After crossing Ontario, our Canadian adventure takes us further west, to the Manitoba region, the first Prairie stop of our trip. Known for its agriculture, the province is more than just a grain basket! With its rich history, especially aboriginal, there are many cultural sites to visit, but it is just as much its boreal nature that enchants! Join Blackcircles.ca to discover the center of Canada.
Relax at Whiteshell Park
Just over the border from Ontario, Whiteshell Provincial Park offers the perfect place to recharge in the fresh air before returning to city life. With fall just around the corner, we highly recommend the Top of the World trail, which offers by far the most beautiful photos of the colorful foliage! For golf enthusiasts, the Falcon Lake Club offers another way to relax while the more adventurous cross the Whiteshell River Suspension Bridge. Before you leave, make sure you’ve seen at least one sunset, it’s worth the trip!
To continue this moment of rest, even on the road, it is worthwhile to equip yourself with comfortable tires, which reduce vibrations and, therefore, sounds in the cabin. This stabilization not only makes for a more pleasant ride, but also a much more relaxing experience for the passengers! Today, most manufacturers offer such a model, but our favorite is the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus.
Winnipeg, or living the Manitoba way
Just over an hour’s drive west of Whiteshell, you’ll reach the province’s true central hub, Winnipeg. The capital city is home to almost two-thirds of the province’s population, or nearly 800,000 people. It includes the historic community of St. Boniface, an important village in western New France founded in 1738. Today, it is home to the largest francophone community in Western Canada and is home to museums and historical sites honouring the Franco-Métis community.
In fact, it is impossible to travel through the area without seeing traces of this aboriginal past, which has marked every facet of life. The territories are governed by a series of treaties, signed during the 19th and 20th centuries, in which the First Nations allow the sharing of the benefits of their ancestral lands. From the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to the many Aboriginal cultural interpretation centers, Manitoba is the perfect place to learn about the culture of the original inhabitants of our land. When you visit Winnipeg, you’ll be visiting Treaty One territory.
To the north, the boreal forest
True nature enthusiasts will be more than happy to drive the 750 kilometers from Winnipeg to the town of Thompson in the heart of Manitoba’s northern forest. Here, winter comes quickly but is long and offers the perfect opportunity to experience the beauty of our country’s boreal landscape. Paint Lake and Pisew Falls Provincial Parks are the best places to experience this unique nature. Who knows, maybe you’ll hear the wolf howl or even see the Northern Lights!
Although winter has not officially arrived, fall can also bring its share of frost and snow when you are in such a northern region! In addition to checking the weather conditions before leaving for Thompson, it may be beneficial to upgrade to winter tires sooner than expected. Again, there are many choices, but according to the Blackcircles.ca buying guide, the Michelin X-Ice Snow is the best buy for the season.
The important thing when visiting Manitoba is to take the time to breathe the fresh air around you. That’s the only way to live the prairie lifestyle! Now let’s continue eastward without further ado, straight to Saskatchewan!
