Story Starters
Chase the Northern Lights It is 2 a.m. and -20° C. The sky is clear and the darkness is thick. A fluorescent green swirl unfurls across the black. Suddenly the entire sky illuminates with ethereal sheets of emerald green. Churchill offers a variety of heated viewing vessels during the winter northern lights season: an Aurora Dome, an Aurora Pod, an Aurora Lounge, or from the open-air observation deck at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. Dan’s Diner is a pop-up dining experience on the banks of the frozen Churchill River under the northern lights.
Reel in a Big One With countless lakes and waterways Manitoba does wilderness fishing very well…and hospitality even better. Fishing adventures at fly-in lodges are more than reeling in the big catch: they are about communing with nature, connecting with Indigenous guides and devouring a fresh shore lunch. In winter, ice fish around the clock in a custom pod where anglers can chill, dine and sleep on the frozen lake, next to their fishing hole.
Lock Eyes with a Polar Bear in the Wild Churchill is the most accessible place in the world to view polar bears in the wild. Bear sightings are common July through September, but October and November are prime viewing months as the bears congregate at the shoreline of Hudson Bay waiting for ice to form. Wildlife enthusiasts can view bears from the safety of massive tundra vehicles, trekking by foot at fly-in tundra lodges or on specialist photography or women-only trips.
Go off the Beaten Track Northern Manitoba is epic in natural beauty, full of Indigenous culture, and steeped in Canadiana history. Road trip from Flin Flon to Thompson, also known as Manitoba’s waterfall alley, culminating with a view of powerful Pisew Falls. In Gillam, take a boat journey on the heritage Hayes River to the remote fur trade relic York Factory. Hike ancient glacial eskers at a fly-in wilderness lodge in the ‘land of little sticks’ near Nunavut. See the landscape change from boreal forest to tundra on a train journey from Thompson to Churchill.
A Prairie Oasis Riding Mountain National Park is an all-season hub. In summer, eat, shop and sunbathe in the charming Clear Lake townsite, or hike Bald Hill for the most scenic views of the park’s backcountry. Wildlife lovers can go for a self-guided driving safari to view bison at Lake Audy. Winter welcomes with kilometres of cross-country, snowshoe, fat biking and ice skating trails. Ice fish and bake bannock in a cozy tent on the frozen lake, or relax at a nordic-style spa. Accommodations range from the family-focused Elkhorn Resort to camping among the trees in a yurt or micro-cabin.
Hike, Bike and the Great Outdoors
Cultural Landmarks
Manitoba has 93 protected provincial parks for exploring. Wake up at the lake at an offthe-grid eco-cabin in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Hike over photogenic sand dunes in the desert-like setting of Spruce Woods Provincial Park. Enjoy the isolated seaside vibe and Icelandic heritage of HeclaGrindstone Provincial Park.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is extraordinary in its architecture and powerful in its message. Permanent galleries showcase personal stories through interactive, multimedia displays to educate visitors on worldwide human rights issues. The world’s first gallery dedicated to Inuit art is Qaumajuq at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. This art museum features a three-storey visible vault of over 5,000 pieces of Inuit art. The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada highlights our remarkable aviation history, educates on the science of flight and inspires future aviators.
Commune with Belugas On the Churchill River in July and August visitors get up close to thousands of beluga whales in the wild. In a kayak or on a SUP, get nudged off course by a pod of curious beluga whales. Start or end an arctic expedition cruise in Churchill and spend a day getting up close to these curious creatures.
Paddle a Wild River
Urban Outdoors Tour The Leaf, an award-winning outdoor garden and lush indoor biome at Assiniboine Park that features Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall. ‘Journey to Churchill’ at the zoo and stand in an underwater viewing tunnel as rescued polar bears from Churchill swim above you. See Canada’s largest urban bison herd up close and walk the trails in search of other wildlife at FortWhyte Alive.
Sign up for a canoe-camping outing on the Bloodvein River through the ‘land that gives life’ Pimachiowin Aki, a UNESCO world heritage site. Or take on the mighty Hayes River — a bucket list adventure that concludes at York Factory National Historic Site.
Eat your Heart Out Innovative kitchens at Nola, Nonsuch Brewing Co., Baby Baby and Passero set the bar high for Winnipeg’s restaurant scene. Trendy food halls such as The Common at The Forks and Hargrave Street Market downtown offer quality bites in a casual atmosphere. Food and brew tours offered by the Exchange District, Downtown and West End Biz associations are a tasty way to explore neighbourhoods.
Indigenous Storytellers Go Ahead, Call us Winterpeg! Winnipeg embraces its wintery reputation with cool outdoor activities. At The Forks, ice skate or ice bike through the heart of downtown on the world-class Nestaweya River Trail and stop for a photo in stylish warming huts. Climb to the top of a freestanding ice-climbing tower and take in the site of Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg’s lauded winter carnival. Lose yourself in the world’s largest snow maze then dine at The Den, a restaurant made of snow.
Take time to reflect while on authentic Indigenous tours. Dine on time-honoured First Nations recipes at Feast Café Bistro and Promenade Brasserie in Winnipeg. Experience healing and ancient teachings on a walking tour of the Bannock Point Petroforms in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Try beading while learning about Manitoba's unique Métis culture at Borealis Beading. Glamp in a 'turtle shell,' an offgrid tiny home in Riding Mountain National Park.
INS I DE FOL D
What's New
PHOTO: REANNA KHAN
PHOTO: BUILD FILMS
Explore Indigenous
Belugas for the Bold
Bird is the Word
Connect with Indigenous history in the heart of Winnipeg at The Forks. Learn about this historic meeting place on a walking tour or browse Indigenousmade products at Explore Indigenous. Venture across the courtyard to the Treaty Knowledge Centre to learn more about the past and present of the numbered treaties of Manitoba.
Feel immersed in the science and excitement of Churchill in the summer with the Churchill Northern Studies Centre’s new learning vacation. This trip takes a more active approach to the season with kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and hikes through boreal forest, tundra and intertidal zones.
Churchill is a hotspot for migratory and nesting birds. With proximity to boreal forest, tundra and marine habitats, over 175 species of birds pass through Churchill in the spring. Science-focused or photography focused tours fit every bird nerd’s interests.
Wait – There’s More: Ride the Ridges New multi-use bike parks and trails in Western Manitoba make for an ideal roadtrip destination for avid mountain bikers. Despite the lack of mountains, the escarpment ridges and changing elevations of Northgate Trails near Dauphin, HyLife Back Forty in Neepawa and Squirrel Hill Trails in Minnedosa offer challenges for bikers from beginner to expert.
Human Rights Milestone In 2014, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights transformed Winnipeg with its extraordinary architecture and powerful message of hope. This year it explores the largest-scale violation of human rights in the Canadian workplace in the new exhibit Love in a Dangerous Time, Canada’s LGBT Purge. Ten permanent galleries continue to showcase personal stories through interactive, multimedia displays to educate on global human rights issues.
Updated Hospitality Two new and newly renovated hotels are bringing upgraded comfort to downtown and airport locations in Winnipeg. The newly opened Sandman Signature brings comfort, class and convenience to their airport location, while Holiday Inn Downtown has revamped and refined their rooms in their recent renovation.
Manitoba Facts •
A visit to Manitoba means travelling through Treaty 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Territories and through communities who are signatories to Treaties 6 and 10. Manitoba is located on the ancestral land of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk Nations and is the Homeland of the Red River Métis. Northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit.
•
Located at the longitudinal centre of Canada
•
Etymology The name Manitoba is derived from the language of Indigenous peoples. It means “strait of the spirit” from the Anishinaabe or “Lake of the Prairies” from the Assiniboine.
•
•
AUSTRALIA
EUROPE
ASIA
VANCOUVER
CHURCHILL
CALGARY
MONTRÉAL
Population 1.4 million in Manitoba 871,800 in Winnipeg metro region Natural Regions Tall grass prairie and aspen/oak parkland in the south and west; Precambrian boreal forest in the east and north; Hudson Bay lowlands and arctic tundra in the far north
•
Major Industry Agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, mining, forestry and hydroelectric energy
•
Climate Average Winnipeg temperature Winter -12 °C | Summer +26 °C
MINNEAPOLIS
TORONTO
CHICAGO
DENVER
NEW YORK
LAS VEGAS LOS ANGELES
NASHVILLE PHOENIX
ATLANTA DALLAS
MIAMI
Contact our travel media and influencer relations specialist:
Desiree Rantala Travel Media and Influencer Relations Specialist drantala@travelmanitoba.com
21 Forks Market Road Winnipeg, MB R3C 4T7 1.800.665.0040 travelmanitoba.com/media @travelmanitoba 2026