Tourism Winnipeg

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St. Vital was established by francophone settlers in 1822 and was named by Archbishop Taché in 1860, in honour of his colleague, Father Vital-Justin Grandi. This beautiful, historic area has undergone a wonderful transformation in recent years. Storefronts throughout the area boast window boxes full of flowers and a beautiful new archway provides access to the river walk and park. Stately elms line walking tour routes and informative plaques provide information about area attractions. Riel House National Historic Site was Louis Riel's family home, where his descendants continued to live until 1969. It is here, in the living room of his mother's house that Riel's body laid in state for two days in December 1885. The house itself, a Red River frame building (a style of construction popular for this region) has been restored to reflect the spring of 1886.

Location: The approximate boundaries are the Red River to the west, the Seine River to the east, Carriere Ave to the north and the Rural Municipality of Ritchot to the south. Located 9.8 km from downtown and 17.6 km from the airport.

How to get there: From the airport, turn onto Wellington Ave and turn right onto King Edward St (Route 90). Keep left and take the ramp to Portage Ave. Turn left onto Portage Ave. After 3.2 km, turn right on Broadway. After 2.2 km, turn right on Main St. Continue over the Norwood Bridge onto St. Mary’s into St. Vital.

Bus routes: 14, 16, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 75, 76, 93, 96

Top Places to Eat

• Enjoy a globally influenced five-course meal inside Cafe Savour’s vibrant dining room. The menu is shaped by the chef/owners’ world travels. Order the hearty Manitoba-style jambalya with smoked kielbassa, chicken, pickerel cheeks, Creole-style rice, vegetables and corn-meal pancake. 956 St. Mary’s Rd, 254-4681. http://www.cafesavour.com/
• The Crusty Bun has it all: a cute 30-seat cafe, European-style artisanal breads, pastries, schnitzelburgers, house-made soups, sandwiches, and espresso. The namesake bun is the star—the golden, crusty shell houses an incredibly soft, fluffy centre. 1026 St. Mary’s Rd, 257-7311. http://www.crustybun.com/
• There are seven locations of George’s Burgers & Subs scattered across the city, but the original opened in St. Vital in 1975. The menu has classic Greek dishes, subs, fries, milkshakes and salads, but most people come for the burgers—especially the “Fat Boy” version with zesty chilli, tomatoes, lettuce and mayo. 1141 St. Mary’s Rd, 257-3856.
• An institution in St. Vital since 1984, Maxime’s Restaurant continues to serve up continental classics in a traditional, European-influenced dining room. The nine-page menu offers crowd-pleasing dishes, including baked French onion soup, tender prime rib and Greek-style lamb chops.1131 St. Mary’s Rd, 257-1526. http://www.maximesrestaurant.ca
• It’s a small Italian bistro with heart—Santa Ana has a loyal following of customers thanks to its thin, crispy wood-fired pizzas and fluffier stone-baked versions. House-made pastas are also finished with a blast of heat in the wood oven. 1631 St. Mary’s Rd, 415-1440. http://www.santaanabistro.ca
• The polished dining room of Siam Thai—with its dark wood seating and ornate wall hangings from Thailand—virtually whisks diners away to Southeast Asia. Authentic dishes are exceptionally well-prepared, from creamy chicken galangal soup to sweet and spicy yellow curry. 587 St. Anne’s Rd, 254-7765. http://siamthairestaurant.ca/

Top Places to Shop

• Browse through more than 3,000 types of wine, gifts and gourmet products with the help of certified sommeliers inside Banville & Jones Wine Co.’s gorgeous Tuscan-inspired boutique. Rare, specialty wines are shelved in temperature- and humidity-controlled environments. 1616 St. Mary’s Rd, 948-9463. http://www.banvilleandjones.com/index.aspx
• Ce Soir’s feminine space showcases exquisite undergarments, bras and shape wear. Customers can take advantage of free fittings and alterations done within 24 hours on site. 145-166 Meadowood Dr, 253-8788. http://cesoirlingerie.com/
• Find classic and contemporary pieces for the home at Interior Touches. The well-laid-out showroom is full of inspiration and pretty objects, like accent rugs, furniture and sculpture. 1500 St. Mary’s Rd, 256-8851. http://www.interiortouches.ca/
• Sofia’s Boutique is packed with a sophisticated selection of casual, formal and business women’s fashions in sizes 4-24. Some purses, shoes, accessories and undergarments are also carried. 836 St. Mary’s Rd, 254-2595. http://sofias-boutique.com/
• Winnipeg’s second largest mall, St. Vital Centre houses more than 160 shops and services—including Sears, Wal-Mart, Chapters and London Drugs—a state-of-the-art movie theatre, dining hall, several casual restaurants and a warm atmosphere. This family-friendly destination offers a kids play area and diverse customer services program. Bishop Grandin Blvd and St. Mary’s Rd, 257-5646. http://www.stvitalcentre.com

Top Things to See and Do

• Community gardens, three retention ponds and other serene green space are found along the Bishop Grandin Greenway. This network of multi-use paths connects communities living along this busy boulevard in south east Winnipeg. The greenway trail runs along Bishop Grandin Blvd at River Rd west to St. Anne’s Rd. http://www.bishopgrandingreenway.com/
• If you’ve got Fido in tow, then head to off-leash dog park Maple Grove Park. This large urban green space is a popular spot for dogs and owners to socialize and features a fenced-in area for puppies. St. Mary’s Rd at the Perimeter Hwy. http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/parksandfields/Parks/FieldsForFido.asp
• Riel House Historic Site is closely linked with Métis leader and founder of Manitoba, Louis Riel. This site was the home of the Riel family, where descendants lived until 1969. The Red River Frame house has been restored to typify the late 19th century. 330 River Rd, 257-1783. http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/mb/riel/index.aspx
• Housed in the former St. Vital police station, the St. Vital Museum showcases artifacts relating to the history of the area dating back to 1820. Archives, decorative arts, fine arts, and several books are displayed on a rotating basis. 600 St. Mary’s Rd, 255-2864. http://www.svhs.ca/
• Located along the Red River, St. Vital Park’s hiking and cycling trails provide picturesque views of the water. Barbecue pits, athletic fields, toboggan slides, cross-country ski trails and a play structure make this a great spot for family gatherings and recreation. The duck pond is home to many species of waterfowl, and freezes into a large ice skating rink in winter. 190 River Rd. http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/parksandfields/parkbooking/bookableparks/stvitalpark.asp