Say you're floating above Saskatchewan in one of Sundance Balloons' hot air balloons, taking in a stretch of the region's 100,000 lakes and rivers, and a question occurs to you. "What do I do when I land?" Any Saskatchewan guide will answer with two words: go fishing.

One choice spot is Lake Diefenbaker, which is heavily populated by walleye and northern pike. Another, the Boundary Dam reservoir, isn't just a great place for walleye and rainbow trout; it's also one of the only places in the region to catch bass. The Saskatchewan River's network of rivulets and waterways yields more than just a huge bounty of fish—the scenery is also great for quiet contemplation.

Fishing is such a popular thing to do in Saskatchewan that even Canada's brisk winters don't hinder the faithful. Beginning in December, many of Saskatchewan's lakes, such as Last Mountain Lake, freeze over, and between then and March, ice fishers gather on the ice and angle for walleye, perch, and pike. But ice fishing isn't the only thing to do in winter. Skiers and snowboarders race down the powdery slopes of Wapiti Valley, and cross-country skiers glide through the boreal forest of Prince Albert National Park, perhaps spying some free-range plains bison along the way. At Sundogs Excursions, visitors enjoy the wilderness from an altogether different vantage point—a sled pulled by Alaskan huskies.

After navigating Saskatchewan's great outdoors, it's a good idea to warm up with some of its history and culture. The Western Development Museum features a complete replica boomtown, and the underground Tunnels of Moose Jaw explores Moose Jaw's connection to Chicago's Prohibition-era gangsters. Return to the present in the city of Regina by visiting the Saskatchewan Science Centre, doing some shopping in downtown's Market Square, and capping the night off at Casino Regina.