Tourism Winnipeg

Here are some examples of half-day and evening options ideal for groups and individual travellers.

Play it Again - Assiniboine Park and Zoo

Get immersed in animal antics at Assiniboine Park Zoo, take time to reflect at the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, English Garden, Conservatory and Duck Pond and view the original oil painting of Winnie-the-Bear by Ernest Shepherd at the Pavilion Gallery Museum. A black bear, named Winnie, was inspirational in the creation of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh.

All Aboard – Prairie Dog Central Railway

Learn how the railway changed the face of Western Canada and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Prairie Dog Central Railway train depot where you can ride one of North America’s oldest steam locomotives.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together - Oak Hammock Marsh

Explore the award-winning Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre and Oak Hammock Marsh, one of Manitoba’s premier destinations for ecotourism. Paddle a canoe, look for nesting birds and their young, walk on a boardwalk, enjoy the rooftop view of the marsh and participate in a number of interactive nature programs.

The Bus Stop - Step-on Guided Tours of Winnipeg

There are several receptive companies and tour operators with experienced multilingual guides to provide a narrated tour of Winnipeg . Visitors will see Winnipeg’s famous landmarks, discover celebrated Winnipeggers, learn how the city got its name and why it was named the “Chicago of the North”.

Entertainment Tonight – Concerts & Shows

All year long the MTS Centre, Centennial Concert Hall and  Casinos of Winnipeg bring in headliner entertainment ranging from Celtic dance troupes and Irish singers to popular country artists and rock bands. Check out their websites for a list of upcoming acts and reserve early to avoid being disappointed as shows sell out quickly.

Gangsters and Molls - The Exchange District

The Exchange District is a 30-block area boasting some of North America’s best examples of turn-of-the-last-century architecture. Legends of power, corruption and heroism are related during The Exchange District walking tours which take visitors through the district that served as Winnipeg’s centre of finance and wholesale trade during the 1880s.

It’s Not Easy Being Green - “Green” Building Tours

Ecologically-minded architects have combined resources with “green” advocates to create sustainable buildings throughout Winnipeg. The Exchange District Walking Tour showcases some of Canada’s most forward-thinking and “green” initiatives in city planning, alternative transportation, energy conservation and building construction.

While visiting The Forks, a major attraction and entertainment area, keep in mind the complex is reducing its carbon footprint to zero through consumption, supply and carbon offsets. You can also tour the Manitoba Hydro Building - recipient of the 2010 National Green Buildings Award - with its solar chimney and geothermal heating system innovations .

Haunted Tales and Things That Go Bump in the Night – Ghost Tours

Go on a haunted outing with Heartland International Travel and Tours. Choose from a historical tour of Winnipeg’s ghosts where you may catch a glimpse of an orb or apparition, hear historic tales about the paranormal at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site or communicate with spirits at the St. Boniface Museum.

Invigorate Your Soul – Performing Arts

Enjoy award-winning dramas, comedies, musicals and classics in the intimate setting of the Manitoba Theatre Centre. Be moved by the poignant tragedies of the Manitoba Opera or choose a pops concert featuring Broadway show tunes and popular orchestral pieces, masterworks or the classics performed by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for a wonderful evening of music. See captivating performances of the world-acclaimed Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, whose productions include Dracula, Nutcracker, Wonderland and Moulin Rouge.

It’s a “Spa” Life for Me – Luxury Hotel Spas

Indulge in a visit to one of Winnipeg’s luxury hotel spas for some pampering. Ten Spa at The Fort Garry Hotel Spa and Conference Centre, Riverstone Spa at Inn at The Forks and Urban Oasis Mineral Spa at the Clarion Hotel offer excellent services. A massage, wrap, manicure or spa treatment is a perfect way to enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

Jingle, Jangle, Jingle – Winnipeg’s Casinos

See if lady luck is by your side at Winnipeg’s casinos. Calypso, an animated macaw, provides the welcome as you enter Club Regent Casino. Gaming rooms are reached via a walk-through saltwater aquarium where you can watch divers feed fish in an underwater coral reef. Tropical paradise continues with Jaguars Dance Club, games of chance and a great buffet at The Royal Palms restaurant.

The train stops at McPhillips Street Casino, set in the opulent splendor of the railroad hay days of the 1800s. Stroll through the historic railway village and enjoy the view from the grand staircase leading to more games of chance. Michele’s Restaurant combines the elegance of the past with today’s mouth-watering food offerings.

Be sure to check out the schedule of events as both casinos offer live shows with famous headliner entertainers as well as group scavenger hunts and activities.

Let the Spirit Move You – IMAX Theatre

Arrange a viewing of the IMAX Theatre film “Heartland” which captures the spirit of Manitoba. The film takes viewers from a raging white water kayak ride and the thundering heat of a chuck wagon race to aerials of magnificent fields of sunflowers and the magic of a solar eclipse. The film showcases Manitoba landscapes of unparalleled beauty and touching images of people who have dared to carve out a new life against a vast and sometimes unforgiving landscape.

Man in Motion - The Manitoba Museum

The Manitoba Museum is one of Winnipeg’s star attractions and depicts the significance of man and his relationship to the land through life-size dioramas, exhibits and artifacts. Travel through time from the prehistoric days of Lake Agassiz to the modern era of Winnipeg in the 1920s. Board the Nonsuch, a replica of a 1600s ship that sailed from Hudson Bay to England, go in a tipi, enter a sod house, view the northern lights and see how man has adapted through the ages.

Masonic Mysteries - Hermetic Code Tour

The Manitoba Legislative Building, completed in the 1920s, is a remarkable monument to Masonic architecture and ancient temple design. Heartland International Travel and Tours’ Hermetic Code Tour reveals Masonic mysteries and uncovers trails of occult clues concealed in the buildings architecture including hidden hieroglyphic inscriptions, numerological codes and Freemason symbols. Learn the secrets and mysteries of the Manitoba Legislative Building, one of Canada’s most fascinating architectural structures.

The Meeting Place - The Forks

Archaeologists believe the land at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers was a gathering place for indigenous people 6,000 years ago. Today The Forks, as it is known, is a bustling centre of entertainment with parks, promenades, river dock and port, stages, gardens and sculptures alongside shops and restaurants. Wander through The Forks Market, a food emporium, featuring a mix of ethnic restaurants and made-in-Manitoba food items. Here you can also meet the Selkirk Settlers or see the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 in one of Parks Canada’s theatrical plays.

A Musical Entourage – Celebrations Dinner Theatre

Become part of the musical entourage at Celebrations Dinner Theatre where the actors remain in character while they serve the meal. Sing along, tap your feet to the music and burst into laughter during comedic productions featuring live performances of familiar songs from the past and present, while enjoying a three-course dinner. Upcoming productions include Tom Jones and the Temple of Doom, Mama Mio!, Mugs and Molls Club of 1959 and a Hard Days Knights.

Ooh La La – Fort Gibraltar & St. Boniface

Cross the river and explore Winnipeg’s French Quarter, St. Boniface, which celebrates the “joie de vivre” or joy of life, of the hearty voyageur. Join in the music and dance, play traditional games and dine on tourtiere (meat pie) and pea soup at Fort Gibraltar, once a rival fur trading company to the Hudson Bay Company. Voyageur history continues to unfold at the St. Boniface Museum, St. Boniface Cathedral and Theatre in the Cemetery where the sound of their paddles and songs echoed from the banks of the rivers and lakes for more than 150 years.

Rendez-vous - Festival du Voyageur

In February, become a voyageur at the Festival du Voyageur, and celebrate the “joie de vivre” or joy of life, of the French Canadian and Metis adventurers. Take part in the street parties, admire grand-scale snow sculptures, watch sled dog races, walk or ice skate at The Forks along one of the world’s longest natually frozen river trail and enjoy a full slate of indoor entertainment, concerts and shows.

Win, Place or Show – Assiniboia Downs

You won’t want to miss Assiniboia Downs for thoroughbred horseracing entertainment as you make a bet and cheer on your favourite horse to win, place or show. Excitement is the order of the day as you watch the action from the Clubhouse dining room and later join the Winner’s Circle to present the trophy for the race named in honour of your tour group.

Wine and Cheese Anyone?– Banville & Jones

Banville & Jones is a Tuscan-inspired wine store with more than 3,000 bottles of wine, gifts and gourmet items from around the world. Taste Wine on the terrace, sample pairings of wine and Manitoba-produced Bothwell cheeses in the Tuscan Room, partake in cooking and wine-tasting classes featuring some of Winnipeg’s finest Chefs or travel the world with Banville & Jones’ international wine and food pairing evenings.

A World Tour Celebrating Diversity - Folklorama

During the first two weeks of August you are invited to take in the sights and sounds of Folklorama, the largest and longest running multicultural event of its kind in the world. More than 44 pavilions representing various cultures which make up Manitoba’s mosaic, open their doors each evening to showcase ethno-cultural entertainment, food and drink along with fascinating displays depicting lifestyles prior to emigration.

You Be The Judge - Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site

Costumed interpreters re-enact events of the early days at the Hudson Bay Company post, Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site. Meet the Governor and his wife at the Big House, fix your horse’s shoe at the blacksmith shop, buy some goods at the company store and enjoy a hearty meal. Enquire about their special events, travel learning programs and group tour activities  - sure to entertain.