At the southern tip of the province of Manitoba, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, the city of Winnipeg offers a number of unusual points of interest.
Southwest of the city, the wild oasis of FortWhyte Alive draws outdoor enthusiasts. Along its 6.5 kilometres of forest trails, you may spot white-tailed deer or a variety of birds, but above all the renowned wood bison, North America's largest land mammal, featured on Manitoba's flag.
Culturally, the city holds its own: where the 27,000 Canadian and Inuit works at the Winnipeg Art Gallery lend the city its artistic charm, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights impresses in its own right — beyond its striking architecture, it is the only museum in the world entirely devoted to human rights, with the ambition of fostering dialogue and contributing to a better world, particularly in a country as ethnically diverse as Canada.
On the subject of sensory experiences, the Manitoba Museum is a must for aurora borealis enthusiasts, who can admire the northern lights from its planetarium dome. At the Royal Canadian Mint, where every Canadian gold coin is struck, you can hold a gold bar worth $600,000.
After these visits, stroll along the ancestral Forks of Winnipeg, a site of exchange for thousands of years, wander through the Exchange District to browse shops, art galleries and design firms, or stop by Winnipeg's French quarter.
