Red Deer's strongest suit is its outdoor life. The Waskasoo Park trail system runs through the heart of the city along the river valley, connecting a series of parks, nature reserves, and historic sites in a green corridor that most cities much larger than Red Deer would envy.
The Kerry Wood Nature Centre is the best introduction to the valley's ecology, and the adjacent Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary is one of the oldest migratory bird sanctuaries in Canada. For history, Fort Normandeau reconstructs a significant site from the 1885 North-West Rebellion just west of the city. The Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery downtown covers the city's past and present with rotating art exhibitions alongside regional history.
Bower Ponds is the most popular gathering spot in the valley — paddle boats in summer, skating in winter, and year-round trails along the river. For sport, the Marchant Crane Centrium is home to the Red Deer Rebels hockey team and hosts concerts and events. Westerner Park to the south puts on the city's biggest annual event, Westerner Days, a rodeo and fair in early July.