Food

Head to City Roast Coffee (4940 Ross St., 403/347-0893, Mon.–Sat. 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.) for a caffeine fix in a city-style coffeehouse. Around the corner, a very different type of eatery, the Jerry Can (5005 50th Ave., 403/347-9417, open daily for breakfast and lunch), attracts a strange collection of locals who come for the inexpensive meals and to catch up on gossip.

Fast-food and family-style restaurants line 50th (Gaetz) Avenue north and south of downtown, but for Red Deer [1]’s most distinguished dining experience plan on eating at the Rusty Pelican (2079 50th Ave., 403/347-1414, daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m., $14–29). Mains range from the semi-exotic (Cajun-style red snapper) to the traditional (prime rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding). A menu filled with seafood starters, a sensibly priced wine list, and melt-in-your-mouth strawberry cheesecake round out this top pick.