Summer in Winnipeg - Outdoor Explorer
Get ready to save your summer in Winnipeg! There are so many ways to enjoy the city’s natural beauty and wide-open spaces, so round out your outdoor adventure with a hotel stay.
As we’re all adhering to the latest health regulations, keep yourself informed on the latest updates and know that local hotels, attractions and businesses are doing what it takes to keep everyone safe, so you can explore worry-free.
Plus, we have excellent packages & deals that will be music to your ears (and wallets!) right now.
Animal encounters
Get up close to nature and animals for a viewing experience you won’t forget. At
Assiniboine Park Zoo, you'll see hundreds of species (like the cute new baby llama, Earl Grey) across 40 acres of outdoor space, including polar bears and seals swimming overhead at the star attraction Journey to Churchill.
To feel like you’re in wilderness without leaving the city, head to
FortWhyte Alive – home to North America’s largest urban bison herd. As you walk or bike along tree-lined trails throughout this 640-acre protected greenspace, you may spot some wildlife or birds not found in your own backyard.
Imagine dipping a paddle and gliding through wetlands to chirping birds and humming insects – that's what you’ll experience on self-guided canoe excursions offered daily at Oak Hammock Marsh, one of North America’s top birding hot spots.
Serenity Spa
Escape from the everyday stresses at a soothing spa set in the great outdoors. You'll fully unwind after slipping to Thermea’s hot and cold thermal pool cycle based on Scandanvian tradition, along with numerous areas to relax outdoors, while savouring a picnic lunch available from its on-site kitchen.
Perfect your drive
Whether you’re wielding clubs or putting pedal to the metal, Winnipeg’s got a spot for you to work on that drive! For some friendly competition, play mini golf and whizz around in go-karts at Thunder Rapids Fun Park and Grand Prix Amusements. With 17 public golf courses in Winnipeg, golfers can take a swing on scenic holes and challenging greens spread across the city.
Hikes & Bikes
When you hit the trails on wheels or by foot, you’ll uncover Winnipeg’s fascinating past and discover its treasures. The city’s premier green gem, Assiniboine Park offers numerous paths that wind through trees and meadows.
As Manitoba celebrates its 150th anniversary into confederation, there’s no better time to brush up on local history. The Forks is a great first stop, boasting more than 6,000 years of history, at the conjunction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Stroll along trails and the Riverwalk, where you’ll come across points of historical and architectural interest from the Esplanade Riel to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which opens a new temporary outdoor exhibit about the future of human rights in mid-July. Just across Main Street is Upper Fort Garry Provincial Park, a former HBC trading post. It’s now home to an interpretive park explaining the area’s historical significance through public art, sound, light greenery and even a GPS-based app. Manitoba’s history lessons continue while wandering the grounds at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site (where Treaty No. 1 was signed), although interior buildings are currently closed.
For a curated urban walk that takes you past 60 points of interest, check out The Loop. This 9.5 km guide circles through downtown, The Exchange District and Old St. Boniface past iconic landmarks and attractions from the St. Boniface Cathedral, to the Manitoba Legislative Building, and Cube stage at Old Market Square.
Winnipeg’s unique character neighbourhoods each have their own distinct vibe and attractions (check our Neighbourhoods guide for recommendations). Whether you’re strolling around boho cool Osborne Village, past patios lining Corydon Avenue or enjoying the European charm in St. Boniface -- there are new discoveries to be found around every corner.
While you’re out in nature, we want to hear about your staycation highlights! Did you find a new favourite picnic spot? Have an exciting animal encounter that you won’t soon forget? Share those nice stories and tag your social media posts with #WinnipegNice in celebration of what our city has to offer. Let’s make this a summer to remember in Winnipeg – the heart of Manitoba.