Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA bear sightings (www.churchillwild.com; www.lazybearlodge.com; www.frontier snorth.com ). SCENIC DRIVES Head through Prairie farm country 70 km (45 mi.) southwest from Winnipeg on Highway 75 south, then 50 km (35 mi.) on 14 west and enjoy the wide skies, infi nite horizon line, and dazzling colour swatches of canola, fl ax, grain and sunfl ower fi elds. The Pembina Threshermen's Museum sits midway between Winkler and Morden ( www. threshermensmuseum.com). Visit Bruce, the largest publicly displayed Mosasaur in the world, at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre just south of Morden (www.discover fossils.com). From the north end of Winnipeg, take River Road along the western bank of the Red River, up 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. The town of Lockport, historic hot dog stand heaven for Winnipeggers, with Skinner's on one side of the bridge and the Half Moon on the other, lies between the two. Once you reach Selkirk, return to the city via picturesque Henderson Highway. Go souvenir-hunting from beach town to beach town along highway 8 north in the Interlake region. Stop in Winnipeg Beach and Gimli for snacks and handmade crafts, then shift to Highway 9 North to reach Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park for dinner and an overnight at the Lakeview Hecla Resort ( www.lakeviewhotels.com/ hotels/hecla), 175 km (120 mi.) from Winnipeg. Stop to tour the historic fi shing village of Hecla and the trails of the provincial park on the way back the next day. 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). Lunch is simple and good at the Buffalo Stone Café. Assiniboine Park's Nature Playground and the zoo's Polar Playground appeal to younger kids (www.assiniboinepark.ca ). The park's miniature steam train enchants even adults. Journey to Churchill is home to fi ve polar bears and two new babies, and features three different recreated natural habitats: the Wapusk Lowlands, Gateway to the Arctic and Churchill Coast. For history and fun, from a Great Train Robbery to a Fall Supper, ride on the vintage steam train Prairie Dog Central Railway, running from north Winnipeg to the villages of Grosse Isle and Warren and back ( www.pdcrailway.com ). QUICK FACT MANITOBA'S OFFICIAL BIRD IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST OWL: THE GREAT GREY, WITH A WINGSPAN THAT CAN EXCEED —˜ CM Š™š IN.‹. oaK HaMMoCK MarSH interPretiVe Centre PARK PICK RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Canada's second-oldest national Park (Banff is the oldest), riding Mountain was offi cially opened as a national park in 1933—3,000 sq. km (1158 sq. mi.) of boreal forest, aspen parkland, prairie, occasional marshes, and sandy beaches fring- ing deep, still Clear Lake. the town- site of Wasagaming off ers motel/ hotel space, a vibrant summer community, and historic log build- ings. Boating is popular, camping is widely available, and plenty of hiking trails and summer activities round out the park's high-season action. Backcountry camping, hik- ing, and in winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing add to this vast, unspoiled park's allure. Year- round wildlife watching is de rigeuer for those willing to rise before dawn, but the native bison herd is around all the time (www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn- np/mb/riding/index.aspx). More info on National Parks and Historic Sites: www.pc.gc.ca • 1-888-773-8888