When my husband and I heard Flair Airlines was now offering affordable direct flights between Kelowna to Winnipeg, we booked our summer vacation to visit family, friends and explore all the things to see, do and eat in Winnipeg! We kept the kids busy all over the city with new adventures as well as stops at some of our favourite spots we hung out at when we were their age. It was a lot of fun to see Winnipeg through their eyes as they took in the sights and sounds of this great city.
Our itinerary was full, but we managed to fit in so many things. We want to share some of our highlights to help you when plan your trip to Winnipeg.
Growing up in Winnipeg, I never really took the time to appreciate all that the city has. As a kid you see and do things but it really isn’t until you move away and come back that you realize the history, culture and offerings Winnipeg has to offer. From my favourite sandwich shop to the sights and sounds of The Forks, the city has had a big imprint on my life.
My husband and I grew up in Winnipeg and met in high school. We have a lot of history together in the city and both moved away when we graduated. We’ve been back to visit many times since but this trip we wanted to really show our kids all the great things about our hometown!
Day 1
We headed to Bluestone Cottage for breakfast before a busy day of exploring at Assiniboine Park. The Sourdough Pancakes with yogurt and fresh cherry compote were full of flavour and the Cinabun French Toast offered a delicious twist to this classic breakfast dish.
Assiniboine Park is a MUST VISIT in Winnipeg, there are so many things to see and do! Nature Playground is a great playground for the kids to burn off some energy. The statue of Lt. Colebourn and Winnie the Bear sits at the entrance to the play park. If you didn’t know, it’s the forerunner for the children’s storybook character, Winnie the Pooh.
The Winnipeg Zoo is right in Assiniboine park and offers sights and sounds for all ages. We always love visiting the Winnipeg Zoo, it was a big part of our childhood growing up! From the Journey to Churchill to the newly reopened Aunt Sally’s Farm, the Winnipeg Zoo is one of the best in Canada.
We stopped for lunch at Gather Kraft Kitchen + Bar which offers globally inspired modern prairie cuisine. Located in The Leaf at Assiniboine Park, the lunch menu offers small plates, salads, and a variety of main dishes to tantalize your tastebuds. A kids menu is available for your little ones to enjoy as well!
The Leaf is one of Winnipeg’s newest attractions in Assiniboine Park and home to Canada’s largest indoor waterfall, a butterfly garden, indoor horticultural displays and is open year round for enjoyment. Butterflies are considered to be lucky and I had one land right on me in the beautiful butterfly garden!
Pizzeria Gusto is a great spot for dinner, just a 10 minute drive from Assiniboine Park. We feasted on modern Italian fare and the most flavourful wood fired pizzas as well as one of my favourite dishes Cacio e Pepe.
Day 2
Breakfast at Stella’s is a must in Winnipeg! Their Grilled Cinnamon Bun is my favourite menu item, I have it every time we visit Winnipeg. The menu has lots of other great menu options as well for the whole family.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery is one of Canada’s leading art museums housing the world’s largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art and extensive collections of fine art, decorative art and photography. Qaumajuq is an innovative , world-class addition to the WAG, and dedicated to Inuit art and culture, led by Inuit voices. The WAG-Qaumajuq was my favourite stop during our visit to experience with the kids.
Manitoba Museum is an award-winning heritage and science centre that provides a journey through Manitoba’s past, present, and future. I remember visiting during school field trips, it was pretty cool to experience this with our children as well! The Manitoba Museum features permanent displays like the Nonsuch plus an ever-changing variety of specialty exhibits.
The Bridge Drive In has been a staple for Winnipeg families since 1957 and is one of the most well known ice cream shops in the city. My husband and I used to walk across the bridge to enjoy a dipped cone and hot fudge sundae back in the day so we had to take our kids here to experience it as well!
Day 3
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the world’s only museum dedicated to human rights education and awareness. Using the latest technologies, the oldest forms of storytelling and the timeless power of art, hundreds of experiences are woven in to share the importance of human rights for all. The building itself offers incredible architecture with panoramic views of Winnipeg from the top floor.
Located right next door is The Forks which is Manitoba’s number one tourist destination. They offer year round shopping and dining as well as outdoor experiences. Growing up in Winnipeg we spent a lot of time at The Forks in downtown Winnipeg. It was interesting to see the changes they’ve gone through over the years!
Play Hive by Architects at Play is the newest outdoor art installation over the Seine River. I love a good Instagrammable moment, this one was bright and playful which was perfect for photos! Find it on John Bruce Road in St Vital.
We enjoyed dinner and games at Underdogs on Portage Ave, it was a great spot to hang out with our teenage kids. All the pub favourites can be found on the menu to enjoy while you play classic arcade games.
Day 4
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada is home to more than 20 aircraft displayed throughout 17 exhibits. Located at Winnipeg Richardson Airport, this brand new building is full of Western Canada’s aviation history and innovations. Immerse yourself in inspiring stories of pioneering aviators and heroes, interactive exhibits, and state-of-the-art audio-visual displays.
St. Boniface is filled with rich history. We took the Old St. Boniface Walking Tour guided by Shiven who was so knowledgable about the region and history during our 1.5 hour tour. After that we stopped at the St. Boniface Musueum which is the oldest building in Winnipeg and home to objects related to the heritage of French-Canadian and Métis peoples.
We enjoyed breakfast at Pauline Bistro, a stylish French Bistro style restaurant serving simple, elegant fare. Lunch was at Marion Street Eatery, home to a classic poutine which was a must for me for lunch! We popped by the Sugar Mama Cookie Company to fuel up on sweet treats too. So many great food options in St. Boniface!
Outlet Collection Winnipeg is Manitoba’s premier outlet destination. I love a good deal so this mall is always on my list to shop at when we visit Winnipeg! They have some of my favourite stores including Nike, Lululemon, Gap Factory and Winners all under one roof.
Flair offers direct flights from Kelowna to Winnipeg which was perfect for our family! Summer is the best time to visit Winnipeg to not only enjoy the great outdoors, but all that the city has to offer. We had such a great family vacation exploring the city!
We stayed at the Residence Inn Winnipeg which was the perfect hotel for our family. They had an awesome pool area with a waterslide and spacious suites to relax in after a busy day exploring Winnipeg!
A huge thank you to Flair Airlines for getting us to Winnipeg and Tourism Winnipeg and Travel Manitoba for helping to plan our trip. This will be one for the memory books with our kids!
This blog post was written in partnership with Flair Airlines, Tourism Winnipeg and Travel Manitoba. Views expressed are my own based on personal experiences in Winnipeg
