During our train trip, we made time for a brief stay in Manitoba’s capital, Winnipeg. More about our train trip to Winnipeg is detailed in this post. Winnipeg is geographically the middle of Canada.

Winnipeg has a dubious reputation, but we were impressed with the activities, and accessible places as we explored the city. We visited friends and family and several tourist sites. We were there in early November and luckily, experienced sunny and snow-free days. 

We arrived by train and were immediately impressed with the Union Station. Built in 1913 out of local Manitoba limestone; it is an architectural feat!

We stayed at The Fort Garry Hotel. It also opened in 1913 and has operated as an iconic hotel ever since. It is a 5-minute walk from Union Station. Even if you don’t stay there it is well worth a visit inside.

The recent restorations and renovations highlight the craftsmanship of the original designers. The impressive Oval Room is a round restaurant off the main lobby. The craftsman who completed the intricate plasterwork in 2021, trained two apprentices to pass on his skills for future restorations and repairs. Tourism Winnipeg created this video about the restoration:

Video created by Tourism Winnipeg

We enjoyed our large and quiet room for three nights. We booked through Expedia and received great service. Many travellers staying there were part of the tours to Churchill, as it was one of the last weeks of the year to see polar bears. They often assembled in the lobby, in matching parkas, awaiting their transfers.

Here are some of the places we visited while in Winnipeg.

The Human Rights Museum

Our first place to visit is the impressive Human Rights Museum. It was a ten-minute walk from our hotel and the building is an architectural marvel. We started on the first floor and worked up to the tower level. The museum details international human rights struggles with interactive videos, displays and helpful interpreters at every level. We walked up all of the ramps and were rewarded with a clear view from the top of the tower. There is an expansive view of the city and the Forks where the two rivers meet. We learned more about the Holodomor genocide and other important historical events.

Manitoba Legislature

Our next stop was a walk to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Since no public tours were available that day we visited the gallery and observed the Question period. We admired the craftsmanship of the building. Just like our hotel and Union Station construction began in 1913. The local Manitoba Tyndall stone has stood the test of time. Many repetitions of the number 13 can be found in the Grecian-inspired design elements within the building to symbolize good luck. The staircase, three sets of 13 steps, flanked by two life-sized bison statues was an impressive architectural display.

Outside on the lawn of the Legislature Building, the Indigenous community had created a place to honour Senator Murray Sinclair. We were warmly invited to give a tobacco offering into the fire and take a moment to remember him.

The Manitoba Museum

The Manitoba Museum was created in the 1970s and when we first entered, we thought it would be a quick visit. Although some of the dioramas were dated and they are working on rewriting some of their descriptions (to be more inclusive) we found several interesting displays.

I learned a lot about the dinosaurs and the large seawater river which had covered this part of Canada. This ancient river explained the fertile farming lands and mineral deposits in Manitoba.

The other impressive display, worth the admission, was created for the 300th anniversary of the Hudson Bay Company. A replica ship, the Nonsuch, was sailed from England and eventually made its permanent home inside the walls of the Mantiboa Museum. They built the walls around the vessel after its installation. Winnipeg was the location of the first Hudson Bay Store and the company returned a large and unique collection of artifacts from its fur trading days. Many of these artifacts were created by Inuit and Cree artists. We felt honoured to view them.

Assiniboine Park- The Leaf and the Zoo

We spent the next day enjoying places within Assiniboine Park. We decided to take public transit to get there and thanks to Google we were successful. The round-trip cost for both of us was $12. That was much cheaper than the estimated $55 for a car service.

The Leaf was our first stop. This large greenhouse, nestled in parkland contains a butterfly garden, outdoor gardens, and a large collection of Mediterranean and tropical plants. We enjoyed the warmth and the design of this building. My favourite plant had flowers that resembled Chinese lanterns. It has several names depending on the country in which it grows. It was called Redveined or Red Tiger Abutilon.

The Winnipeg Zoo was much larger than I had expected and we were able to observe many of the animals up close. One benefit of visiting a zoo on a cool November day is that the animals are active. I enjoyed seeing the elk, caribou, polar bear and other North American animals the best. We found the Winnie-the-Bear statue and learned how a Winnipeg soldier’s mascot in 1914 became the inspiration for A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh character in 1926.

The Forks

The Forks is located on the original Fort Garry site and is a great place to meet friends for dinner. The old storehouses have been turned into shops and restaurants. We ate there twice. I had the famous Fergie’s Fish’n Chips at the Commons and we sampled a local craft beer. We also met friends for dinner before we boarded our train as it is a short walk to the train station.

Dining Options in the Capital

We were pleasantly surprised to find some great family-run restaurants to sample. Our favourite breakfast place was Kelly’s Cafe because Kelly, the owner, offered creative suggestions to ensure our breakfast was satisfying. She also remembered our order when we returned a second time; two days later!

We also enjoyed three great lunches:

-an Indian meal at Ivory

-a Thai special at Thida’s

-and a tasty lunch at the Park Cafe in Assiniboine Park

There were a variety of interesting activities to take part in and we learned a lot about the province while in Winnipeg. The capital city has great events planned all year. Look here for more ideas from Tourism Winnipeg! Another great option is to take advantage of a cheaper NHL ticket and attend a hockey game! We had a positive experience in Winnipeg and enjoyed what there was to see and do.