OUTDOORS UNCOVERED
PLAYING WITH POLAR BEARS
For up close animal sightings , the Journey to Churchill Exhibit at Assiniboine Park zoo is the place to be . The main draw is a chance to come face to face with a swimming polar bear , separated by only 15 cm of polymer . This massive exhibit covers 3,714 square metres , and is home to caribou , muskox , snowy owls , arctic foxes , and , of course , seals and polar bears , whose aqueous environments are constructed side by side to encourage interaction — buffered by another polymer wall of course .
The secret to catching polar bears at play is to visit in the morning when the animals are most active . Arrive before 11 am to get the best view of the bears frolicking and swimming . The bears ’ underwater enclosure is placed over a tunnel , called the Sea Ice Passage , so the curious can get an up close look at bear bellies swimming above . Get your phone ready ; you ’ ll want to snap a selfie when a polar bear comes to check out the crowd . Assiniboine Park , 2595 Roblin Blvd , 204‐927-6000 , Map 2 : D-3
JUST AROUND THE RIVER BEND
Winnipeg grew out of the meeting place at the Red and Assiniboine Rivers , as these waterways made trade and travel much easier . Though planes , trains , and automobiles have superseded birch bark canoes in modern days , it is still possible to take to the river by boat for a new perspective on the city . Splash Dash Boat Tours and Rentals opens mid- May , sending river adventurers off from its perch at The Forks . Take a
Though it is the province ’ s largest city , Winnipeg has plenty of green space . Immerse yourself in nature and discover the secrets of Winnipeg ’ s outdoor attractions .
BY JOELLE KIDD
guided river tour and hear historical insights on points of interest along the way . When the water is calm , canoe rentals are available for those who want to paddle the Assiniboine . Main dock at The Forks Historic Port , 204‐783‐6633 , Map 1 : Q-5
AU NATUREL
FortWhyte Alive is a haven for adventurous outdoor fun and environmental education , all within city limits . Paddle or go fishing on one of five lakes , walk through the wetlands on a floating boardwalk , and hike the trails that wind through surrounding aspen forest . Ecoexplorers can learn about Manitoba wildlife at the site ’ s interpretive centre , but the best way to get up close and personal is on a bison safari — throughout May and June , buggies roll out on Thursdays at 1:30 pm to join the herd of huge hairy bison that live on the prairie .
If visiting in May , you ’ re just in time to catch the spring migration . Join a weekly Birding and Breakfast event to take a hike led by experienced birding guides and compare finds over pancakes at the on site Buffalo Stone Cafe . 1961 McCreary Rd , 204-989‐8355 , fortwhyte . org , Map 2 : F-3
TIME CAPSULE
It almost seems as though time has turned back to 1815 … until someone pulls out a smartphone to snap a pic of the blacksmith at work . Other than its visitors , everything at Fort Gibraltar is
PHOTOS : JOURNEY TO CHURCHILL & STEAM TRAIN COURTESY OF ASSINIBOINE PARK CONSERVANCY ; DAN HARPER ( FORT GIBRALTAR ); BUFFALO COURTESY OF FORT WHYTE ALIVE ; UPPER FORT GARRY GATE COURTESY OF THE FRIENDS OF UPPER FOR GARRY ; BATH AT THERMEA COURTESY OF THERMEA
6 where . ca MAY / JUNE 2017