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 Though planes, trains, and automobiles have superseded birch bark canoes in modern days, it is still possible to take to the river by boat for a new perspective on the city.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