Winnipeg: A Tale of Two Cities

When to Go
Winnipeg weather is similar to the Twin Cities’, but a bit colder in the winter. Peak season is during the dog days of summer when festivals abound, including the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Folklorama, and the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. Fall is usually even more glorious (and comes about one to two weeks earlier than in the Twin Cities), and winter has its distinct charms as well. In February, Le Festival du Voyageur is Western Canada’s largest winter carnival, commemorating the fur trade era. It attracts 150,000 visitors annually.

Where to Stay
Inn at the Forks (from C$130; 877-377-4100) is a new boutique hotel at The Forks.  Located across from Union Station and The Forks is the Fort Garry Hotel (from C$109, 800-665-8088).

How to Get There
Winnipeg is roughly a seven-hour drive, via I–94 and I–29. The border crossing at Emerson should go quickly—if you tote your passport. Northwest Airlines has several daily ninety-minute flights; roundtrip fares started at $412 when we checked in mid-spring.

Other Activities
Splash Dash Water Bus operates May through October (204-783-6633). To purchase tickets to the outdoor performances of In Riel’s Footsteps or La Chasse de la Galerie, call 866-808-8338. O Tours (204-254-3170) offers multilingual guided tours of St. Boniface, the French Quarter, and practically any of the city’s Francophone attractions.

Learning More
Travel Manitoba (800-665-0040) and Destination Winnipeg (800-665-0204) are the area’s tourist information outlets. Ask Travel Manitoba for its Travel Values Guide, which offers discounts at hundreds of Winnipeg attractions.