Métis Crossing Featured in Amazing Race Canada’s Top Places to Visit Campaign

July 14, 2026

Métis Crossing is stepping into the national spotlight this year. As part of Bell Media’s 2026 Top Places to Visit campaign, Amazing Race Canada is putting Métis Crossing in front of Canadians from coast to coast, inviting them to spend a season along the North Saskatchewan River. For anyone weighing things to do in Smoky Lake this summer, it’s a time to look at what’s new on site and how to book a stay. Book your trip to Métis Crossing before the season fills up. Use the code AMAZING for a 20% discount. 

A National Spotlight for Métis-Led Tourism

Being named in the Amazing Race Canada Top Places to Visit campaign is a meaningful shift for Métis Crossing and for Métis-led tourism more broadly. The campaign spotlights destinations across the country throughout 2026, and this partnership puts an Indigenous-owned, Métis-operated site alongside some of Canada’s most recognizable travel names.

Juanita Marois, Chief Executive Officer of Métis Crossing, called the partnership a worthwhile investment and a chance to introduce the Métis to a wider Canadian audience. She noted that people who visit tend to leave with a deeper understanding of both the culture and themselves, and that the goal now is to give more Canadians that same experience.

Chelsey Quirk, Chief Executive Officer of Indigenous Tourism Alberta, pointed to the campaign as an example of what real, authentic travel experiences look like. She said the exposure does more than fill bookings. It welcomes Canadians into these stories and builds a broader understanding of the cultures, languages and histories that have shaped this land for generations.

For Métis Crossing, the timing lines up with a season of new places to stay and new ways to spend time on the land.

New Ways to Stay: Sky Watching Cabins, Sky Watching Domes and the Sage & Spruce Indigenous Spa

Anyone looking for a dome stay in Alberta has a new option this year. The Sky Watching Domes give guests a private, comfortable base with clear views of the night sky over the river valley, and stargazing in Alberta doesn’t get much better than this close to Edmonton. Paired with the new Sky Watching Cabins, guests now have two distinct ways to settle into the land overnight, rather than just passing through for the day.

Signature Experiences and Events Along the Fur Trade Route

Métis Crossing sits on 688 acres along the North Saskatchewan River, just outside Smoky Lake and about 90 minutes northeast of Edmonton. Several signature experiences let guests connect with that land and its history directly. Paddle into the Past takes guests along a historic fur trade route by Voyageur canoe, following the same waters that once carried goods and people across the region. 

On land, the Visions, Hopes and Dreams at Métis Crossing Wildlife Tour brings guests through the paddocks to see rare white bison and other heritage species up close, with context on why these animals matter to Métis history and to the site itself. For those drawn to art and story, Through the Eye of the Hunter and Meet the Métis offer a closer look at Métis hunting traditions, craftsmanship and storytelling.

These experiences run alongside a full calendar of Métis Crossing events throughout the season, so visitors planning a trip around things to do in Smoky Lake have more than one reason to build in extra time. None of it requires a special add-on decision months in advance. Experiences and events can be booked alongside a stay, which makes it easier for visitors still deciding how much programming they want versus how much time they’d rather spend simply out on the land.

Book Your Stay With the AMAZING Promo Code

For a limited time, guests can save 20 percent on an overnight stay using the promotional code AMAZING. The offer runs until the end of 2026, giving visitors plenty of room to plan a trip that fits their schedule, whether that’s a quick weekend or a longer summer getaway.

General admission to Métis Crossing remains free, so day visitors are always welcome to explore at no cost. Overnight stays, signature experiences and packages are what require booking, and with the new cabins, domes and spa now part of the mix, there’s more reason than ever to make a night of it.

With a national audience now aware of what Métis Crossing has to offer, availability for summer 2026 is likely to move quickly, especially for the new Sky Watching Domes. Book your trip for this summer now and lock in the AMAZING discount before it’s gone.