ciao ! travels
day trips and picnics
Pinawa Dam
Photography : Travel Manitoba ; Interlake Tourism
Plan a jaunt past the perimeter for natural wonders and small-town spots that offer excellent eats for hungry travellers
Summer is the time to hit the open road , but no need to spend days in a hot car . For those looking to switch up their scenery and take in some of Manitoba ’ s best sights , a couple hours ’ drive will suffice . Find a whole new world in this province ’ s beachy interlake , the quaint southern hills , or verdant boreal forest .
Of course no day trip is complete – at least for a ciao ! hound – without a superb meal to match . We ’ ve rounded up places to pit stop on your scenic tour of Manitoba ’ s offerings , to eat in cozy splendor or en plein air .
Brown-baggers
By Joelle Kidd and Laurie Hughes
HOT DAM Established in 1906 on the Winnipeg River , Pinawa Dam was the province ’ s first hydroelectric generating station . Long closed in deference to the Seven Sisters Dam downstream , the stately ruins situated in a provincial heritage park now make an intriguing background for a swimming hole . Explore the dam and take a dip next to rocky outcroppings that meld into old cement structures , or reach the dam by river via rented inner tube . After working up an appetite , the serene setting has plenty of places
Lockport to perch for a picnic . Northwest of Pinawa , Provincial Rd 520 . gov . mb . ca / sd / parks / park-maps-andlocations / eastern / pinawa . html
LOVELY LOCKS Follow the north-flowing Red River up from Winnipeg and you ’ ll find yourself joining the summer throngs to Lockport , Manitoba . The site of the St . Andrew ’ s Lock and Dam , the only Camere curtain-style dam in North America , this charming area is perfect for a summertime stroll and a light outdoor meal . Claim a picnic table or lay out a blanket on the grass facing the locks and take in the sights and sounds : water lapping , pelicans flapping , and fishermen casting . The town has several local favourite eateries for those who prefer takeaway , like retro Half Moon Drive-In and famed hot dog stand Skinner ’ s . North of Winnipeg , Provincial Trunk
Hwy 44 . gov . mb . ca / sd / parks / park-maps-and-locations / central / lockport . html
ciao ! / summer / two thousand twenty-two 21