Three Trips: Winnipeg, Manitoba
|  Music at The Forks |  The Forks |  Saint-Boniface | | FOR: | The Music Fan | Family Fun | A Cultural Experience | | WHY: | The tunes are flying in June, with acts as diverse as Tom Jones, k.d. Lang, Wynton Marsalis, and Iron Maiden making their way through the city—and that doesn’t even count the half-dozen music festivals! | The Forks, named for the place where the Assiniboine River flows into the Red River, has been a meeting place for thousands of years. It remains that today, with shops, a market, and an abundance of walking trails. | From Chinatown to Little Italy, the Exchange District to the French Quarter, Winnipeg is a shining example of how different cultures can come together in one great city. From entertainment to food, find a little bit of everything north of the border. | | STAY: | For the boutique experience, stay at the Inn at the Forks (877-377-4100), located in the center of Winnipeg, with rooms that offer fireplaces, spa tubs, and more. Plus live jazz at The Current Lounge on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. | There are a few Canad Inns in Winnipeg, most of which offer full indoor water parks and kid-friendly theme rooms (under the sea, space, and jungle), and all of which try to make the stay a complete family experience. | The Delta Winnipeg (888-311-4990 ) sits in the heart of the French Quarter, which is significant since Winnipeg is home to the largest French population in Western Canada. The hotel also houses the Elephant and Castle, an English–style pub, and features a pool on the roof. | | EAT: | After a long day at a festival or before an evening concert, treat yourself to a leisurely dinner. Located on the river in a restored 1912 mansion, 529 Wellington (204-487-8325) is the only restaurant that serves Canadian Prime, as well as fresh seafoods. | The Forks Market, open each summer, offers more than 300 vendors hawking crafts, apothecaries, and fresh foods. From ethnic delights such as gyros to fresh-off-the-vine fruits and vegetables, the market should please the pickiest family member’s palate. | Just pick a place! In the bohemian chic Osborne Village, check out the cult favorite Greek spot Papa George’s (204-452-6044). In the mood for a little bit of everything? Sargent Avenue is home to Vietnamese, Portuguese, Indian, and Italian restaurants—something for everyone. | | DO: | If you are in a classical mood, try the Agassiz Summer Chamber Music Festival (204-475-1779). Or for a cooler weekend, the Jazz Winnipeg Festival (204-989-4656). Or hit one of the aforementioned concerts. Can’t make it North in June? The main event of Winnipeg’s summer is the Winnipeg Folk Festival July 10–13 (204-231-0096). | Shop the pavilion, stroll by the lake, sit and soak up the semi-warm June sun. | Explore! Learn a little French and check out the countless ethnic eateries and shops in the aforementioned neighborhoods. For a little taste of France, visit the (supposedly) haunted Le Musée de Saint–Boniface —an homage to the Francophone and Métis communities in Manitoba. Or see authentic Inuit art at Bayat Gallery , which features more than 400 pieces of Inuit sculpture, paintings, drawings, and more. |
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