6 amazing things to do on your road trip to Winnipeg

Ready to start exploring more of Canada? Look no further than Winnipeg, Manitoba for your next great summer road trip. Here are 6 amazing things you must do on your trip to our capital city...

1. Take a journey to Churchill at the Assiniboine Park Zoo

 A day spent at the Assiniboine Park Zoo is an absolute necessity for all types of travellers. Your family will adore stepping into the Wapusk Lowlands, where some of the zoo’s most fascinating animals, including owls, Arctic fox, caribou and wolves dwell. Walk through the entrance to the arctic tunnel and be amazed by swimming polar bears overhead and playful seals.

After meeting the animals at the zoo, spend some time in Assiniboine Park’s compelling Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, or take the kids to the fabulous Nature Playground.

2. Unwind at the spa

Is Winnipeg a spa city? Absolutely! Whether it’s practicing a hot/cold cycle at an outdoor spa, or experiencing an ancient bathing ritual, Winnipeg has a number of intriguing spas to relax into.

Start with the incredible Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature, an outdoor oasis with a number of hot/cold pools, saunas, steam rooms and more. Ten Spa at the historic Fort Garry Hotel is an ultra-chic and modern spa, where you can experience Hamam, a hot air bathing ritual that dates back to the Ottoman Empire. If you find yourself at one of Winnipeg's most popular public spaces, The Forks, be sure to stop in at Riverstone Spa to try the Signature Indigenous Hot Stone Massage.The benefits of dead sea salt can be discovered at the Urban Oasis Mineral Spa, located inside the Clarion Hotel. Lastly, consider trying Winnipeg’s first Japanese-style spa, Pocca Poca Spa. The spa specializes in Ganban-yoku, a popular form of thermal relaxation in Japan that involves laying on heated stone slabs.

3. Shop 'til you drop

Start your shopping excursion with Winnipeg’s first outlet mall, Outlet Collection, which is situated in an ideal shopping location on Kenaston Blvd, close to other popular retailers like HomeSense, Urban Barn, and our very own IKEA!

Other popular malls include CF Polo Park (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Coach, Saje, Aldo, and Club Monaco), St. Vital Centre (Le Chateau, Browns Shoes and RW & Co.) and Kildonan Place Mall (HomeSense and Marshalls).

For boutique shoppers, head to shopping areas like the historic Exchange District to find one-of-a-kind products and clothing. Retailers here include Hillary Druxman, Lennard Taylor Design Studio, Boutique Anya and Made by Josephine.

If your shopping itch still hasn't been scratched, make time to wander the shops of Osborne Village, Corydon Avenue, and Academy Road.

4. Dig into our dining scene

What's wrong with basing your trip entirely on food? Nothing, that's what! Plan your dinners at fine-dining spots like Harth Mozza & Wine Bar and the Oxbow, or at tapas eateries like Deer + Almond, Cordova, Maque and Passero.

It’s impossible to name all of our favourite restaurants in one blog post, but we can’t go without a mention of the to-die-for breakfast at Clementine, the array of food choices at The Forks Market, and the Canadiana vibes of Smith.

5. Be humbled by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Be prepared to spend several hours in the incredible Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the first museum solely dedicated to the evolution, celebration and future of human rights. It takes time to get the most out of each exhibit in this massive museum, and even more time to take in the striking architecture of the space.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is also the first national museum to be built outside the National Capital Region.

6. Venture outside the city limits

...And speaking of road trip adventures, we enthusiastically encourage you to venture outside the city limits during your stay, where some of the greatest beauty in Manitoba can be found!

Take a day trip to the region known as New Iceland and stop into quaint towns along the way like Gimli and the Village of Dunnottar. Keep going until you reach Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park, where you can take in the scenery, embark on a hike, or check out an Icelandic settlement village.

For overnight trips, consider the stunning Riding Mountain National Park where you can see wildlife and an enclosed bison herd. Whiteshell Provincial Park is perfect for cabin stays and canoeing opportunities, while Nopiming Provincial Park offers the chance for camping excursions. The options are endless!