A dream vacation to Winnipeg (Yes, Winnipeg!)
Living in Saskatoon, I should have expected another city would be a hidden gem. For some reason, I didn’t think that city would be Winnipeg! As it turns out, I’ve been underrating ‘The Peg’ for, oh, my whole life. Culture, food, unique destinations and attractions… if you’ve beat me to knowing what Winnipeg has to offer, I’d appreciate you sharing more itinerary suggestions in the comments. And if you’re wondering, why ask for suggestions when the trip is over? It’s because I’d love to go back soon.
In fairness, I had only visited Winnipeg while on tour with my band— a quick stop after over eight hours on a straight highway. We’d play a show and ready for our next stretch of driving. I’d never explored the city, and I’d never thought about flying in. From YXE to YWG, it’s just an hour and a half, direct. That’s something I didn’t know before Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg invited me to come explore alongside fellow Sask Influencers, Ashlyn from The Lost Girl’s Guide and Venessa of @foodiepharmbabe. And speaking of the lovely tourism folks, they did sponsor this post, although all thoughts expressed are my own.
Now, for my adventures in Winnipeg!
First, my accommodations. The Alt Hotel (in any city) is always clean, modern, and refined. I always feel chic staying in the Alt, even when I’m doing a staycation in Saskatoon. They do such a great job from design and service, don’t they? Bonus, the location of this Alt was just a block away from Canada Life Centre where we’d be taking in a Jets game.
Friends, I am still daydreaming about Thermea. This was my first experience at a Nordik Spa, where the idea is to cycle slowly between heat, cold, and rest. I’d heard people talk about Nordik Spas before and it sounded boring to me but in practice, it’s nothing short of heavenly. Thermea is a low-volume atmosphere with soft music playing like a blanket over the environment. Patrons are encouraged to be silent or speak quietly, and you soon get into the groove of just being. We had our phones for the first bit to collect content and then we simply relaxed. Sauna, cool mists, marble slab recliner. Hot pool, ice bucket, hammock. But it is the aromatherapy steam room that my mind wanders back to most.
Assinaboine Park Conservatory, also known as The Leaf, feels out of a movie. It reminds me of the old Mendel Conservatory… times a million. This full biodome of tropical and Mediterranean even features some edible plant life that gets used by the on-site restaurant, Gather. Upstairs, there’s a butterfly house. From that level, you can peer over the railing as Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall rushes downward. If I lived in Winnipeg, I would have a membership for joy-in-winter purposes alone.
Assiniboine Park Zoo is a world-class facility that’s set up to reflect Manitoba’s diverse provincial climate and geography as you walk through. And when you get to the “north”, you arrive at Churchill. So it makes sense that the International Polar Bear Research Centre has a home here. What sets this zoo apart from others around the world is that they’re able to offer orphaned polar bears a safe, enriched home while sharing the wonder of these animals with patrons. The emphasis is on the bears’ needs and what we, as humans, can do to to protect them as a species.
I have to note, their cafe has the most incredible view of the polar bear’s field habitat where they enjoy to sunbathe. And just off the cafe is an indoor kids’ playground!
Winnipeg Art Gallery Qaumajuq (pronounced KOW-ma-yourk) houses the world’s largest contemporary collection of Inuit Art — the visible vault of carvings is absolutely jaw-dropping. The gallery shows ancient Indigenous art all the way to recent works, and the spaces invite and welcome people from all backgrounds to explore them. This gallery was created and exists in the spirit of truth and reconciliation. That’s why the naming of the gallery spaces, which was done with Indigenous language keepers, is so important. WAG is also home to Canadian, American, and European artworks, photography, decorative art, and more. There’s a lot to see!
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights went beyond my expectations. Friends who’d visited said it was a must-see, but in my mind, it would only be heavy and depressing. And yet somehow, this museum, whose very building is designed to shed light into dark places, tackles challenging ideas about justice, displacement, colonialization, war, and humanity with grace and interest. It keeps visitors engaged and I found myself thinking at many of the stations, “Even my kids would like this!” I’ll be bringing them next time and am looking forward to getting through more of the galleries.
The Forks, located at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, has been a meeting place for over 6000 years. Now on the site, you’ll find a bustling indoor market with local food and shops galore. It’s actually pretty amazing to think about how long people have been drawn to this place, socializing and trading!
Right across from The Forks is St. Boniface, the vibrant French Quarter where Louis Riel’s grave lays. We walked along the river but if I had more time, I’d love to peruse the galleries and shops. This is the heart of Francephone and Metis culture and I’ve heard the neighborhood has a great energy.
What an opportunity we had to see the Winnipeg Jets’ home opener! Whether you’re an NHL fan or just like the energy of a great crowd, taking in a game should be on your list. Planning to go to the Nov 9 game? I have a special promo for you: CLICK HERE.
And last but not least, food. I made a video of my favourites in action which you can catch on my Instagram. Or, scroll through and get inspired to eat well in Winnipeg! Featured (in order) are James Avenue Pumphouse, Nola, Fort Whyte Alive, Clementine, Gather at the Leaf, Gusto North, Rose Coffee and Wine. Some truly wonderful bites here!
I hope you enjoyed this peek at my Winnipeg Whirlwind. Beyond what you’re seeing here, my suggestion is to take a full day at Thermea. Everything you need is right there, with a restaurant on site. Go be happy just living peacefully for a day at the spa.
Maygen
