Westworld Alberta

10 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A | S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 (baba) darren jacknisky, (camping) parks canada/ryan bray Baba Knows Best F or authentic Ukrainian food and culture, best to go straight to the source – the third annual Babas & Borshch Ukrainian Festival, August 22–23 in Andrew, Lamont County – the borscht capital of Canada. Enjoy live entertainment, a bazaar and tours of the museum, church and grain elevator, along with baba-approved eats: perogies, cabbage rolls, kielbasa and, of course, borscht. In fact, there's a free bowl for all. Learn to make borscht with Edmonton chef Gail Hall, and don't miss the borscht cook-off. Festival entry is free, and tickets to the Saturday night Zabava (party) are $50 in advance. babasandborshch.ca –Shauna Rudd CUSHY CAMPING Want the close-to-nature feel of a tent without getting too close for comfort? Parks Canada is now offering the oTENTik, which combines an A-frame cabin – a raised wooden floor, a table, chairs and beds with mattresses – with a tent canopy. e experi- ence is great for newbie campers. e name is a play on the French word authentique, intended to imply "a truer sense of camping," says Greg Danchuk, visitor experience manager at Banff National Park. ere are 238 units across Canada; 10 in Banff and 21 in Jasper. Each has a firepit, picnic table, parking and access to washrooms and showers. In Banff, add to that a barbecue with propane, and extra parking. pc.gc.ca –S.R. Save 7% on Parks Canada Discovery Passes purchased at any AMA centre. Pit Stop Cherry trees don't typically thrive on the Prairies, but Sweet Acres Orchard in Innisfail, 30 kilometres south of Red Deer, grows hybrid plants created for this climate by the University of Saskatchewan. The hybrids combine the hearti- ness of the Mongolian cherry tree with fruit of the sour cherry to produce five varieties – Saskatchewan Carmen Jewel, Valentine, Cupid, Romeo, and Juliet. "Sour cherries are native to Eastern European countries, so we get a lot of Ukrainian and Russian customers," says Samantha Tabaczynski, who owns and runs Sweet Acres with her husband, Christopher. "They often get upwards of 50 pounds and freeze them to make dessert perogies, pies and jams." Sour cherries start at a tart 10 on the Brix scale, a gauge that measures sugars in produce. The hybrids range from 14 to 22; sweet enough to enjoy fresh. Cherries are ready for picking from August through September, and visitors are encouraged to call in advance. sweetacresorchards.com –S.R. Alley-oop! A climber scales a peak on Mt. Norquay's Via Ferrata. Baba Magda serves up borscht with helpers Kienna Grosul (left) and Grady Anaka.

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