Winnipeg Travel Guide

Winnipeg bills itself the Festival City and it certainly offers a lot of things to do in both summer and winter. There are not only special events but year-round there's a wide array of museums, parks, shopping centers and other attractions to visit. Art fans can take in the Inuit collection at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, history buffs can enjoy a historic walking tour through the lively Exchange District National Historic Site, fashionistas can shop among the numerous malls and neighborhoods, and kids can play at the Fun Mountain Waterslide Park. There are golf courses for golfers, casinos for gamblers and outdoor pursuits for fresh-air enthusiasts. It's all here in the busy capital of Manitoba.

Sights

There are a few different ways to enjoy sightseeing in Winnipeg. You can take a cruise along the rivers that run through the city and meet downtown, the Assiniboine and the Red. On foot, guided walking tours of the city center and the Exchange District are also a leisurely way to appreciate the local landmarks. Another interesting neighborhood is Saint Boniface, the charming and verdant Franco-Manitoban quarter. It's one of the largest French-Canadian communities outside of Quebec and home to St. Boniface Cathedral, as well as the Theatre in the Cemetery, which performs in the cathedral graveyard, of all places. The Manitoba Museum and the Manitoba Children's Museum have a variety of diversions that both old and young will enjoy. Assiniboine Park can absorb an entire day, with its zoo, array of gardens, mini steam train (and skiing in the winter).

As for the above-mentioned festivals, most take place in the summer. There are around 50 annual fetes during the warmer months, from Gay Pride Day in June to Canada Day (and night) on July 1 to the Winnipeg Fringe Festival in July and Folklorama in August.

Dining

Winnipeg has one of the highest restaurants-to-residents ratios in North America. The cuisines on offer come from around the world and, with over 1,100 restaurants in all, the culinary finds here are numerous. Try downtown, especially along Portage Avenue and Main Street. A lot of international places are in Osborne Village. In Corydon, also known as Little Italy, you can find authentic Italian pastas and pizzas. There are more trendy dining venues in the Forks Market District, while the Exchange District leans toward Asian and Mediterranean fare.

Shopping

Downtown Winnipeg has a wide variety of boutiques, galleries and interesting stores and, for a medium-size city, a lot of malls, which include Polo Park Centre (the largest) and Portage Place downtown. For something a little more distinctive, try the area around Portage Avenue, along with Johnston Terminal. Upscale shopping can be found in the wealthy enclave of Osborne Village, while bargains are more abundant in the Forks Market.

Where to Go in Winnipeg