Explore Lacombe and Red Deer, Alberta – Road Trip Stops Off the Beaten Path with ATB x LINDORK

ABOUT ROAD TRIP STOPS OFF THE BEATEN PATH WITH ATB x LINDORK
This blog post is the third of five in an Explore Alberta – Road Trip Stops Off The Beaten Path with ATB x LINDORK series to be posted Aug 17-21, 2020. The intent of the blog series is to highlight local Alberta businesses (who also bank with ATB!) that you may not have heard of, who could use your support during the pandemic, as part of ATB Financial’s #ATBGoodnessGrows initiative. These businesses are located in lovely towns and cities “off the beaten path” between Edmonton and Calgary. Supporting local and exploring Alberta are two of my passions, and are topics I’m proud to partner with ATB Financial to highlight during the pandemic. You’ll also get an opportunity to enter for a chance to win an Ultimate Alberta Road Trip Prize PackageLearn more about this sponsored series and read some marketing tips I’ve shared with ATB.
Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Project Name Title
Follow my itinerary suggestions for Road Trip Stops Off The Beaten Path in partnership with ATB Financial.

Explore Lacombe and Red Deer, Alberta

Part Three of Five in Explore Alberta: Road Trip Stops Off The Beaten Path with ATB x LINDORK

A new blog post in this series will be shared each day from August 17-21, 2020.

One of the things I love about small towns or small cities across Alberta is exploring their usually super cute downtowns or Main Streets. The Main Street of the City of Lacombe in central Alberta, located just an hour and a half drive south of Edmonton just before Red Deer, has one of the cutest downtowns I’ve ever been to, with popular shops like Sweet Capone’s Italian Bakery and Cannoli Shop, or Cilantro and Chive restaurant. But these are generally well-visited stops in Lacombe (and rightfully so—they’re wonderful!)

So for this Road Trip Stops Off The Beaten Path itinerary, I’d like you to check out east Lacombe, where you’ll find not only the World’s Largest Lure (lol more on that below), but also the unassuming and very comforting Eastside Eatery.

Find a taste of home at Lacombe’s Eastside Eatery

Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Lacombe - Eastside Eatery
You've got to visit the Eastside Eatery, on the east of the tracks of Lacombe!

The Eastside Eatery, located at #3 4013 53 Ave., is a delicious breakfast and lunch spot that will be celebrating 10 years in business next June (2021). Owner Meghan Phillips loves cooking and grew up making soups at home and then giving it away to friends and family. She loved bringing people joy through food and is so happy to have continued doing that through her comfort food, soup, sandwich and sweet shop.

Eastside Eatery rotates through 60 different soups—offering one cream and one broth-based soup each day. It also specializes in giant portion, giant flavour housemade sandwiches. Their Gobbler Sandwich, a Thanksgiving-like sandwich with turkey, cranberries and homemade stuffing, is their best seller. Turkey sandwiches in general are a hit here—Meghan says Eastside Eatery hand-shreds 60 lbs of turkey each day!

Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Lacombe - Eastside Eatery
Owner Meghan Phillips loves making people happy with her delicious, comfort food!
Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Lacombe - Eastside Eatery
An addictive, housemade Skor Truffle from Eastside Eatery in Lacombe!
Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Lacombe - Eastside Eatery
Can't stop eating the Skor Truffle!!!!

You’ll come here for comforting soup and sandwiches, but also decadent housemade desserts, including one of 80 different cheesecake flavours (baked and no-bake cheesecakes). Their Skor Truffle is also a popular and dangerous dessert as it goes down so easily, you’ll be done in seconds and want more, lol.

Eastside Eatery may be Lacombe’s best kept food secret, hidden on the east, industrial side of the city. Come here for classic, comforting, simple but delicious food. Inside you can also shop a selection of crafts, home decor, art and take-home food products from other local makers. There’s a good feeling of community here!

Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Lacombe - Eastside Eatery
A packed turkey sandwich from Eastside Eatery!!
Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Lacombe - Eastside Eatery
Simple. Delicious!

While you’re in the area, literally minutes away, you’ll need to stop at the World’s Largest Lure!

You might be wondering why Lacombe is home to the largest fishing lure and the answer is—because the very popular—iconic even—fishing lure company Len Thompson, is headquartered in Lacombe. This giant attraction was created in 2019 to celebrate Len Thompson’s 90th anniversary in a very big way. It’s located right next to Len Thompson Pond, where you can also go fishing! Alberta is home to so many ‘world’s largest,’ it’s nice to check this one off your giant roadside attractions list (everyone has that list right? lol.

Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Lacombe - World's Largest Lure
Check out the World's Largest Fishing Lure in Lacombe, Alberta!

And of course, head over to Main Street Lacombe as well. It may not necessarily be off the beaten path but it’s certainly worth your visit when in Lacombe! Eat, explore, and support local businesses.

If you do visit, ATB also has some incentives for you!!

Visit the Eastside Eatery and get a slice of their famous cheesecake with purchase!

Thanks to ATB Financial, Eastside Eatery in Lacombe will be giving visitors a free slice of cheesecake (one per person) with every purchase if you mention code LINDORKATB during your visit! This offer is valid from August 19 to September 7, 2020. 

Enter to win an Ultimate Alberta Road Trip Prize Pack ($1,100 value)!

Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Giveaway Prize Pack - Instructions
Enter to win an Ultimate Alberta Road Trip Prize Pack valued at $1,100!!

As part of this Road Trip Stops Off The Beaten Path blog series I’m doing with ATB, I’m also highlighting other Alberta businesses off Highway 2 between Edmonton and Calgary, and giving you a chance to replicate my trip!

Enter to win an Ultimate Off The Beaten Path Alberta Road Trip Prize Pack valued at $1,100 on Linda’s Off The Beaten Path Alberta Road Trip blog, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook posts shared between Aug. 17 to Aug. 23, with winner randomly chosen out of all entries received and announced on Aug. 24.

** GIVEAWAY CLOSED ** 

Congratulations to Megan W. from Facebook—the winner of the Ultimate Alberta Road Trip Prize Pack!
WHAT YOU’LL WIN:
  • $100 gift card to spend at five featured Alberta businesses (valued at $500 total)
  • A 1-night night hotel stay (valued at $200)
  • Car rental for your road trip (valued at $200)
  • A $200 Visa gift card for extra road trip spending!
HOW TO ENTER:

You can do one, some, or all of these entry methods on one, some, or all of my ATB Alberta Road Trip posts shared between Aug. 17-23 for more chances to win!

  • Blog Entry: Leave a comment on any of my ATB Off The Beaten Path Road Trip blog posts saying who you’d take on your Alberta Off The Beaten Path road trip and what you’d most like to do.
  • Facebook Entry: “Like” (be a Page Fan) of Lindork – Linda Hoang and ATB Financial, and leave a comment on any ATB Off The Beaten Path post tagging a friend you’d go on this road trip with. Include what you’d most like to do on the road trip.
  • Instagram Entry: Follow @lindork + @atbfinancial, and leave a comment on any ATB Off The Beaten Path post tagging a friend you’d go on this road trip with. Include what you’d most like to do on the road trip.
  • Twitter Entry: Follow @lindork + @atbfinancial and quote any of Linda’s ATB Off the Beaten Path road trip tweets (retweet with comment) saying what you’d most like to do on the road trip and tag a friend you’d go with.

Check back throughout the week as new blog and social posts are shared, giving you more chances to enter and win!!

AND WIN BONUS PRIZES BY DOING YOUR OWN ALBERTA ROAD TRIP OFF THE BEATEN PATH + SHARING ABOUT IT!

If you go on your own Alberta Off The Beaten Path day trip / road trips from Aug 17 – Sept 7, 2020, there are various incentives you’ll get at different businesses featured in this series PLUS if you share about your visits on social media, ATB will be randomly surprising road trippers with Visa gift cards! Share about your trip on social media using #ATBGoodnessGrows and tagging @ATBFinancial + @lindork for a chance to win!

While you’re in the area, visit Red Hart Brewing in Red Deer!

Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Red Hart Brewing Red Deer
Enjoying my flight at Red Hart Brewing in Red Deer!

As you make your way down south on this Road Trips Off The Beaten Path, you’ll hit Red Deer, located just 25 minutes south of Lacombe. For many who travel between Edmonton and Calgary, Red Deer is often a stop probably just to gas up and take a bathroom break, maybe grab a snack in Gasoline Alley.

But there is so much more the City of Red Deer offers, it feels like every time I drive through I tell myself, I’ve got to come back and see beyond Gasoline Alley!

On this trip, I was able to veer off Gasoline Alley just a smidge east, to visit Red Hart Brewing, located at #112 488 McCoy Drive. Red Hart Brewing is a really nice, English style brew pub (except it doesn’t serve food), that first opened on St. Patrick’s Day 2019. They specialize in English-style beers, nitro pours, Guinness pours, for a lower carbonation, smoother, creamier, and big foamy head drink experience. (They also have non-alcoholic beer too! My friend Taylor tried that during our visit). 

Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Red Hart Brewing Red Deer
My flight at Red Hart! Love the Berliner Weisse (green) beer!
Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Red Hart Brewing Red Deer
Road tripping with my friend Taylor! Sipping a non-alcoholic beer here.
Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Red Hart Brewing Red Deer
Cheers from Red Deer!

Inspired after having spent time in England, Red Hart Brewing owner Jarod wanted to replicate the English pub vibe here in Red Deer. There are no TVs. Kids and dogs are welcome. Jarod wants people to have conversations with one another in his brewery. Although I love breweries with food, I can respect a brewery that chooses to have dogs hang out over dining options. There were two cute pups inside during our visit. While we spent time out on their patio (full of vines and flowers!), inside would have been a nice vibe as well, with a very cabiny style.

Red Hart Brewing’s English Mild is one of their most popular drinks followed by an award-winning Irish Red amber ale. I was actually a big fan of their Berliner Weisse German sour, which you can order with a raspberry syrup or a woodruff syrup (that makes your beer green!)

Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Red Hart Brewing Red Deer
Inside Red Hart Brewing in Red Deer! See the mugs hanging? You can join their annual Mug Club!

I loved learning about Red Hart’s Mug Club program as well—where you can buy an annual membership to claim a mug, which hangs above the bar. As part of the Mug Club, you get perks like a free brew (in your mug) per week! Great incentive! Especially if you’re in or not far from Red Deer. 

And while they don’t serve food, we were able to get chips and local pepperoni from Prairie Gold Meats to enjoy with our drinks at Red Hart Brewing. We had such a great stop here. It’s a must-visit!

Those are just some of many Alberta businesses worth a visit this summer. As you plan your day trips and road trips, see if some of my other Alberta Travel Guides might help you round out your trip. You can also read my 2017 Red Deer + Lacombe Day Trip Travel Guide.

And follow along for the rest of this blog series with ATB!

See all stops on ATB + LINDORK’s Road Trip Stops Off The Beaten Path:

  1. Explore Leduc & Nisku, Alberta (Prestigio Bakery + Rig Hand Distillery)
  2. Explore Millet, Alberta (The Butterfly Boutique + Altar Yourself)
  3. Explore Lacombe & Red Deer, Alberta (Eastside Eatery + Red Hart Brewing)
  4. Explore Didsbury & Torrington, Alberta (Cowtown Brewing Co. + Gopher Hole Museum)
  5. Explore Crossfield, Alberta (The Diner at Shorty’s + Enjoy Garden Restaurant)
Linda Hoang - ATB Financial - Off The Beaten Path - Explore Alberta - Local Businesses Edmonton to Calgary Road Trip Day Trip - Route Map
Use this blog series to help plan YOUR Explore Alberta Road Trip Stops Off The Beaten Path!

Check my blog and social media every day from Aug. 17-21, 2020 as I release daily travel guides + Alberta business features and ideas to help you plan your Alberta road trip while supporting local businesses!! You’ll also get more opportunities to enter for a chance to win the Ultimate Alberta Road Trip Prize Pack each day.

Linda

If you live in the Edmonton, Alberta area and want a hyperlocal newsletter delivered to your inbox every Wednesday with ideas on things to do, places to eat, exclusive giveaways and other useful bits of information: 

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Disclaimer: This blog post is part of a sponsored blog series partnership with ATB Financial. This does not impact opinions stated in this post. As I’ve shared repeatedly, I love supporting local businesses and exploring my province. After doing different, smaller, support local initiatives in Edmonton over the last few months of the pandemic, this travel / support local partnership felt like such a perfect pairing! Thank you ATB for working with me to highlight some amazing Alberta business owners and great Alberta towns and cities outside of Edmonton and Calgary.

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10 Comments

  • Marlo says:

    Really enjoying this series. I love a good soup spot for lunch and I would be tempted to try many of those 60 flavours, my husband would definitely go for the cheesecake at Eastside Eatery

  • Kevin McLeod says:

    Great series – love the contest! If I won, I would take my partner on the Alberta off the beaten path road trip to find the most unique local restaurant to try.

  • Tania Shewring says:

    East Side Eatery is amazing!! I worked in Lacombe as a summer student and I use to eat there all of the time!! Will definitely have to head back – and also check out Red Hart Brewing – I’ve never been there before!

  • Jen Sherstan says:

    Love to try Eastside Eatery with my kiddos!

  • Kyla says:

    Great read! I work in Lacombe and have lived in Red Deer most of my life and did not realize that the worlds largest fish hook is in Lacombe! Eastside is amazing!

  • Thank you so much for coming and visiting our town, and the World’s Largest Lure! I personally appreciate the nice comments and write up of our history as well. We welcome all visitors to stop by the lure, and factory store, whenever they are in the area. Thank you again! Brad Pallister, President, Len Thompson Lures

  • Katrina says:

    This looks like a lot of fun! I would love to take my daughter to see the worlds largest fishing lure in Lacombe. Excited to visit some of these spots!

  • Lizzy A Chow says:

    sweet! I am good friends with a couple who recently hit their 1 yr anniversary and who are really into fishing that would probably love to take a picture at that giant fishing lure. we will have to plan our road trip in early September around this~

  • Sarah Newton says:

    I would definitely go to that Eastside Eatery! Those sandwiches and cheesecake look amazing!! I’d take my husband!

  • Bobbi Goodwin says:

    So many great suggestions. It a great year to find these amazing treasures in my own back yard.

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