Places to visit in Manitoba

Manitoba

Grand Beach

Grand Beach Provincial Park encompasses a huge stretch of soft sand beach on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. One of the nicest beaches in Canada, it is a hot spot for sun seekers and campers looking to get away from the city during the hot summer months.

The park is about a one-hour drive from Winnipeg, and there are a variety of accommodation options in the area, from motels to cottage rentals. Restaurants in the area offer casual dining and entertainment.

Riding Mountain National Park

Accessible throughout the year, this scenic park is a combination of recreation area and nature reserve, with a varied landscape of prairie, forest, and wonderfully clear lakes and streams. The park extends over part of the glacially-formed Manitoba Escarpment where a series of plateaus rising to heights of about 340 meters overlook the surrounding prairies of gentle hills, meadows, and lakes.

The deep lakes in Riding Mountain such as Clear Lake, Lake Katherine, and Deep Lake are popular fishing spots. Near Lake Audy, a herd of bison roam freely in a 552-hectare enclosure. Visitors can see them from a look-out. Bears, wolves, elk, and deer also inhabit the park.

Numerous walking and cycling trails can be found throughout the park. One trail leads to the log cabin formerly belonging to the English naturalist Grey Owl who, in the early 1920s, wrote books about the wildlife of the area.

Pinawa Dam Provincial Park

The crescent-shaped ruins of the 1906 Pinawa Dam are the central feature of this park, just a short drive north of the town of Pinawa. Set in a picturesque area of the Canadian Shield in Manitoba's cottage country, the park makes a nice day trip from Winnipeg, just 1.5 hours away.

Visitors can wander around the site on a self-guided tour and appreciate views of the old dam, which stopped operating in 1951, from the Centennial Spillway Trail. Also in the park are picnic facilities and an amphitheater.

Hecla Island & Lakeview Hecla Resort

For a nice escape to nature and a relaxing getaway in Manitoba, Hecla Island is a favorite destination. Part of Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park, Helca Island is located on Lake Winnipeg, two hours north of Winnipeg.

In summer, you can hike the trails, golf at the 18-hole golf course, or simply enjoy the beaches and lake. In winter, head out on the cross-country ski trails, book a treatment at the spa, or relax around a fire.

For many people, Lakeview Hecla Resort is the main reason to come to Hecla Island. Set on the northern tip of the island, this resort offers indoor and outdoor pools, dining, a spa, and lovely rooms with views, some of which are pet friendly.

Canadian Fossil Discovery Center, Morden

Containing Canada's largest collection of marine reptile fossils, the Canadian Fossil Discovery Center is worth making the 1.5-hour trip from Winnipeg to see. All the fossils here, including the huge mosasaur, known as Bruce, are from Manitoba. Due to ongoing research in the field, fossils are continually being added to the collection.

The center is open seven days a week. If you're coming to the town or driving across Highway 3 in southern Manitoba, you may want to plan a little extra time to stop in at the CFDC.

Address : 111-B Gilmour Street, Morden, Manitoba.