BY CLAY
LARROY
A
vacation can soothe the soul and leave you renewed, refreshed, and invigorated.
Whether you are just now starting to plan your next vacation, or are merely
looking for travel
ideas and suggestions, read all the articles about travel. So take away some of
the stress of making travel plans, and get started thinking about the fun and
relaxing times you will soon be having on your next trip! When you are ready to plan an
exciting vacation contact me!
WINNIPEG,
"THE WINDY CITY"
Winnipeg
is the capital and largest city in Manitoba, and a major center on the Canadian Prairies. About 700,000 people live
in the city proper, with about 780,000 in the entire census metropolitan area.
"The Peg" is a city as diverse in and of itself as the whole of Canada.
It is a well-rounded city with a stable economy. It is a
destination for architecture, rivers, history, money (mint), arts, and museums.
It has something for everyone — from boutiques to cheap value stores, Winnipeg
has a great retail market, where a lot of new concepts are tried.
See
·
The Aboriginal
Centre. Located in the historic CP Rail
Station, the Centre is a gathering place and vital central resource for
Winnipeg’s Aboriginal community. Visitors will enjoy seeing the Rotunda area,
complete with the original doorways through which many travelers passed,
restored to its former grandeur. The Aboriginal Centre Restaurant provides tour
groups and the casual lunch crowd, the opportunity to experience traditional
Aboriginal cuisine. The Aboriginal culture is featured in various art forms at
Canadian Plains Gallery. Scheduled summer tours operate from May long weekend
to Labor Day weekend. Group tours available upon request September to May.
Address:181 Higgins Avenue (east of Main Street). Hours: Monday to Friday
8:30-4:30. For information, call (204) 989-6383.
·
Statue Look, Portage Ave. between Spence and Westbrook. This area is
full of all kinds of neat statues, artwork and designs that are eye catching
and some, odd. Look at a giant bulldog, a weird fat man sitting, abstract
rectangular prisms, historic figures, and more.
Landmarks
·
The Forks .
A tourist attraction on the Red River. The Forks Market offers fresh and specialty
foods plus more than 50 unique shops - housed in an eclectic and historic
building that was originally a horse stable. The market has an excellent food
court with various ethnic food options including favorites 'Taste of Sri Lanka'
and 'Bindy's Caribbean Delights'. Head to the hayloft for handicrafts and
one-of-a-kind items from clothing and artisan-inspired gifts to jewelry, toys
and much more. In the winter you can rent ice skates and go skating down the
Red River. In the summer, there are special events and outdoor entertainment
almost daily, not to mention some fantastic patios and outdoor bars. If you're
visiting Winnipeg, it's a must-see. For information, call 204.942.6302
Royal Canadian Mint in East Winnipeg.
·
The Royal
Canadian Mint . The Royal Canadian Mint’s facility in Winnipeg, designed
by local architect Etienne Gaboury, produces billions of coins each year. This
is where all Canadian circulation coins are made, as well as those for 60+
governments all around the world. A fascinating guided tour includes the
viewing of a 5-minute video in the theatre area followed by a 40-minute walking
tour overlooking the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility where the precise
art, craft, and science of coin-making is revealed. Open year-round, the
on-site Boutique offers beautiful collector coins, an exclusive line of Royal
Canadian Mint clothing, and an exciting collection of souvenirs and gift ideas.
The adjacent interactive coin museum involves the visitor in unique learning
activities including the ability to make your own souvenir coin and the
opportunity to lift and hold a 99.99% pure gold bar worth over $200,000. The
mint is located at 520 Lagimodiere Boulevard, at the junction of Highways 1 and
59. For information, call (204)983-6429 or 1-866-822-6724.
·
Manitoba
Legislative Building. Visit Manitoba’s beloved
"Golden Boy", who is perched atop the Provincial Legislative
building. The Golden Boy, a magnificently gilded 5.25M (17.2-foot) figure
sculpted by Charles Gardet of Paris and cast in 1918 at the Barbidienne foundry
in France, is probably Manitoba's best known symbol. Embodying the spirit of
enterprise and eternal youth, he is poised atop the dome of the building. He
faces the north, with its mineral resources, fish, forest, furs, hydroelectric
power and seaport, where his province's future lies. The foundry was partially
destroyed by bombs during the First World War, but the Golden Boy emerged
unharmed. Go inside the building to see the exquisite grand staircase and
rotunda. Guided tours available. 450 Broadway. For information, call (204)
945-5813, or check out information and a virtual tour .
·
Esplanade Riel. Connecting The Forks to St. Boniface, this bridge has
become one of the most photographed sights in Winnipeg.
Do
Tours
·
A Prairie Legacy: The Bison and
its People, ☎ +1 (204) 989-8373 (kmurdock@fortwhyte.org),
. Discover
how bison influenced the history of Manitoba and the lives of Aboriginals,
Métis and Pioneers. Venture through the aspen forest onto the open prairie,
where you will experience your first close-up encounter with 30 grunting,
munching bison. Test your skills as you power a mighty Voyageur canoe around
the lake, or hear the crunching of the snow under historic footwear, the
snowshoe. Explore a Plains Cree Tipi and marvel at the design and
functionality. Feel the smoothness of a hand crafted black spoon, fashioned
from a bison horn. Step inside a one-room pioneer sod house and savour wild
bush tea and bannock over a campfire.
·
Decoding
the Ancient Egyptian and Masonic Mysteries of the Manitoba Legislative Building, ☎ +1 (204) 989-9630(info@heartlandtravel.ca),
. Uncover
trails of occult clues concealed in the building’s architecture so
intelligently masked it has escaped historians and visitors for nearly a
hundred years!
·
Haunted Winnipeg Bus Tours, ☎ +1 (204) 898-4678 (info@muddywatertours.ca),
. Nights
June-Oct. Are you ready to investigate the
paranormal? Are you up to photographing mysterious lights and orbs? Join the
tour “undertaker,” who is “dying” to tell you historical tales of haunted sites
and peculiar activities that take place at famous haunted locations throughout
Winnipeg.
·
Old St. Boniface Walking Tours, ☎ +1 (866) 808-8338,
. Twice
daily May-Sept. Experience Winnipeg’s French Quarter
and history at its best. The tour will guide you through the rich history of
the francophone community and the history of the French Quarter as you visit
landmarks and observe historic architecture. Learn about the magnificent St.
Boniface Cathedral, the great fire, and its new, modern design.
·
West End BIZ Mural Walking Tours, ☎ +1 (204) 954-7900 (info@westendbiz.ca),
. June-Sept. The West End BIZ offers walking tours
of the area’s 50+ murals throughout the summer months. They are fully guided
and provide participants with information about the murals, historical facts
about the area and entertaining stories about the West End.
REFERENCE SITES:
I was a kid from Winnipeg - I didn't know anything about the world.
Gerry Schwartz
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