Manitoba is a beautiful Canadian province, with a lot of wide open spaces, and many smaller cities and towns. The whole province has a population of 1.2 million, with more than 60 percent living in its biggest city of Winnipeg. This provides a lot of opportunities to get away from it all and see the flora and fauna, as well as the wide open farm spaces.
Winnipeg
Obviously, almost anyone traveling to Manitoba will end up in Winnipeg at some point. You could spend a lot of time exploring the city. It is home to The Forks which is a national historic site in Canada. It is a beautiful public space in the middle of the city. There is also many museums and theaters to enjoy. If you are a sports fan, you can catch a CFL or NHL game. Within the city you can get around on the mainly city buses.
Since Manitoba is a large province, like most of North America, a car rental is almost a necessity. To see all you want to see, you would need to drive, sometimes long distances. A lot of the nicer places to visit are more remote. One such place it Baldy Mountain, which happens to be the highest peak in Manitoba. Located in the Duck Mountain Provincial Park it is 832 m (2,730) tall. Many of the other protected areas are also very remote.
If you like the small city feel, the city of Brandon, in Southwest Manitoba is a great place. Again, a car rental would come in handy to come here. The city does not lack amenities, but at the same time, is not too big. Many festivals are held here annually, including the Brandon jazz festival, which brings over 3,000 performers from the United States and Canada. You have lots of options for lodging and food as well
Located roughly 100 km north of Brandon is the Riding mountain national park, which was established to protect prairie parkland. The area provides hiking and wildlife viewing. You also have a lot of camping choices, either full service or back country camping. To stay safe, watch out for poison ivy, black bears, and be mindful in the winter, the temperature can reach as low as -40 c.
If you want to see Lake Winnipeg, a visit to Grand beach, in eastern Manitoba is in order. It is considered one of the best beaches in Canada, and has a large campground toward the east end of the park.
Pisnew Falls
If you want to see a beautiful waterfall, head to Pisew Falls national park. Home to its own micro-climate, a lot of interesting plants and animals thrive in the park. One of the nice things, is entry into the park is free without the need of a vehicle permit. This is a truly wild place with great hiking, and kayaking. But remember, there are no shops or stores so you must bring what you need. This place offers unparalleled beauty, but again a car rental is necessary as it is 700km north of Winnipeg.
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