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County of Athabasca
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Rochester
 100 kms north of Edmonton, off Highway 2
Established in 1912 by the Canadian Northern Railway,
Rochester is still a thriving community with a school, library
(open to the public weekdays and late on Wednesdays), hotel, and
wonderful recreational facilities. Stop in for lunch, or a
snack, to fuel up or to stretch your legs in the park. The
annual Rochester Fair, held in August, is not to be missed. The
whole family will enjoy a day full of children's games, a
parade, a horse show, concession and an old-time bench show.
Perryvale
 120 kms north of Edmonton, off Highway 2
It's worth stopping in Perryvale. This quaint little hamlet,
located just a touch off the beaten path, boasts two classic
style churches, beautiful picnic grounds, an apiary, a community
centre and a nostalgic general store. Stop in for a handmade
souvenir, local honey, or - in the summertime - really good soft
ice cream. Perryvale is also home to Karen Ramstead, the first
and only Canadian woman to complete the famous Iditarod dogsled
race - twice.
Colinton
130 kms north of Edmonton, off Highway 2
This hamlet was once known as Kinoull, but was renamed
Colinton after the Scottish birthplace of an eminent resident.
Today the community possesses attributes like a bowling alley, a convenience store with gasoline service, the
Historic Colinton Hotel featuring Thursday steak nights, paint
ball, and a full-service restaurant.
Amber Valley
24 kms east of Athabasca, off Highway 55
This is one of Alberta's most historically and socially
relevant communities. Formerly known as the community of Pine
Creek, this small African-Canadian enclave was established in
1909. Oklahoma had just achieved statehood and was enforcing
laws that limited the rights and freedoms of black people, and
about 160 blacks moved to the area looking for a more tolerant
home. These individuals overcame many obstacles to get here, and
worked hard to clear the land, build homes, and adjust to
growing very different crop varieties. In order to survive, many
took work off the farm. They built a vibrant community that
became particularly famous across the North for its baseball
team. While a number of the original families have moved away,
some remain and continue working to preserve important elements
of the community's history, such as the Amber Valley Community
Hall, and Obadiah Place, a restored homestead named for its
owner Obadiah Bowen and now designated as a provincial historic
resource. It should be mentioned that the Canadian Museum of
Civilization in Gatineau plans to recreate Amber Valley's
one-room schoolhouse,
Toles School, in an exhibit scheduled to
open in late 2008. Check out the special done by Gord Steinke
from Global TV called
Your Town. Tours
of Amber Valley's museum are available by appointment on
Saturdays in July and August. Contact Doug Harper 780.675.4382
or LeRoy Overacker at 780.675.3083.
Donatville
32 kms east of Athabasca on Highway 63
Located in between Boyle and Grassland, Donatville currently
consists of a store with a gas station and Bed & Breakfast.
Grassland
45 kms east of Athabasca on Highway 63
Grassland is an ideal and convenient spot to fuel up, lunch
or just stretch your legs on the way to Fort MacMurray. Watch
for a coming u-pick strawberry farm, and a health resort with
golf course, bird watching, bicycle paths, fish ponds, and a
day-use area. Grassland also has a K-12 school and a library
that the public may use. Grassland's impressive community hall
is home to a variety of private and community events, including
the Sportsman Show and Horn Scoring event in January, the
community Christmas party in December, and a dinner theatre
event each May.
Library at the school open Tuesdays 4-7 throughout the
summer.
Atmore
Located east of grassland on Highway #55, Atmore has a store
and community hall.
 Wandering River
90 minutes north of Athabasca, 90 minutes south of Fort
MacMurray on Highway 63
If you are making the trip to Fort MacMurray then Wandering
River is a good place to stop for the night or a quick stretch.You
can play a round of golf at Riverbank Golfing. You can pick up
basic groceries and one of the last places to get fuel before
continuing on. It's a beautiful place to stop
on Highway 63.
Caslan
Located east of the Village of Boyle, Caslan has a community
centre and school. A convenience store is available for basic
goods.
Village of Boyle
Located in the south-east corner of the region, the thriving
Village of Boyle is a service centre to a growing population and
traffic from highway #63. The community has a new campground,
several hotels and restaurants. Recreation facilities include
arena, curling rink, ball diamonds and play grounds. The many
lakes in the region are an attraction for cottages and campers.
South of the village is the Boyle Fish Pond that is stocked with
trout. It makes a great stop for a picnic.
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