whimsical costumes and sets, and talented
actors, all aimed directly at the young
audience.
Bon Jovi was Slippery When Wet, and
you will be too if you take the kids to the
splash pads found at Variety Heritage
Adventure Park, where kids think they're
just playing around on the playground
and other interactive structures, when
in fact they are also being taught about
the First Peoples, the fur trade, and the
history of The Forks. It's not as subtle
as those backward messages on Led
Zeppelin albums, but at least it's for a
good purpose.
After attaining new perspectives from any
of those fine establishments, balance it out
literally with a new perspective by heading
up to the revolving restaurant of Prairie
360˚ Skyline Restaurant and Lounge.
From 30 floors up you can see Winnipeg
from a vantage point you can't otherwise
get, all while enjoying local delights like
bison perogies.
But before you take your bow and pack
it in for the night, how about an encore?
If a classy nightlife is your thing, head
down a couple floors to the piano bar and
whiskey lounge and sip on some Scotch to
celebrate your debut album of living it up
in Winnipeg.
Day Two
This is no one-hit wonder. You can start off
this new record with a bang by reuniting
the clan in Winnipeg's historic Exchange
District. There are gorgeous old Chicago-
style buildings filled with new chic shops
for perusing, like Bronuts, which serves
up coffee and quality espresso drinks, as
well as artisan hand-made donuts made
fresh every day.
For some entertaining education, start by
heading to The Manitoba Museum.
Feel like an explorer as you come aboard
the life-sized replica of the 17th-century
merchant ship, the Nonsuch, and see the
size of the quarters that people would've
stayed in. Then take a trip to 1920s, right
after the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike,
and get a glimpse of what life used to be
like (that rotary smartphone doohickey
never really caught on).
Since you're in the area, it might be time
for a tour of the historic neighbourhood by
taking an Exchange District Walking
Tour. You might catch yourself gawking
at some of the beautiful architecture
of these turn-of-the-century buildings,
and afterwards, you can pop into the
myriad of unique shops, like the sexy
and sophisticated dresses of Paperdoll
Clothing, or the refined, handcrafted
shoes of Jose & Markham.
Make sure everyone is present for the
band meeting at Cakeology, where they
sell some freshly baked adorable cakettes.
Enjoy them across the street at Old Market
Square for some live entertainment on-
stage at The Cube.
Embrace your artistic side as you head to
the Winnipeg Art Gallery, where the
largest collection of contemporary Inuit art
is found, and there are critically-acclaimed
touring exhibits constantly on display,
featuring everything from the photography
of Salvador Dali to the pristine marble
statues from the Greco-Roman era.
Next, try for the weekly public Hermetic
Code Tour. Get wrapped up into
Winnipeg's version of the Da Vinci Code
as you get a guided tour of the Manitoba
Legislative Building and the brilliantly
hidden freemason symbolism found within.
You have to book in advance, but you'll be
glad you did.
You can always end your night at Rudy's
Eat and Drink. In the summer you can
enjoy one of the city's most gorgeous
patios, or in the winter you can hop into
their Igloo Ice Bar, where DJs and drinks
keep everyone nice and warm.
Variety Heritage Adventure Park: Parks Canada Rudy's Eat and Drink: Jerry Hebert
Bronuts: Shyle Brandi
www.tourismwinnipeg.com
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WELCOME TO WINNIPEG WINNIPEG IN FOUR DAYS