Winnipeg? About This Page:

[Carousel96]

Anyone been there?
Looking for tourist experiences. Tips, tricks, lessons learned? Thinks not to miss?
What's the weather like in September?

[Tiki4]

I haven't been there for years but there used to be an AMAXING zoo there. There was also a wonderful place we ate at that was called "The Factory". It was a pasta place where they made their own pasta! YUM!

As for the weather, I don't think it is much different from MN weather but the trees would be beautiful during that time of year!!

I am sure someone else with more recent experience will be able to give you more information.............Have a great time!!

[Starbright]

Donna might be able to help you with it. I forget her screen name. Look under Disney Cruise and Canadian Money post and she is on there.

It has been about 30 yrs since I have been there. I hope this helps.

[Carousel96]

Originally Posted by Starbright

Donna might be able to help you with it. I forget her screen name. Look under Disney Cruise and Canadian Money post and she is on there.

It has been about 30 yrs since I have been there. I hope this helps.

I've already sent Donna the first of what may be many PM's. She'll probably leave town when we arrive just to avoid me
But tourists often have a different take on a city than natives, so I'd like that input too.

[Carousel96]

looks like this trip is a go, so I'm bumping in the hopes of getting new info.

[Carousel96]

Trip is a go. The bicentennial committee has an event planned at The Forks but beyond that we're open to ideas.

[purplegal]

Are you still looking for information? Is the trip for this September?

[Carousel96]

Originally Posted by purplegal

Are you still looking for information? Is the trip for this September?

Yes and yes.
The organizing committee has done a lousy job IMHO of communicating info about the event. So we're kind of on our own to plan our own trip around the one event at "the Forks."

[purplegal]

Well the Forks is an interesting place, so you will be able to tour around there but that would take no more than a day.
Not sure if you are traveling with any young children, if you are the children's museum is located at the Forks.
Winnipeg does not have a huge amount of attractions, but we do have some great restaurants and friendly people.
Some attractions are Lower Fort Garry, (just outside of Winnipeg), the Museum of Man and Nature, the zoo.
The weather I assume will be pretty much what you are familiar with in Minnesota.
You might want to try this web site Travel Manitoba - Tourism Information, Accommodations & Attractions in Manitoba Canada.
Any questions you have I am more than willing to answer. If you would like me to send you some brochures in the mail, just pm me with your address and I can go down to the Forks and get you some tourist info. It will have to be soon as I am leaving in two weeks for a month in Europe.

[Carousel96]

Julia,
Thanks for the offer -- I'll be PMíng you.
We love history, so I'm sure we'll do Lower Ft Garry. My ancestors came with Lord Selkirk in 1812 so I think this is one of the high points to their story.
My daughter is 12, and I think we're past the Children's Museum stage, but who knows.
We have a reservation at the Ft Garry hotel which is a splurge for us.

[purplegal]

The Fort Garry hotel is very nice, we love to stay here. They have an awesome Sunday brunch. It is close to the Forks.
I will include info on Lower Ft Garry in the package if it is available.

[Carousel96]

Thanks Julia! I ordered material from the Manitoba tourism bureau, but Winnipeg's bureau make it harder to get printed material.

I did discover today that there's an Upper Ft Garry as well as Lower.
What are the differences? Is one better? Need we do both?

[purplegal]

Lower Fort Garry is the place you want to visit I just checked and from September 4 - 30th it is open Sat/Sun with the historic buildings open. Mon to Fri you can only tour the grounds, not into the buildings.
Upper Fort Garry now just has one wall left standing, it is next to the Fort Garry Hotel, there is nothing else presently to see except the wall.

Another interesting place your daughter might like is Oak Hammock Marsh

Oak Hammock Marsh is one of North America’s birding hotspots and a great destination for people of all ages.
This 36 km2 Wildlife Management Area features a restored prairie marsh, aspen-oak bluff, waterfowl lure crops, artesian springs, some of Manitoba's last remaining patches of tall-grass prairie and 30 kilometers of trails for you to explore.
Oak Hammock Marsh is home to 25 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, numerous amphibians, reptiles, and fish, and countless invertebrates. During migration season, the number of waterfowl using the marsh during migration can exceed 400,000 daily!

Of course I copied that from their website.

For restaurants I recommend
Hermanos, a brazilian restaurant great food, it is located in Downtown Winnipeg not to far from your hotel. It is in an old warehouse, that has been fixed up. Definitely get reservations for this one.
A Taste of Laos is one of my favourite restaurants, it is located in the West End again about 10 mins drive from your hotel. It is Laotian food if you are not familiar it is a lot like Thai food.
The West End of Winnipeg probably has the most Ethnic amount of restaurants in the whole city of Winnipeg, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian.

[Carousel96]

thanks -- I had the forts backwards in my mind.

[Carousel96]

Okay, another question for you Winnipeg folks.
I've always been told that my ancestors are listed on "the founders bridge" in Winnipeg. Though I suspect it's just a plaque on a bridge that may have a different name.
Which bridge would that be? There are several across the river and none of the guidebooks mention a plaque.
Also, are there any landmarks, streets, parks, etc. named Matheson? Other than Matheson Island, which is farther away than I thought.