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far western Manitoba, the Inglis Grain Elevators National Historic
Site (www.ingliselevators.com). It is the best remaining example of
an "elevator row" in Canada. Winnipeg's Manitoba Legislative
Building, the Tyndall limestone-clad beaux arts classical seat of
government, opened on July 15, 1920 (www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/
prov/p040.html). In May, the Manito Ahbee Festival, which will
celebrate its 20th anniversary next year in Winnipeg, showcases
Indigenous culture and spectacular powwow performances
(www.manitoahbee.com). February's French Festival du Voyageur,
centred in St. Boniface, focuses on Franco-Manitoban history and
culture (www.heho.ca/en).
MUST SEE, MUST DO
Lower Fort Garry, the national historic site just south of the City of
Selkirk, shelters an historic fur-trading fort. It is also the site where Treaty
1, the first treaty between colonial explorers and Indigenous Peoples, was
signed, and where the North-West Mounted Police—the precursor to
Canada's Mounties—were first trained (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/
fortgarry).
In summer, hardy adventurers can kayak with more than 57,000
white beluga whales that calve and raise their babies near the mouth
of the Churchill River (www.travelmanitoba.com/churchill).
Established in 2013, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, adjacent
to The Forks National Historic Site, houses a permanent exhibit called
Truth and Reconciliation. It chronicles the findings of the 2008 Truth
and Reconciliation Commission that aimed to right the wrongs of the
residential school system in Canada (www.humanrights.ca).
SCENIC DRIVES
Bunk in at Riding Mountain National Park's Wasagaming townsite,
and take the next day to drive to the park for early morning wild-life
spotting, a visit to the resident bison herd, selfie stops all around
beautiful Clear Lake and ups and downs in the park's unique
topography. Return to Winnipeg via Highway 5 and McCreary and the
self-proclaimed world lily capital of Neepawa, then take the scenic
Highway 16 Yellowhead route through vast farmland (www.discover
clearlake.com).
From north Winnipeg, drive River Road along the Red River to
Selkirk and the Marine Museum of Manitoba (www.marine
museum.ca), with Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site about
two-thirds along the 60-km (37-mi.) route. Tiny Lockport, an historic
catfishing spot (rent a boat and gear) and hot dog stand heaven, lies
between the two. From Selkirk, return to Winnipeg via pretty
Henderson Highway.
For a longer day trip, take Highway 44 east from Lockport, through
the Agassiz Provincial Forest and all the way to Seven Sisters Falls
and the classic hydro station there, then on to Pinawa for a visit to
Pinawa Dam Provincial Park and the picturesque town and lake. Stop
to walk the suspension bridge and hiking trails.
FAMILY FUN
Kids go wild at FortWhyte Alive, where bison roam on prairie grasses
near a pioneer sod house, teepee encampment and prairie dog town
(www.fortwhyte.org), and at Assiniboine Park's Nature Playground
and Polar Playground (www.assiniboinepark.ca). Journey to
Churchill is home to polar bears, including Nanuq and Siku, rescued
from the Churchill area.
For history and fun, families can ride the vintage steam train
Prairie Dog Central Railway from north Winnipeg to the villages of
Grosse Isle and Warren and back (www.pdcrailway.com).
En route to Gimli, Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre
welcomes thousands of migrating geese in the fall (www.oakhammock
marsh.ca); and, at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in
Morden, see monster fossils from prehistoric Lake Agassiz and the 15-
m-long (50-ft.) life-sized replica of Bruce, the world's biggest publicly
displayed mosasaur (www.discoverfossils.com).
BISON AT RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, MANITOBA •
SHUTTERSTOCK/CINDY CREIGHTON
