Ciao Jun/Jul 2019 CIAO_JunJul2019_Digital | Page 23

ciao!travels lake life Seagulls echoing in the wind and waves lapping on the shores are the tune of these Icelandic beach getaways. GIMLI WHAT TO DO Spy the Seawall Fishermen fl ock to the seawall, tossing their lines over the colourful edge for hours on end. Murals by local artists decorate the wall, depicting stories from the Interlake area. A walk along the adjacent boardwalk arouses childhood nostalgia for bubble gum ice cream and sand castles, giving stellar views of Lake Winnipeg. Beach Bum The expanse of sparkling water off Gimli’s long beach is so vast that it can easily be mistaken for an ocean. Rent a jet ski for hours of fun on the lake, sweat it out playing beach volleyball, take sailing lessons at Gimli Yacht Club or set up camp on the soft sand and tan until the sun goes down. A Lesson in History Learn about the town’s Icelandic roots at the New Iceland Heritage Museum. Discover why books were the most treasured items and see what a typical Icelandic home looked like more than a century ago. Pick up a slice of Ama Stina’s traditional vinarterta at The Viking’s Purse Gift Shop on the way out! Retail Therapy Take a beach-break and sit back with a cup of cold brew on Flatland Coffee Roasters’ sprawling new patio. Make sure to grab a bag of their locally roasted beans to bring home. Then, hop across the street to The Hartmont Candle Company for a look at behind the scenes action as adorable Viking bath melts are masterfully molded. Head to 1st Avenue for hard to fi nd candy, kitchen gadgets and chic giftware. Find an eclectic mix of books and clothing at Manitoba’s oldest running store, H.P Tergesen and Sons. ciao! / jun/jul / two thousand nineteen Tourism By Jessie Schmidtke and Sarah Ritchie 21