Manitoba never gets any respect. Wedged in the middle of the country like a geographical afterthought, it has an undeserved reputation for being cold and boring, but spend some time there and you’ll discover a province that punches above its weight in culture, natural beauty and surprise-factor. Whether it’s getting up close to wildlife or discovering unique moments in Canadian history, here are three Manitoba experiences that deserve more attention.
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Walk with polar bears on the shores of Churchill Bay
Churchill gets all the attention when it comes to polar bear watching in Manitoba, but venture south to Wapusk National Park and you’ll trade tundra buggies for more intimate encounters with these incredible animals. “Wapusk” means “white bear” in Cree and this UNESCO World Heritage site protects one of the world’s most important polar bear denning areas.
Gaining access to the park is not easy, but eco-tourism company Churchill Wild offers visitors the next best thing. Their Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge is located on the shores of Churchill Bay south of the park not far from York Factory, but sits on virtually identical terrain and polar bear habitat.
What’s unique about their tours is their experienced guides bring guests out onto the land via ATV where they get to walk among the bears and other Arctic wildlife, not too close, of course, but closer than you can imagine. My polar bear encounters are memories that I will never forget and one of my top travel experiences in all of Canada.
Listen to the echoes of Iceland in Gimli
Perched on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, Gimil might be Canada’s most unexpected Nordic outpost. Originally settled by Icelandic immigrants in the 1800s, this lakeside town still celebrates its Nordic roots with pride. You’ll see it in the names, the food (pickled herring and all) and especially during the Íslendingadagurinn festival held every August, where Viking helmets and poetry readings go hand-in-hand.
Stroll along the beach, check out the Viking statue or visit the New Iceland Heritage Museum to learn more about this unique chapter of Canadian immigration history. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a völva (a seeress from Norse tradition) doing readings at the cultural village.
https://www.travelmanitoba.com/places/must-see/gimli
See the world’s largest concentration of snakes at Narcisse
Every spring as the temperatures rise, tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes emerge from their winter hibernation in the limestone caves near Armstrong in the Narcisse Snake Dens. For a few weeks every May, the snake dens become a writhing carpet of awakening serpents in what is said to be the world’s largest gathering of snakes. Depending on your personal ick factor with snakes, it’s either a mesmerizing natural spectacle or intensely unsettling.
These harmless snakes are non-venomous and park guides encourage visitors to observe them up close as males compete frantically for females in what can only be described as a serpentine orgy. This isn’t your typical roadside attraction, but if you’re fascinated by Mother Nature, then it’s a unique spectacle that shouldn’t be missed.
