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Sneak a peak at our polar whites
Churchill, Manitoba, a two-and-a-half hour flight north of Winnipeg, Manitoba's
capital city, is known around the world as polar bear central. Venture out
over the tundra in specially designed vehicles for safely viewing the bears.
Photographers and wildlife enthusiasts so inclined can even eat, sleep and
rise right out on the capes, in the midst of the glorious bears, as hundreds
of them roam the coastline every October and November awaiting the freeze
of the Hudson Bay. |
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Snorkel with beluga whales
In summer, polar bear central turns into the beluga belt, as thousands of
the 900-pound whales come to feed in the waters near the Hudson Bay. You
can actually paddle or snorkel among these majestic creatures and watch
them watching you! For a less hands-on approach, enjoy watching and listening
to these highly vocal whales from a 32-passenger boat. |
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Shop, eat and get cultured in Winnipeg
Winnipeg is a multicultural city proudly reflected in its festivals, art,
music and food. Restaurants serve everything from Ukrainian perogies to
a fusion of regional and Californian cuisine. Whether you crave theatre,
music, opera or dance, performing arts offer an array of productions throughout
the year.
Visual arts venues bespeak a vibrant community that goes well beyond the
Winnipeg Art Gallery and its largest collection of contemporary Inuit art
in the world. Shopping malls, casinos, museums and historic sites beckon.
Families will love The Forks, the Children's Museum, Fort Whyte Centre and
the Assiniboine Park Zoo, where wild animals delight, along with a statue
of a very famous bear named after Winnipeg -- Winnie-the-Pooh. For travel
itineraries, call Destination Winnipeg at 1-800-665-0204 or visit www.destinationwinnipeg.ca. |
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Snowshoe & track wildlife at Riding Mountain National Park
Edged by a high, rugged escarpment, Riding Mountain National Park (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/riding)
is an island of wilderness over the agricultural landscape. Wildlife thrives
in the vast mix of forests, meadows and broad valleys, lined with more than
300 kilometres (180 miles) of trails, superb year-round. Keep a camera ready
for sightings of moose, elk, beaver, black bear, fox, and if you're very
lucky, lynx or wolf. |
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Fish on the fly
More than 10,000 trophy-sized fish are pulled out of Manitoba's plentiful
waters every year. Fly-in lodges pepper the north and many more are road-accessible.
Arctic grayling, brook trout, lake trout, northern pike and walleye thrive
here. Winnipeg's Red River offers some of the best giant channel catfishing
in the world. Flyfishing is best in Manitoba's western reaches. |
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See northern lights on northern nights
Seeing the northern lights in Manitoba has been called one of the 'top 25
adventures of a lifetime.' Some of the best shows occur January to March,
when nature sends her lasers to make shifting curtains of spectacular northern
lights. A facility with see-through domes built into the roof makes light
viewing a warm and comfortable experience for visitors unaccustomed to Churchill
winters. |
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Hike, bike and paddle the parks
As is the province, so are the parks -- diverse. Sand dunes roll at Spruce
Woods Provincial Park, ancient granite graces much of the Whiteshell and
waterfalls amaze near Paint Lake Provincial Park. Manitoba's highest point,
Baldy Mountain, peaks at Duck Mountain Provincial Park, where glaciers receded
some 10,000 years ago.
Extensive trail networks attract hikers and bikers to broad valleys and
lush Canadian Shield forests. Bike along one of the biggest lakes in the
world at Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park or paddle for days in Grass River
Provincial Park. For information on more than 75 provincial parks, call
1-800-214-6497 or visit www.manitobaparks.com. |
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Unwind at the lake
Experience relaxation beyond compare. Camp or rent a cottage on some of
the biggest and best lakes in the world. Soak up the summer heat on the
water's edge and dive in when you can't stand it any more. Eat well, then
later, float soundlessly in a streak of moonlight and gaze at a skyful,
make that an eyeful, of stars. Gorgeous lake-edge campgrounds may be booked
by calling 1-888-482-2267. |
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Bird in Paradise
Recognized as a birder's paradise, Manitoba attracts two-thirds of Canada's
more than 500 species of birds. In spring, the birds fly north in amazing
flocks in the hundreds of thousands over our lakes, marshes and forests.
North American birding hotspot, Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre,
won the coveted 2002 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow award for Best
Environmental Experience. Delta Marsh also offers great viewing, as does
Riding Mountain National Park, home to more than 260 bird species, including
great grey owl and Connecticut warbler. Birders fly to Churchill for stellar
sub-arctic birding. More hotspots are featured in Travel Manitoba's Outdoor Adventure Guide
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Go a little bit country
Stay at a bed-and-breakfast or country vacation farm during one of the hundreds
of small-town fall suppers, festivals or events listed in Travel Manitoba's
Events Guide. For details, visit www.bedandbreakfast.mb.ca
or www.countryvacations.mb.ca. |
We can't wait to see you! Five-day packages are available for most of the above trips. Park, lake and b&b stays are not typically packaged and any length of stay is do-able.
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FRANÇAIS
