Manitoba - From Polar Bears to Beluga Whales

Manitoba is in Central Canada, the most eastern of themany more are road-accessible. Arctic grayling, brook
three prairie provinces. It shares the US border withtrout, lake trout, northern pike and walleye thrive here.
Minnesota and North Dakota in the south andSome of the best giant channel cat fishing in the world
stretches north to the Port of Churchill on the Hudsoncan be found in Winnipeg's Red River. The fly fishing is
Bay and beyond. It has wheat fields, oil and gas wells,best in Manitoba's western reaches and you might
commercial fresh water fishing, mining and a forestneed a guide to find the best spots.Seeing the northern
industry. It also has a lot to offers tourists.Here are tenlights in Manitoba has been called one of the top 25
suggestions that a visitor might want to consider inadventures of a lifetime. January to March in Churchill
Manitoba, some in the colder months and some in thehave some of the best shows when nature sends her
warmer parts of the year.You might consider makinglasers to make shifting curtains of spectacular northern
Winnipeg the hub of your stay in Manitoba. Thelights. A facility with see-through domes built into the
provincial capital, it's a multicultural city proudly reflectedroof makes light viewing a warm and comfortable
in its festivals and offers art, music and food.experience for visitors unaccustomed to Churchill
Restaurants serve everything from Ukrainian perogieswinters.Manitoba is diverse, so are the parks. Sand
to a blending of regional and Californian cuisine.dunes roll at Spruce Woods Provincial Park, ancient
Performing arts offer an array of productionsgranite graces much of the Whiteshell and waterfalls
throughout the year in theatre, music, opera and dance.amaze near Paint Lake Provincial Park. Baldy Mountain,
The Winnipeg Art Gallery has the largest collection ofManitoba's highest point, is at Duck Mountain Provincial
contemporary Inuit art in the world. And of coursePark, where glaciers receded some 10,000 years ago.
shopping malls, casinos, museums and historic sitesHikers and bikers are attracted to the extensive trail
beckon. Families will love The Forks, the Children'snetworks through the broad valleys and lush Canadian
Museum, Fort Whyte Centre and the Assiniboine ParkShield forests. Bike along one of the biggest lakes in
Zoo, where wild animals delight the children, along withthe world - Lake Winnipeg - at Hecla/Grindstone
a statue of a very famous bear named afterProvincial Park or paddle for days in Grass River
Winnipeg -- Winnie-the-Pooh.A two-and-a-half hourProvincial Park.If you want to experience total
flight north of Winnipeg, Churchill Manitoba is knownrelaxation, consider camping or renting a cottage on
around the world as polar bear central. For a safesome of the biggest and best lakes in the world. Soak
adventure, head out over the tundra in speciallyup the summer heat on the water's edge and dive in
designed vehicles for safely viewing the bears.when you can't stand it any more. Eat well, then later,
Photographers and wildlife enthusiasts so inclined canfloat soundlessly in a streak of moonlight and gaze at
even eat, sleep and rise right out on the capes, in thean endless canopy of stars.Manitoba attracts
midst of the glorious bears, as hundreds of them roamtwo-thirds of Canada's more than 500 species of birds
the coastline every October and November awaitingand is considered a birder's paradise. In spring, the birds
the freeze of the Hudson Bay.In summer, polar bearfly north in amazing flocks in the hundreds of
central turns into the beluga belt, as thousands of thethousands over the lakes, marshes and forests. A
900-pound whales come to feed in the waters nearNorth American birding hotspot, Oak Hammock Marsh
Churchill on the Hudson Bay. You can actually paddleInterpretive Centre, won the coveted 2002 British
or snorkel among these majestic creatures and watchAirways Tourism for Tomorrow award for Best
them watching you! You can also enjoy watching andEnvironmental Experience. Delta Marsh also offers
listening to these highly vocal whales from agreat viewing, as does Riding Mountain National Park,
32-passenger boat.Riding Mountain National Park ishome to more than 260 bird species, including great
edged by a high, rugged escarpment and is an islandgrey owl and Connecticut warbler. Birders fly to
of wilderness over the agricultural landscape. WildlifeChurchill for stellar sub-arctic birding.And finally, stay at
thrives in the vast mix of forests, meadows and broada bed-and-breakfast or on a country vacation farm
valleys, crisscrossed with more than 300 kilometresduring one of the hundreds of small-town fall suppers.
(180 miles) of trails, maintained superbly year-round.This is a great opportunity to meet with the local
This is the time and place to keep a camera ready forManitobans who will be sure to make you
sightings of moose, elk, beaver, black bear, fox and ifwelcome.This has been just a sampling that is
you're very lucky, lynx or wolf.Manitoba's plentifulrepresentative of what Manitoba has to offer its
waters yield more than 10,000 trophy-sized fish veryvisitors. Whether in the winter or in the summer,
year. The north is peppered with fly-in lodges andManitoba will provide you with an unforgettable holiday.