Motor Coach Canada: Tour & Travel Canada 2017 - 77
From its geographic position in the centre of Canada, to its warm and inviting people, we can say with confidence: Manitoba is where Canada's heart...beats. Here you'll find flourishing prairie parklands punctuated by cool clear lakes and lush boreal forests. Manitoba beckons with the friendliest people, prime wildlife viewing, and a vibrant mix of urban excitement and rural charm. Manitoba's diverse habitats - sub-Arctic tundra, broad plains, forests and parklands - spawn superb wildlife viewing year-round. View polar bears, kayak with beluga whales or gaze up at unearthly northern lights on Manitoba's Hudson Bay ocean coastline. During spring and fall migrations, birding is spectacular in choice spots. See moose, elk, bison, black bears, and even tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes. Outdoor enthusiasts have a vast yet accessible wilderness awaiting them with hundreds of miles of trails and waterways. Sand dunes and waterfalls, broad valleys and lush Canadian Shield forests are all found in Manitoba. Take a swing at a top-notch golf course or cast your sights to a fishing lodge on one of more than 100,000 lakes the envy of anglers the world over. An impressive slate of festivals showcases the province's diversity and community spirit. Join the party in cities across the province, including, Thompson, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, and Steinbach. With its roots as an indigenous meeting place, followed by a railroad boomtown, capital city Winnipeg, home to more than 700,000, has found its niche as a mid-size city with a massive-size offering of arts and culture. A culinary hotspot, winter destination, and home to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and other cultural institutions like Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg is a city full of surprises. For more information, visit www.travelmanitoba.com Regions * Tourism North: Rich in natural wonders, the North is home to polar bears, beluga whales, wolves, walleye and birds of every description. Discover aboriginal culture, revisit the fur-trade era and explore a vast landscape of unspoiled wilderness. Snowshoe to an ice-fishing hole on a pristine lake, hike to majestic waterfalls and marvel at the North's hardy history at museums in Churchill, The Pas and Thompson. We'll leave the northern lights on for you. W: visitnorthernmanitoba.ca. * Parkland: This aptly named region is a natural paradise of scenic woodlands, MANITOBA Manitoba picturesque lakes, rushing rivers and dramatic escarpments - along with eclectic shopping emporiums, art galleries and historic sites. Climb Manitoba's highest mountain, bike, ski and snowshoe along winding trails, discover the joys of ice-fishing and keep your camera handy for encounters with wildlife. W: parklandtourism.com * Interlake: Stretching to the horizon, the shorelines of two inland oceans, Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba are magnets for naturalists, history buffs and artists - not to mention Vikings. Fall migration season finds marshes teeming with Canada geese, and winter is fine for icefishing and cross-country skiing. Hole up at a lakeside resort, trip back in time at Gimli's New Iceland Heritage Museum and keep an eye out for Manipogo - Lake Manitoba's version of the Loch Ness Monster. W: interlaketourism.com * Westman: From the desert of Spirit Sands to the woodland trails of Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, western Manitoba is a dreamscape for footloose explorers. Rolling hills, lush forests and Prairie vistas hold endless opportunities for outdoor fun and adventure, and there's no shortage of urban delights. W: tourismwestman.ca * Pembina Valley Central Plains: This fertile greenbelt is a land of legends, history and diversity - and of course, sea monsters. Find ancient fossils of prehistoric marine reptiles and follow the flightpaths of migrating waterfowl and raptors. Roam from Delta Marsh and Lake Manitoba in the north to the cliffs of the Manitoba Escarpment in The 2017 Canadian Tour Planner & Operator Guide the south along a patchwork of scenic trails and highways - and share in the bounty of Manitoba's breadbasket at fall suppers along the way. W: pembinavalleycentralplainstourism.com * Eastman: Lake shores and boreal forest bump up against the rugged Precambrian Shield in this all-season playground. Ski in to a resort cabin, explore unique historic sites in Manitoba's largest French settlements and the enjoy local hospitality at every turn. W: eastmantourism.ca * Winnipeg: Winnipeg is the hip, happening capital of Manitoba. The city has it all, including new world-class attractions such as the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and Journey to Churchill at Assiniboine Park Zoo, an innovative arts and entertainment scene, historic sites and exhibits, countless tantalizing local restaurants, luxurious spas, and fabulous shopping. We're the gateway to the West and a four-season destination that celebrates winter and summer alike with festivals and events happening all year long. With more than 100 languages spoken, and a diverse population of 793,400, Winnipeg provides cosmopolitan flair while maintaining a tight-knit feel. W: tourismwinnipeg.com Festivals and Events Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra New Music Festival January 23-29, 2016 Come and see this unique music festival that spawned new music festivals across the country. 77