Rising above the prairie, the metropolis of Winnipeg is confident and captivating, with world-class museums like Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Manitoba Museum offering great day trip options, and a thriving restaurant and craft brewery scene.
Wander the historic neighborhoods, catch a Winnipeg Jets game at Canada Life Centre, then visit Assiniboine Park Zoo while you’re in town. Further afield, the vast Manitoba wilderness beckons with lush forests and lakes galore — a paradise for the outdoors-inclined.
Winnipeg surprises with year-round activities, a booming craft brew and restaurant scene, and famously pleasant locals.
At the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, The Forks shopping and entertainment district boasts historic buildings turned into shops, restaurants, and museums. Stroll the Forks Market, then walk the tranquil Riverwalk trail towards Winnipeg’s Legislative Building. In winter, you can skate at The Forks ice skating rink or on the frozen river.
This recent addition to Winnipeg's cultural scene is housed in a state-of-the-art building that showcases exhibits on human rights stories in Canada. The museum doesn’t shy away from sensitive issues, discussing the country’s history with indigenous groups and other human rights issues.
Winnipeg's most popular winter festival takes place in February and celebrates the traditions of the French Voyageurs — the fur traders of early Canada. Live music, food, and dancing supplement the main attraction: the stunning ice and snow sculptures.
Rent a car in Winnipeg, MB
Once you’ve found your preferred type of vehicle, grab a tank of gas, leave the parking garages and urban streets behind, and travel out into the immense Manitoba landscape. While you have the best chance of spotting the northern lights in February and March, Canadian winter weather often brings snowy roads and tough driving conditions, so be sure to search for an all-wheel drive vehicle equipped with winter tires.
Rent the perfect carPembina Valley is a hidden gem roughly two hours from Winnipeg. Travelers can expect trails for hiking, sweeping plains, and pristine picnicking spots. Pembina Valley is also home to quaint country towns like Altona, the sunflower capital of Canada, and Morden, home of the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre.
An hour’s drive north from Winnipeg, Gimli, Manitoba will transport you out of the prairie landscape and onto the beaches of Lake Winnipeg. Watersports, hiking, and other outdoor activities are accented by the town’s Icelandic traditions like ice fishing in the winter.
Three hours’ drive from Winnipeg and an hour north of Brandon, Riding Mountain National Park is a favorite holiday location for hiking, kayaking, and boating, with the town of Wasagaming acting as the adventure hub. You can observe bears, elk, moose, and a small herd of plains bison near Lake Audy.
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Drive west on Highway 16 toward the historic fur trading town of Minnedosa. On the way you’ll pass happy towns like Gladstone, rolling hills, and stunning valleys, and if the price is right, lucky drivers might catch a glimpse of the northern lights on a clear night.
You could travel due north on Highway 8 all the way to Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park, but for a more immersive experience of New Iceland, wind through Matlock and Whytewold or PR 232, then connect to PR 222 past Gimli and beyond for sweeping lake views and beach pit stops.
For the full Manitoba experience, road trip up to Chruchill on the Hudson Bay. It’ll take a couple days of travel to get there (bring your camping gear!), so take your time and soak in gorgeous spots like Little Limestone Lake, Paint Lake Provincial Park, and Pisew Falls Provincial Park.
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