While some prefer to board up the house, stay inside all winter, sipping hot cocoa and binge-watching Netflix, others take advantage of the season’s unique experiences. The city of Winnipeg provides multiple options to book a hotel, then get out and explore the unique Canadian winter scene. From ice towers to ice castles, the French-Canadian quarter connects visitors with winter adventures that could become just as Canadian as maple syrup.
Ice Climbing Tower
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If you’re looking for something uniquely Canadian to do, look no further than climbing The Club d’escalade de Saint-Boniface (CESB) Ice Climbing Tower. The huge ice tower presents a rare and exciting climb that any adventure junkie would love to ascent. Winnipeg hosts the first free-standing ice climbing tower in the country.
Arctic Glacier Winter Park
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The Arctic Glacier Winter Park is a one-stop spot for winter activities. The park offers The Plaza Skating Rink, which features a canopy that lights up at night and music that brings a soundtrack to the experience. A thrilling Toboggan Run swings around the back of the park for visitors looking for a windy sled ride. To excite the dreamers, the Great-West Life Interactive Ice Castle delivers a magical experience inside a real-life ice castle even Elsa would envy. Stop by the Snowboard Fun Park to board down an assortment of trails and jumps.
Festival du Voyageur
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French culture maintains a large aspect of life in Canada, and each year, the Canadians celebrate that contribution with the Festival du Voyageur. Some of the original French settlements come back to life, bringing with them French culture, cuisine, music and educational history. They even create snow sculptures for the festival.
Adrenaline Adventures
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Snow tubing and snowboarding options abound at Adrenaline Adventures, located just outside of Winnipeg. And to get your adrenaline really pumping, try zorbing. Basically, it’s rolling down a snowy mountain in an inflatable bubble.
Rail travel tours
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123 Main Street
Book: (866) 704-3528
See the stunning snowy slopes of Canada from its railways. Canadian landscapes shine in the winter with glistening snow and towering snowcapped trees, and Rail Travel Tours is the perfect way to take all that beauty in while staying nice and toasty.
Skate the River Trail
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In January, skaters can skate on the Assiniboine River. The city creates a network of frozen pathways called The Red River Mutual Trail, which is one of the longest skating routes in Canada. If skating isn’t your thing, you can also walk or ski the trails.
Manitoba Planetarium and Museum
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For travelers who aren’t too keen on bundling up and braving the cold but who still want to experience Winnipeg culture, the Manitoba Planetarium equips visitors with an interactive and educational experience about local animals of Manitoba. The museum takes visitors through an interactive experience where children and adults alike can learn about history, science and space.
Catch the art scene
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The galleries in the Exchange District hold their monthly event called “First Fridays” where visitors can view the exhibits by local artists for free on the first Friday of each month. This event brings local artists, galleries, businesses and the community together for a greater understanding of Winnipeg’s thriving arts scene.
