Winnipeg is well-known around the world as the home of the Winnipeg Jets, the city’s NHL club, but it is also well-known in the United States for its vibrant arts and culture scene. Residents, dubbed “Peggers,” enjoy a vibrant cultural scene that includes everything from play and ballet to concerts and opera. The city has recently garnered notoriety as a result of the opening of its newest significant attraction, the spectacular Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Winnipeg is the center of central Canada, located halfway between the Atlantic and Pacific seas. The Forks, where these two rivers meet, is one of Winnipeg’s most popular attractions.
Because of Winnipeg’s unusual environment, which includes scorching summers and freezing winters, the city’s activities vary by season.
1. The Forks
The Forks, a year-round destination for both locals and tourists, is the place to go in the winter and summer, featuring both indoor and outdoor activities. The Forks, located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, is a commercial and entertainment hub with a number of historic structures. The site was previously a railway repair plant, and the many buildings have been painstakingly refurbished over the years to contain a variety of intriguing shops, restaurants, and museums.
The Forks Market is the major structure, where food vendors provide a wide range of delectable meals. There are two levels of stores. You can also climb to the top of the lookout tower for a bird’s-eye view over the river and city.
In the summer, visitors flock to The Forks to partake in indoor and outdoor eating, as well as river activities. The Riverwalk is a lovely strolling path along the riverbank that leads to the Legislative Building, one of Winnipeg’s most important attractions. Skating at The Forks ice rink or on the frozen river is one of the most popular winter activities.
2. Canadian Museum for Human Rights
This new addition to Winnipeg’s cultural scene has quickly established itself as the city’s cutting-edge monument, representing human rights in Canada and around the world. The museum is noted for its stunning architecture as well as its unique approach to presenting human rights issues.
You enter the museum on the ground floor and rise through six storeys, passing through 11 galleries. It has been contentious in many ways, but it is without a doubt a major cultural institution in Canada. Aside from the galleries, there’s the Israel Asper Tower of Hope, which offers spectacular views of the city.
3. The Manitoba Museum
The Manitoba Museum is largely concerned with the province’s people and natural history. The nine permanent galleries display the finest of what the province has to offer, while the Science Gallery and Planetarium, with its domed screen, presents the expanse of the night sky.
A 95-million-year-old Pliosaur fossil, a display that recreates the Northern Lights, and a recreated Hudson Bay fur trade post are among the museum’s highlights. The Nonsuch, a 17th-century model ketch sailing ship, is one of the most well-known displays. Climb aboard and explore all quarters of the ship to learn about the hardships faced by the courageous souls who bravely crossed the Atlantic in the past. The museum is located in the heart of the city, in the Exchange District.
4. Assiniboine Park and Zoo
Assiniboine Park is Winnipeg’s oldest park, with 445 acres of grassy lawns, mature trees, cultural amenities, and an English garden.
Within its grounds is the Assiniboine Park Zoo, which is home to a vast range of animals, flora, and fauna. Northern fauna are given special attention, including a large number of polar bears, yet there are also some unusual species such as Siberian tigers and red kangaroos.
The Leo Mol Sculpture Garden is another highlight in the park. Here you’ll find a large selection of his brass sculptures created utilizing the lost-wax method. His stunning works of art are displayed in a lush, colorful garden with water features and mature trees.
The Leo Mol Gallery, a renovated schoolhouse where the artist made many of his works, is also in the region. Additional sculptures, as well as a demonstration of how the lost-wax method works, may be found on the building’s inside.
Riding the 4-8-2 miniature steam train at Assiniboine Park is a fun activity for families traveling with children. The train departs from an area immediately west of the Pavilion building on a small gauge track. During the summer, the train runs every day, and on weekends in September and October. The cost of riding is relatively low.
Looking for some fresh air? A vast nature reserve adjoins the park to the south, where deer and other animals are frequently seen.
5. Legislative Building
The spectacular Neoclassical Legislative Building in Winnipeg was finished in 1919 and is made of native Tyndall stone and Italian marble. Hidden hieroglyphics, Freemason symbols, and secret number codes are among the building’s unique characteristics. Weekly tours led by an architectural historian are available.
Statues, monuments, and well-kept gardens adorn the grounds. The Golden Boy, a four-meter-high bronze figure weighing five tons and coated with 23.5 carat gold, stands atop the 72-meter dome. Manitoba’s agricultural success is symbolized by a torch on his right hand and a sheaf of wheat on his left arm.
6. Experience the Festival du Voyageur
Winnipeg’s most popular winter celebration is the Festival du Voyageur. This celebration, which takes place in February, honors the traditions of the French Voyageurs, or early Canadian fur traders. The festival features activities in both French and English, as well as entertainment and events for both children and adults.
Large tents are put up outdoors in Voyageur Park and various locations across the city, with live music, food, dancing, and other activities. Make sure you don’t miss the festival’s spectacular ice and snow sculptures, which are one of the festival’s highlights. The beard-growing competition is another festival tradition. Participants have 10 weeks to grow their best beard in four categories prior to the event.
7. Winnipeg Art Gallery
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is housed in a highly contemporary structure that is designed like a ship’s bow.
Over 14,000 works of Inuit art are housed in this brand-new, aesthetically spectacular 40,000-square-foot structure. The Inuit artistry is on exhibit throughout the gallery, but the three-story-high Visible Vault, which houses 7,500 pieces, is the most astounding.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is Western Canada’s oldest art gallery, and it offers a variety of activities and artists, from poets to jazz performers, on a regular basis. Views of the city may be had from the highly distinctive triangular rooftop sculpture garden. The gallery is located in the heart of downtown, close to The Forks.
8. The Exchange District National Historic Site
The Exchange District in Winnipeg is defined by turn-of-the-century Victorian and Edwardian commercial buildings, the name a reflection of the many financial organizations that sprouted up in Winnipeg during the 1880s and 1920s.
Old warehouses, banks, and commercial buildings have lately been turned into trendy boutiques, up-market stores, art galleries, and restaurants, bringing the Exchange District back to life. In the summer, Old Market Square serves as the unofficial core of the neighborhood, hosting a variety of events and festivals.
The Pantages Playhouse Theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and Manitoba Centennial Centre are all located in the Exchange District, which serves as a focal point for the city’s cultural life.
9. Fort Whyte Alive
Fort Whyte Alive is a 259-hectare park notable for its five lakes, grassland meadows, and bog boardwalks. An aquarium and natural displays, including burrowing owls, may be seen in the interpretive center. Visitors may observe the bison herd, bird-feeding stations, the sod house, and the antics of the prairie dogs at the prairie dog village from the outside.
In the summer, sailing and paddling classes are given on the tiny lakes at Fort Whyte Alive, which includes seven kilometers of walking and cycling routes. For those who want to get outside and enjoy the colder weather in the winter, there is a large ice rink, toboggan run, and cross-country ski routes.
10. Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint not only creates coins for Canada, but also for a number of other countries. In fact, approximately 55 billion coins have been made in this facility. In the newly remodeled tour area, you can watch the entire minting process. From cradle to end, interactive displays demonstrate how coins are made.
The on-site museum does an outstanding job of explaining the origins of coins and currencies to visitors. A tropical garden and fountain are also included in the ultra-modern, triangular-shaped structure. Reservations are required for the 45-minute excursions.
11. Corydon Avenue
Locals go to this lively tree-lined boulevard to unwind, get up on the newest trends, and enjoy some downtime. Small, fashionable stores offering the most up-to-date, one-of-a-kind clothes will captivate your curiosity.
Restaurants provide a broad variety of cuisines, many of which have outside patios in the summer. The street art is also noteworthy; each summer, eight giant metal statues representing Spain, Greece, Argentina, Japan, Ukraine, Italy, France, and Scotland are shown.
Concerts are also held on most Friday and Saturday nights, with a varied range of performers. The major area runs from Daly Street to Harrow Street along Corydon Avenue, and parking can be difficult.
12. St. Boniface Cathedral
St. Boniface Cathedral, established in 1818, is Western Canada’s oldest cathedral. The structure was formerly regarded Manitoba’s greatest example of French Romanesque architecture, but it was destroyed by fire multiple times, however the present cathedral retains the ancient façade.
The cemetery, which is set in a lovely park, is Western Canada’s oldest Catholic burial place. It has numerous antique gravestones of early settlers and historical individuals, including the burial of Louis Riel.
St. Boniface Museum, located nearby, was built in 1846 for a girls’ school and orphanage in the Canadian West. It was restored in 1967 and turned into a museum dedicated to the history of Manitoba’s French minority.
13. Manitoba Children’s Museum
The Manitoba Children’s Museum is located in The Forks, in a state-of-the-art building. There are 12 interactive permanent galleries inside this one-of-a-kind structure that will appeal to children of all ages.
The galleries range from the Milk Machine, which has a gigantic cow cube that you can step inside, to the Engine House, which has a plethora of gears and levers for youngsters to manipulate. The Lasagna Lookout is also interesting, since it allows your children to play with their food.
The museum also presents visiting exhibits and special activities during holidays such as Halloween and Christmas, in addition to its permanent galleries.
14. Manitoba Centennial Centre
Check out what’s going on at the Manitoba Centennial Centre if you’re searching for something to do in the evening in Winnipeg, especially during the winter months. This complex, which includes the Centennial Concert Hall, the Manitoba Museum, and the Manitoba Theatre Centre, is home to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and Manitoba Opera, among others. Attractive fountains and statues surround the structure, which are surrounded by exquisite terraced gardens.
15. Riel House National Historic Site
The Lagimodière and Riel families lived at Riel House, which has been reconstructed to depict the social, economic, and cultural conditions of life in 1886. Louis Riel was the creator of Manitoba and the leader of the Metis.
In 1869 and 1884, he led three rebellions. In 1885, he was executed, and his remains was laid to rest at Riel House for two days. The house, built in the Red River-frame style, is typical of early Manitoba settler residences. This residence was home to Riel’s descendants until 1969.
16. Kildonan Park
Kildonan Park is home to some of the province’s oldest trees, as well as beautiful flower beds and a Hänsel and Gretel Witch’s Hut. The park spans 99 acres and features 2.7 kilometers of hiking paths, part of which run alongside the Red River.
Birdwatchers will love this location. Rainbow Stage, Canada’s longest-running open-air theater, is also located in Kildonan Park. A golf course and an outdoor swimming pool are among the other tourist attractions.
17. Prairie Dog Central Railway
The Prairie Dog Central is a steam-powered locomotive that runs between Winnipeg and Grosse Isle. The railway is made up of historic carriages that transport passengers on a 60- to 75-minute ride that includes a halt before returning to Winnipeg. Excursions with a variety of themes are available, including train robberies, Halloween festivities, and more.
18. Living Prairie Museum & Interpretive Centre
The properties of the Living Grassland Museum protect one of the last remaining swaths of tall grass prairie. It includes an outstanding informative center with 150 types of natural grasses and wildflowers. Visitors can look out from a second-story platform at the preserved grassland, a once-vast ecosystem that originally stretched one million square kilometers throughout North America.
A self-guided walk weaves its way through the museum grounds, which comprise 16.3 hectares. Grab a leaflet and stop at the numbered points along the journey to learn more about the plants and fauna in the area.
Where else are The Tourist spots in Winnipeg
The ideal place to stay in Winnipeg for tourists is downtown, which is close to many of the city’s top attractions. The Forks, the Legislative Building, the Exchange District, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights are all located in the heart of the city. The hotels listed below are all highly rated and in good locations.
Restaurants of the highest class:
- The Fairmont Hotel is located in the heart of downtown Winnipeg, at the intersection of Portage and Main Streets. You can simply access the underground mall and walk to The Forks, the Exchange District, and various museums from here.
- Try Mariaggi’s Theme Suite Hotel & Spa for a truly unique experience. The individually designed rooms are themed, with waterfalls in the Caribbean and India rooms. The Exchange District’s eating and entertainment are also easily accessible from this hotel.
Restaurants of the middle class:
- The Inn at the Forks, which is directly near The Forks, is one of the nicest places to visit, especially in the summer. This boutique hotel features contemporary decor and sleek blown-glass vanities, as well as the Riverstone Spa on-site.
- The Fort Garry Hotel, which dates from 1913, is a must-see for history buffs. The hotel delivers the grandeur and sophistication of the century, despite the fact that the rooms are a little modest due to the design style of the time. The Fort Garry is located directly across the street from The Forks.
- The boutique Mere Hotel, located on the riverbank and just steps from the Exchange District, is another good mid-range alternative.
Restaurants of the budget class:
- The Humphry Inn & Suites is a good-value alternative close to the city center.
- The Super 8 by Wyndham Winnipeg East is a wonderful alternative if your main target is the Winnipeg Mint, or if you’re just searching for a cheap deal.
- The Holiday Inn & Suites Winnipeg Downtown is a little further out of town, but it’s excellent for people who want to see the Winnipeg Art Gallery, which is just a short walk away.
