FALL | WINTER 2012-2013

Lower National Historic Site worth the drive itinerary

half day Embrace nature and explore ’s lush marsh lands in In warmer months, watch the migrating birds return and a mini-getaway northwest of . then grab a clipboard and pitch in during a wildlife count or nature survey. Take a guided interpretive tour through the Just a 40-minute drive from the outskirts of Winnipeg, marsh or paddle your own canoe through the glassy waters you’ll discover Oak Hammock Marsh, a 32 sq. km wildlife to get a close-up look at the water world. management area, marsh and birdwatchers paradise. Inside the interpretive centre, fuel up with eggs, bacon and all the In cooler months, strap on a pair of snowshoes and tramp the fixings inside the Oak Hammock Marsh Café, a breakfast trails. Spot animal tracks and explore the winter wonderland. and lunch spot with daily specials and freshly baked treats. Take in a nature slideshow or movie or help feed the snakes Eat while enjoying the view, which overlooks the marsh and turtles living inside the interpretive centre. lands.

Full Day A relaxing drive in the country starts your day. Head north Highway 44 and over the impressive bridge and locks that on Winnipeg’s Henderson Highway and continue past the created a waterway to in 1910. Spot the perimeter, the bypass highway that circles the city. Once fresh water and ice fishermen year round on the banks, on outside the city, this route offers peek-a-boo views of the foot, in shacks, wading or in their boats. Stop for lunch at Red River and the charm of a rural countryside. Homesteads Rembrandt’s Bistro, a gem in Manitoba’s culinary scene. and acreages dot the highway on either side of this tree- Order fish and chips and taste fresh Manitoba pickerel. lined motorway that meanders beside the waterway. Make a weekend stop at Red River General Store, a charming After lunch, drive to National Historic country store stocked with in-season produce and organic Site, the oldest intact stone trading fort in North America. dry goods, including pasta, rice and beans. The store also The sprawling park, located on the banks of the Red River stocks homemade pickles, natural soaps, antiques and north of Winnipeg, is home to a village of 19th-century vintage decor. buildings. Listen in as costumed interpreters relive life in a fur-trading fort in the 1850s. Follow route 204 north, about 30 minutes, until you hit junction 44, the gateway to Lockport. Head west on King’s Park, photo courtesy Ted Sali FortWhyte Alive

Full Day 2 Start your day with a stroll around King’s Park, just south of prayer at the site until 1978 when the city’s encroachment the University of Manitoba on the banks of the Red River. pushed the brethren to move to a quieter locale. (The This city park winds its way through fields, over hills, along original monastery burned in a 1983 fire but the remains the riverbank and into the woods. Visit the Chinese Pagoda still stand today.) Gardens and follow the path of the Carol Shields Memorial Labyrinth, a garden maze dedicated to Winnipeg’s Pulitzer From there, head to the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and prize-winning author. Food Discovery Centre, an all-ages interactive attraction detailing Manitoba’s agriculture industry from field to table. From there, head south to St. Norbert, a bedroom Learn about livestock in the live pig barn and a piglet nursery community just south of Winnipeg. This enclave on the or drive a virtual tractor during harvest time. banks of the Red River was the heart of Métis life in the late 1800s. At the forks of the Red and La Salle rivers, make Finish the day back in Winnipeg at Fort Whyte Alive, a a stop at St. Norbert Provincial Heritage Park. Immerse 600-acre nature preserve and wetland in south Winnipeg. yourself in Manitoba’s rich aboriginal and French roots while Stroll hand-in-hand along the quiet trails, meet the herd of exploring heritage homes of the province’s settlers. bison living in the centre’s paddock on the prairie. Visit all three plains Cree tipis tucked along the trails, or strap on The area is also home to St. Norbert Arts Centre, a snowshoes and wander along the marshlands. Warm up picturesque arts and spiritual hub on the banks of the Red inside the Buffalo Stone Café, where housemade soups, River. The area is also home to the Trappist Monastery, a stews and bison burgers satisfy any appetite. circa-1892 monastery situated along the picturesque LaSalle River. Monks pursued quiet contemplation, hard work and

300-259 Portage Avenue P 204.943.1970 Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3B 2A9 TF 1.855.PEG.CITY