Manitoba - From Polar Bears to Beluga Whales

Manitoba is in Central Canada, the most easternmore are road-accessible. Arctic grayling, brook
of the three prairie provinces. It shares the UStrout, lake trout, northern pike and walleye thrive
border with Minnesota and North Dakota in thehere. Some of the best giant channel cat fishing in
south and stretches north to the Port of Churchillthe world can be found in Winnipeg's Red River.
on the Hudson Bay and beyond. It has wheatThe fly fishing is best in Manitoba's western
fields, oil and gas wells, commercial fresh waterreaches and you might need a guide to find the
fishing, mining and a forest industry. It also has abest spots.Seeing the northern lights in Manitoba
lot to offers tourists.Here are ten suggestionshas been called one of the top 25 adventures of
that a visitor might want to consider in Manitoba,a lifetime. January to March in Churchill have some
some in the colder months and some in theof the best shows when nature sends her lasers
warmer parts of the year.You might considerto make shifting curtains of spectacular northern
making Winnipeg the hub of your stay in Manitoba.lights. A facility with see-through domes built into
The provincial capital, it's a multicultural city proudlythe roof makes light viewing a warm and
reflected in its festivals and offers art, music andcomfortable experience for visitors unaccustomed
food. Restaurants serve everything fromto Churchill winters.Manitoba is diverse, so are the
Ukrainian perogies to a blending of regional andparks. Sand dunes roll at Spruce Woods Provincial
Californian cuisine. Performing arts offer an arrayPark, ancient granite graces much of the
of productions throughout the year in theatre,Whiteshell and waterfalls amaze near Paint Lake
music, opera and dance. The Winnipeg Art GalleryProvincial Park. Baldy Mountain, Manitoba's highest
has the largest collection of contemporary Inuitpoint, is at Duck Mountain Provincial Park, where
art in the world. And of course shopping malls,glaciers receded some 10,000 years ago. Hikers
casinos, museums and historic sites beckon.and bikers are attracted to the extensive trail
Families will love The Forks, the Children'snetworks through the broad valleys and lush
Museum, Fort Whyte Centre and the AssiniboineCanadian Shield forests. Bike along one of the
Park Zoo, where wild animals delight the children,biggest lakes in the world - Lake Winnipeg - at
along with a statue of a very famous bearHecla/Grindstone Provincial Park or paddle for
named after Winnipeg -- Winnie-the-Pooh.Adays in Grass River Provincial Park.If you want to
two-and-a-half hour flight north of Winnipeg,experience total relaxation, consider camping or
Churchill Manitoba is known around the world asrenting a cottage on some of the biggest and
polar bear central. For a safe adventure, head outbest lakes in the world. Soak up the summer heat
over the tundra in specially designed vehicles foron the water's edge and dive in when you can't
safely viewing the bears. Photographers andstand it any more. Eat well, then later, float
wildlife enthusiasts so inclined can even eat, sleepsoundlessly in a streak of moonlight and gaze at
and rise right out on the capes, in the midst ofan endless canopy of stars.Manitoba attracts
the glorious bears, as hundreds of them roam thetwo-thirds of Canada's more than 500 species of
coastline every October and November awaitingbirds and is considered a birder's paradise. In
the freeze of the Hudson Bay.In summer, polarspring, the birds fly north in amazing flocks in the
bear central turns into the beluga belt, ashundreds of thousands over the lakes, marshes
thousands of the 900-pound whales come to feedand forests. A North American birding hotspot,
in the waters near Churchill on the Hudson Bay.Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, won
You can actually paddle or snorkel among thesethe coveted 2002 British Airways Tourism for
majestic creatures and watch them watching you!Tomorrow award for Best Environmental
You can also enjoy watching and listening to theseExperience. Delta Marsh also offers great viewing,
highly vocal whales from a 32-passengeras does Riding Mountain National Park, home to
boat.Riding Mountain National Park is edged by amore than 260 bird species, including great grey
high, rugged escarpment and is an island ofowl and Connecticut warbler. Birders fly to
wilderness over the agricultural landscape. WildlifeChurchill for stellar sub-arctic birding.And finally,
thrives in the vast mix of forests, meadows andstay at a bed-and-breakfast or on a country
broad valleys, crisscrossed with more than 300vacation farm during one of the hundreds of
kilometres (180 miles) of trails, maintainedsmall-town fall suppers. This is a great opportunity
superbly year-round. This is the time and place toto meet with the local Manitobans who will be
keep a camera ready for sightings of moose, elk,sure to make you welcome.This has been just a
beaver, black bear, fox and if you're very lucky,sampling that is representative of what Manitoba
lynx or wolf.Manitoba's plentiful waters yield morehas to offer its visitors. Whether in the winter or
than 10,000 trophy-sized fish very year. Thein the summer, Manitoba will provide you with an
north is peppered with fly-in lodges and manyunforgettable holiday.