Saskatoon Shines

Saskatoon is a great place to live. I've been here now for 15 years as a resident, but, have been in and around this city my entire life. We've made it our home and quite frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way. If given the opportunity or decision to pursue a career somewhere else, I would have a very difficult time leaving here. Why would I though? A bunch of girls at work today told me that Saskatoon has the finest looking ladies around too. Thanks girls. I appreciate your input. Alot of the men out there would probably agree with you.

Every place has it's pros and cons. Some people get annoyed with Saskatoon's traffic flow and the fact that Circle Drive isn't really a circle. Some get annoyed by having to "cross the river" to get to an appointment. I live on one end of the city and work in the opposite end. I can still get to work in 15 minutes so......in my opinion, it's still small enough that I don't get that big city feel. Ask someone who has moved here from Toronto how they feel about a 15 minute commute to work. I'm sure they'd take it in a heartbeat.

Sure, there are things about Saskatoon that annoy me and that I would love to change....if I had the power to but, it's mostly....not that big of a deal. I would love to have a new south bridge. I would love to have Credit Union Center downtown. I would also love it if there weren't so many damn potholes. Hello Spring! Are you listening?

Many say that the recent boom in Saskatchewan has made this an expensive place. It's growing too fast. Housing is expensive.....and on and on. Conversely, I believe that Saskatoon is now a place of potential growth for business and new investment. We're only just starting to see the growth potential.

Living in Saskatoon puts you in a pretty good geographical position to enjoy allot of life's pleasures. Cabin country is only about an hour and a half north of here. There is an abundance of lakes and fishing/camping destinations within a short driving distance. There's plenty of golfing destinations close by. If professional sports are for you, it's a short drive to Regina or even to Calgary, Edmonton or Winnipeg. Minneapolis is only a day away too.

Saskatoon has plenty of festivals to enjoy as well. There are cultural events and musical presentations to take in. The Jazz Festival, Folkfest, The Ex and Cruise Weekend all make for a summer of enjoyable activities. The picturesque and historic University of Saskatchewan is also located here.

Where am I going with this you ask? Well, I've been giving lots of thought to what makes Saskatoon a great place for each and every one of us. I thought I would try and put a blog list together of all the things you enjoy about life in Saskatoon. From dining and family experiences to shopping and recreational pursuits. I'm putting a list of categories together for people to pick their favorites. Please submit your top pick for every category. E-mail me your picks to tsudsy@gmail.com or post in my comment section below. I'll post the top 3 responses for each category in 1-week. Please enjoy and take the time to fill it out if you can so we can see what makes Saskatoon Shine for you.

Thanks for reading.

-Troy-

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The categories are as follows:

1) Best Fine Dining Restaurant

2) Best Family Friendly Restaurant

3) Best Burger Joint

4) Best Fast Food

5) Best Sub Shop

6) Best Steak House

7) Best International Cuisine

8) Best Desserts

9) Best Ice Cream Stand

10) Best Wings

11) Best Nachos

12) Best Coffee House

13) Best Club

14) Best Lounge

15) Best Sports Bar

16) Best Brew Pub

17) Best Movie Theater

18) Best Cultural Events Center

19) Best Shopping Mall

20) Best Shopping District (Broadway, Preston Crossing etc)

21) Best Movie & Game Rental Outlet

22) Best Men's Clothing Store

23) Best Women's Clothing Store

24) Best Children's Wear Store

25) Best Kids Birthday Party Center

26) Favorite Festival (summer)

27) Favorite Festival (winter)

28) Best Book Store

29) Best Outdoor Activity Center (trails, parks)

30) Best Parks

31) Best Golf Course

32) Best Outdoor Pool

33) Best Indoor Pool

34) Best Leisure Facility

35) Best Home Building Center

36) Best Home Decorating Store

37) Best Greenhouse

38) Best Flower Shop

39) Best Saskatoon Hotel for a Weekend Get-Away

40) Best Saskatoon Hotel for a Weekend Family Get-Away

*I know there's a lot more categories that I could have used but, I I'll save those for another time. If you have any suggestions, please include them in your response.*