and wandering through eclectic Riversdale. Breakfast at Hometown Diner is perfect for the morning after an ill-spent night. Don’t ask how I know.

If you’d rather nurse your heartache in a more rural setting, you won’t be surprised to hear that Saskatchewan has what you need. The small town of Lumsden (half an hour northwest from Regina) is the charming town you need to explore. Spend the day discovering places to eat like Free Bird, or catch a seasonal “Dinner in the Orchard” overlooking the rolling scenery at Over the Hill Orchards and Winery. There are also a handful of cute shops to browse in town. You should pick up something fun and pretty for yourself.  This is your new chapter!

Stumbletown Distillery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)

Drink 

It’s not healthy and it won’t make you happier, but a good wallow with a drink or two is a time-tested response to heartbreak. Yes, Saskatchewan has what you are looking for. Some of our favourite tipples come from local distilleries. In Saskatoon we won’t miss a visit to Stumbletown and Lucky Bastard (both of which offer tours, tastings and classes). Black Fox Farm is another favorite, with the bonus of a seasonal u-pick flower garden. You deserve a bouquet!

For a taste of true Saskatchewan, you have to indulge in all things dill-pickle flavoured. Make a stop at Last Mountain Distillery in Lumsden, which has a tank devoted to crafting dill pickle vodka. It’s the perfect accoutrement to another prairie favourite, the Caesar. This stop, more than any other on a recent trip to Saskatchewan, made me sad that I was travelling carry-on only and wasn’t able to bring home all the potent potables, broken hearted or not. 

Batoche Historic Site, Saskatchewan (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia/TravelPulse Canada)

Touch Grass

Combine Saskatchewan’s natural beauty with its bounty on a food tour and spend time in the woods instead of obsessing about the one who wronged you. The Field to Shield Tour through the boreal forest of Northern Saskatchewan with renowned Metis chef (and excellent human) Jenni Lessard is possibly the perfect way to get your mind off failed relationships by throwing yourself into food and nature. 2026 dates have not yet been announced, but we think foraging, spending time in the woods and eating all the fresh food over this five-day tour will send you back to real life with a renewed outlook on things. 

Other tried, tested and true spots to give yourself over to nature in Saskatchewan are the massive urban park of Wascana Centre in Regina, Batoche National Historic Site, where the beautiful setting tells the story of the Metis people in the region, and the yurt lodgings at Flora Bora, which feels like summer camp, if summer camp was ultra-lux. 

If your Valentine's was a little less than optimal...or a lot less than optimal, rest assured. The heart of the prairies is ready to welcome you and help heal the hurt in all the very best ways possible. 

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