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15 Things To Do in Manitoba (By a Local)
With over 100,000 lakes, thousands of years worth of history, dynamic cities, and gorgeous landscapes, narrowing down the best things to do in Manitoba can be a challenge. While drastically underrated when compared to other, more popular, Canadian provinces, Manitoba holds its own when it comes to a ton of exciting things to do and places to visit.
How do I know this? Because not only did I grow up in the adjacent province of Saskatchewan, but I’m now a bonafide Manitoba local as an adult.
Here are my picks for the 15 best things to do in Manitoba!
Want to jump around?
15 Best Things to Do in Manitoba, Canada
The Forks
Explore this historic community hub.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 204 785-6050 | Website | Hours: 24 Hours daily
Located at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, The Forks has been an important Canadian history site for over 6,000 years. Originally used by Indigenous peoples as a trading spot, The Forks later became important for the European fur trade, railway trailblazers, and immigrants.
Today, The Forks is one of the most popular attractions in the city and invites people to experience the magic in a variety of ways. Not only is the location known for putting on great events, but there is also a shopping center, food hall, an art gallery, museums, beer gardens, and so much more.
👉 You Might Also Like: The Forks also tops our list of the best stuff to do and see in Winnipeg, but there is so much more in that article so bookmark it!
Asessippi
Hit the slopes in the winter or go hiking in the summer.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 204 564 2000 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm Sun-Thu; 9:30 am – 7 pm Fri & Sat
Feel like hitting some of the prairie slopes? Asessippi Ski Area & Resort in Manitoba features three chairlifts, 26 downhill runs, ski and snowboard rentals, a tubing park, and ski lessons. Whether you’re new to the hills or are a seasoned pro, this is a great, energy-burning, way to spend a winter day.
The resort also boasts a winter village with a full food court, pub, gift shop, and educational rooms, which is always a great way to warm up between runs. As a kid, heading to Asessippi every winter on a school bus full of my friends was a major highlight.
Heading there in the summer? Asessippi is a great hiking destination in Manitoba. Hit the trails or go river tubing to soak up that summer sun.
Churchill
See Polar Bears or Beluga Whales.
📍 Google Maps | 👉 5 Night Churchill Tour
Set on the shores of Canada’s iconic Hudson Bay, Churchill is known for polar bears in the fall and the beluga whales in the summer. Designated as the world’s polar bear capital, this remote Manitoba town is a beacon for avid wildlife lovers, explorers, and photographers. Churchill also made our list of the best travel destinations in Canada.
With these wildlife experiences set to a backdrop of northern lights viewing and some unique culinary experiences, it’s no wonder that Churchill draws in thousands of tourists each year.
🐻❄️ Pro Tip: Churchill is a bit of a mission, so the best way to go is part of an organized tour. Taking you from Winnipeg, this excellent 5-night Churchill tour includes a dog-sled ride, polar-bear viewing, a stop at the Itsanitaq Museum, and so much more!
Riding Mountain National Park
Have a peaceful retreat in this gorgeous national park.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (204) 848-7275 | Website | Hours: 24 Hours daily
One of two National Parks in Manitoba (the other being Wapusk National Park near Churchill), Riding Mountain National Park is a protected area consisting of a boreal forest, a Bison sanctuary, rugged nature, and a charming resort town.
While the park is great for canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, camping, and relaxing, the hiking trails really shine in these parts.
🥾 Best Hiking Trails: check out the Bald Hill Trail (9.5km/5.9miles), Burls and Bittersweet Trail (2.2km/1.4mile loop), Moon Lake Trail (9.2km/5.7 miles), Beach Ridges Trail (3.5km/2.2 mile loop), Kinosao Trail (3.9km/2.4 miles), Lakeshore Trail (5km/3.1miles), and Grasshopper Valley Trail (17.2km/10.7miles).
Manitoba Legislative Building
Take a tour of one of Winnipeg’s most iconic landmarks.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (204) 945-5813 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily
If you’re interested in numerology, Freemason symbols, and hidden clues, then be sure to put a Hermetic Code Tour of the Manitoba Legislative Building on your Manitoba itinerary.
Located right downtown in Winnipeg, the Legislative Building is easily spotted given its grandiose architecture, but there is much more to this landmark than meets the eye. Through the guidance of a local architectural historian, the ever-intriguing Hermetic Code Tour will help you discover the occult symbols and numerology codes that tell a secret story of one of the most recognizable attractions in Manitoba.
Festivals
Attend one of Manitoba’s renowned festivals.
A festival-loving province to the core, Manitoba is home to a ton of diverse events.
In particular, check out Festival Du Voyageur (a wintertime multi-medium festival), Nuit Blanche (fall art festival), Winnipeg Comedy Festival (Summer/Fall), Winnipeg Folk Festival (July), Red River Exhibition (Summer), Folklorama (Summer), Manito Ahbee Festival (Spring), and Fire & Water Music Festival (Summer).
🏨 Need a place to stay in Winnipeg? I ranked the top Winnipeg hotels to help you find the best accommodation for your trip.
Winnipeg Jets
Catch a local NHL game.
The sole professional NHL hockey team of Manitoba, a home game for the Winnipeg Jets means a whole lot of hometown spirit.
If you’ve never experienced an NHL game in the flesh, then head on over to the Bell MTS Center in downtown Winnipeg and be prepared for some fast-paced action!
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Learn about past & present human rights at this informative museum.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (877) 877-6037 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday-Sunday; Closed Mondays
The first of its kind in the world, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Manitoba is dedicated to “exploring the subject of human rights…in order to enhance the public’s understanding of human rights, to promote respect for others, and to encourage reflection and dialogue”.
With galleries and exhibitions built around different themes, the museum is located right next door to The Forks and is renowned for its education, stories, use of technology, and architecture.
Plus, with new content regularly being added to the museum, this is a great place to explore time and time again.
Royal Canadian Mint
Learn about how coins are made.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (800) 267-1871 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tue-Sat, Closed Sun-Mon
Ever wonder where money gets made? Then head to the Royal Mint in Winnipeg, Manitoba — the high-tech facility that produces billions of the world’s coins every year.
With plenty of tours available, the Mint is a great place to learn about the money production process, see the 50-ton presses in action, and grab a few coins for your collection.
Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site
Visit how 1800s immigrants to Manitoba would have lived.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (204) 785-6050 | Website
Located on the shore of the Red River, the Lower Fort Garry was constructed in 1830 by the Hudson’s Bay Company. Important to Canada’s history, this is where Treaty 1 between the Ojibwa, Swampy Cree, and Crown was signed.
Today, the site is an excellent location to learn more about Canada’s history while experiencing how the early fur traders and immigrants would have lived, and how trades would have happened. People who work here are fully dressed in time-appropriate costumes, and tours are available.
Hecla / Grindstone Provincial Park
Explore this beachy oasis.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (204) 378-2261 | Website | Hours: 24 Hours daily
Named after one of the most famous volcanoes in Iceland, Hekla, Hecla / Grindstone Provincial Park in Manitoba is a major adventure hub and an easy road trip from Winnipeg.
With a number of islands dotting the waters between the east and west banks of Lake Winnipeg, Hecla boasts a ton of beautiful nature including forests, limestone cliffs, marshes, beaches, and meadows.
In particular, hike the Grassy Narrows Marsh Trail, explore Hecla Village, take the Hecla Scenic Drive, check out the Lighthouse Trail, and wander around Gull Harbour Marina.
🚗 Looking to get away from Winnipeg for a Day? Check out our list of the best day excursions from Winnipeg!
Spruce Woods Provincial Park
Climb sand dunes & get amazing views.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 204 827 8850 | Website | Hours: 24 Hours daily
Located in south-central Manitoba, Spruce Woods Provincial Park is a great place to explore sand dunes, prairie fields, rivers, and forests alike.
A beautiful park from any angle, Spruce Woods is best known for being the home of the Spirit Sand Dunes; a plain of blowing sand that stretches 30 meters/98 feet high. These sand dunes were created after the last ice age, and are home to flora and fauna not found anywhere else in the province.
Spruce Woods is a great spot for camping, relaxing, or going on wagon rides, but if you’re interested in hiking then you’re in for a treat. Spirit Sands & Devil’s Punch Bowl (10km/6.2miles), Spruce and Juniper Loop Trails (5.8km/3.6miles), and Marsh’s Lake Trails (1.9km/1.2miles) are all excellent options.
Pinawa Dam
Explore a defunct hydroelectric dam that’s perfect for hiking & kayaking.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (866) 626-4862 | Website | Hours: 24 Hours daily
Situated on the outskirts of the Winnipeg River, the Pinawa Dam was built in 1906 as Manitoba’s first hydroelectric generating location. Though the dam was shut down as an electricity generator back in 1951, it has since been designated a provincial heritage park and has been maintained as a scenic recreational site.
While here, I recommend exploring the area by hitting up a hiking trail and kayaking (there are some great rapids in the area), and by taking photos at the dam. Pinawa also lies on the outskirts of Whiteshell Provincial Park, and the two combined make for a great adventure.
Additionally, just down the road from the Pinawa Dam is the Suspension Bridge, which spans the Pinawa Channel. This is a popular spot for tubing down the river and hiking the Pinawa Loop (12.7km / 7.9 miles).
Gimli
Learn about Icelandic immigration in this beach town.
Located about an hour north of Winnipeg, Gimli is a small town on the west side of Lake Winnipeg (Canada’s 6th largest lake) with a strong Icelandic heritage and customs. No wonder Gimli has been nicknamed “The New Iceland.”
Known for its fresh fish and charming beachy vibe, Gimli is well known for its water activities all year round — with sailing, swimming, and the like in the summer and ice fishing and ice racing in the winter. But even though the community packs a punch with things to do, it’s the culture that makes it special.
To experience the Viking culture of Manitoba in all its glory, take a photo with a statue at Viking Park, catch a battle reenactment at one of the town’s festivals, and explore the New Icelandic Heritage Museum.
Grand Beach
Relax on an award-winning beach.
📍 Google Maps | Website
Looking for a world-class beachy getaway on your trip to Manitoba? Then look no further than Grand Beach Provincial Park!
Set on Lake Winnipeg’s freshwater shores, you’ll find this idyllic beach stretching along the water in Grand Marais. Just an hour’s drive from Winnipeg, this spot is noted for its white-sand beaches, towering dunes, nearby lagoon, and refreshing clear water.
More than just a place to laze around though, Grand Beach, Manitoba is excellent for swimming, jet skiing, paddle boarding, windsurfing, catching a performance at the amphitheater, or hiking. There are a few great hikes in the area, notably Ancient Beach Trail (2.1km / 1.3 miles) and Boulder Hill Trail (6.6km / 4.1 miles).
✈️ Canada is pretty safe as travel destinations go, but you never know what will happen. Making sure you’re covered in case of an emergency is essential when traveling.
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That’s it for my 15 best things to do in Manitoba, Canada! For more articles on traveling Canada, visit the Travel Lemming Canada Travel hub or check out my article on where to stay in Winnipeg.
Have fun in Manitoba!
Thanks for promoting Manitoba I think it’s an awesome province yet to be discovered with so much to offer, I grew up there in the North country that is Swan River Valley, Still love the rugged wilderness , lakes etc, haven’t finished exploring yet. Ernie M
Thanks so much, Ernie! I agree, Manitoba is very much underrated as a province — there is just so much to see. Swan River Valley is such a beautiful area too.