Canada’s central province of Manitoba is known for its wilderness adventures (think polar bears and stunning parks), but the capital city of Winnipeg is fast becoming a hot spot for Aussie travellers keen to check out its buzzing art scene, culinary prowess, and quirky attractions.
This unpretentious city doesn’t like to toot its own horn, but scratch the surface and you’ll find an abundance of unforgettable urban escapades. If you’ve got 48 hours in Winnipeg, we’ve got the ultimate check-list of activities and experiences for this eclectic city.
Hang out at The Forks
Situated at the meeting point of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, The Forks National Historic Site is arguably Winnipeg’s most popular ‘hood’ and has been since the region’s First Nations people traded here thousands of years ago. Check out the shops and cafes housed in refurbished horse stables, and stop for craft beer at The Common, where communal tables that overlook the courtyards encourage conversation between locals and visitors.
Find your bliss
To really feel the holiday vibe, a spa treatment is a must. While you’re at The Forks, check out the Riverstone Spa’s Indigenous Hot Stone Massage, an ancient healing ritual designed to whisk you away to a world of pure relaxation. We’re talking warm volcanic basalt and jade stones that have been energized during the full moon, under a prairie sky For serious bliss-seekers, Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature is a must-do. Experience the Scandinavian spa ritual of hot-cold-relax-repeat. You could easily spend the day here, moving between its saunas, outdoor polar plunge pool, and heated hammocks, all designed to generate next-level rejuvenation.
Eat in The Exchange District
All that spa time is thirsty work (we all know saunas are dehydrating), so it’s about now you’ll be needing lunch and a cocktail or two. Head to the Exchange District, a national historic site that’s home to the city’s hippest bars, restaurants, cafés and boutiques, not to mention stunning turn-of-the-20th-century architecture. Make a beeline for Clementine, known for serving the best all-day breakfast in the city, and wash it down with coffee or a cocktail in the rooftop bar at Forth, where funky art and Scandi-style décor set the mood.
Only in Winnipeg!
Who knew a government building could hold so much intrigue? During the Hermetic Code Tour at the Manitoba Legislature Building, you’ll uncover the mystical secrets of the building’s architecture, so well hidden they have eluded experts for almost a century. Think hieroglyphic inscriptions, numerological codes and secret teachings inscribed in a Masonic language. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the pages of The Da Vinci Code as you examine evil-repelling icons and mysterious symbols reminiscent of the legendary Solomon’s Temple.
Meet the polar bears
Don’t leave Winnipeg without checking out the best Arctic zoo exhibit in the world. The Journey to Churchill exhibit at the Assiniboine Park Zoo brings you eye-to-eye with magnificent polar bears through floor-to-ceiling picture windows offering panoramic views of the enclosure. There’s even an underwater viewing tunnel, called the ‘Sea Ice Passage’, that provides a unique vantage point of polar bears swimming and frolicking in the water. This 10-acre space is home not only to these awe-inspiring animals, but also wolves, snow owls, muskox, Arctic fox, ringed seals, and caribou. We’re talking serious fodder for your Insta’ page. The best part is, Journey to Churchill aims to address climate change, rehabilitate polar bears, and educate visitors about the plight of these stunning Arctic animals.
