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Children's Museum Family Fun Itinerary ◗ Half Day ●Full Day 1 Jump start the day with breakfast and beautiful views of Assiniboine Park at Park Café. One of the city's prime gathering spaces, Assiniboine Park features more than 398 acres of forest, winding trails, lush gardens and rolling fields nestled along the banks of the Assiniboine River. While at the café, chow down on eggs benedict or a breakfast bagel. Kids love the dollarsized pancakes or chocolate chip pancakes. A staple in family dining, The Original Pancake House serves comforting breakfast food to satisfy all tastes. From a happy face pancake garnished with fruit and whipped cream to its legendary giant baked apple pancake, this local chain is a favourite for good reason. There are three locations citywide, including one at The Forks, where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet. While in the park, visit the dazzling Nature Playground, where kids can explore the sand and water play area, and let their imagination run wild with slithering slides, mazes, willow tree tunnels, basket swings, a giant robin's nest, net bridges, topiaries and more. Located next to the playground, the expanded Duck Pond offers an opportunity to view the park's growing waterfowl population from the water's edge. Next, walk over to Assiniboine Park Zoo for a close-up look at more than 400 species of animals from across the globe. Snap photos of bison and elk, along with new addition Hudson, the zoo's polar bear. Other must-sees include the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden, the refurbished southern tropics of Toucan Ridge and the new Polar Playground. This playground is a fully immersive play area with motion-themed activities, including a moving ice floor that responds to footsteps, an ice cave with hidden messages and a wall-sized icicle xylophone. Families can also learn more about polar bears at the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre's interpretive centre. If stomachs are growling, make a pit stop at the new Tundra Grill, located by the Polar Playground. Quick-service menu items make feeding hungry little ones a breeze. To cool off, go for a stroll across the park's pedestrian bridge to split a hot fudge sundae at Sargent Sundae. Begin with a trip to the Children's Museum on site at The Forks, which received a recent $10-million facelift with 12 exciting new galleries. Watch kids climb the five kid-sized storey Lasagna Lookout play structure, build towers using cranes in the Tumble Zone or make crafts out of recycled material in Pop M'Art. There's even a tot spot for toddlers to ride, walk or crawl their away around miniature versions of the museum's galleries. Now it's time for some fresh air at The Forks. Take in stories reflecting the area's history written on plaques and monuments throughout the site and enjoy the natural beauty of this 54-acre site. Stroll along the Riverwalk or take a Splash Dash guided river tour for breathtaking views of the city's skyline and historical commentary. Bring the kids to play at the new Variety Heritage Adventure Park. This park features creative play for children of all abilities, while presenting the historic stories of The Forks. Bring a towel to dry off after a splash in the Metropolis area splash park. By now you're probably hungry, so make your way to The Forks Market and go on a global culinary adventure. Pick up dishes at one of the many kiosks and nibble on perogies, fish and chips, empanadas, gyros, crêpes, samosas and more. After that, browse the stalls at this airy public market. Pick up local chocolate, nuts and candy at The Almond Tree, and get the family souvenirs at Two Rivers, where you can get a complimentary photo with an eight-foot carving of a grizzly bear. Grab a bag of mini donuts to share from the Mini Donut Factory and head over to the world-class Skateboard Plaza. Watch some daredevil tricks at Canada's largest urban skate plaza and bowl complex. Then, walk over to The Forks Plaza and catch live entertainment under the canopy. Complete the experience with a trip to Kite and Kaboodle, located on the second floor of Johnston Terminal. This paradise for children is stocked with games, puzzles, activity books and science kits that both inspire and educate. 28 Winnipeg 2013 Spring/Summer Events & Itineraries Guide